Director of Programs

Liberty Youth Ranch (LYR) is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vulnerable children with a loving, stable home and the opportunity to build a successful future.

Established in Bonita Springs, Florida in 2003, Liberty Youth Ranch provides residential care for boys and girls in need of a safe, nurturing, and family-centered environment. The Ranch serves children holistically, addressing their physical, educational, emotional, social, and spiritual needs while helping them develop the skills, relationships, character, and confidence necessary for long-term independence and success.

LYR also operates the Liberty Youth Ranch Upscale Shop, a social enterprise that generates financial support for the ongoing operating costs of the Ranch while providing an additional connection between Liberty Youth Ranch and the surrounding community. At the center of Liberty Youth Ranch is an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and the belief that every child possesses God-given uniqueness, dignity, and inherent worth.

A Beautiful Bonita Springs Campus

Our semi-rural 156-acre campus in Bonita Springs provides a peaceful respite from the chaos that crisis can create. We are here for the children who need us the most…to help them thrive and succeed. We serve boy and girls from the age of 4 to independent living, caring for the whole child – physical, educational, social, and spiritual needs.

A Home and Family for Vulnerable Children

The Ranch provides a safe, sustaining home and family to children in crisis, providing 365 days and nights of wraparound care. A variety of therapeutic and recreational activities give children the opportunity to work through their circumstances while enjoying childhood to the fullest.

Children are provided a Christ-centered home focused on bridging academic deficits, learning life skills, developing interpersonal skills, and working together as a family. We address academic, emotional, behavioral, and social challenges of the children and families we serve – thereby changing the cycle for today and for generations to come.

LYR is privately funded and has maintained a strong commitment to responsible financial stewardship, balanced budgets, and debt-free operations.

Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word of God. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three (3) Persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that, for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe that God’s redemptive purpose will be consummated by the return of Christ to raise the dead, judge all men and establish His glorious kingdom. We believe that those who are apart from Christ shall be eternally separated from God’s presence, but the righteous shall live and reign with Him forever.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

About the Position:

Location: Bonita Springs, Florida
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: President & Chief Executive Officer
Work Location: In-Person

Salary Range: $90,000 – $110,000/annually

Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401K. 2 Weeks of Vacation, 1 Week of Sick Leave

Position Overview

Liberty Youth Ranch is seeking an experienced, compassionate, highly capable Director of Programs to provide senior leadership for the organization’s residential child-care program.
Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Director of Programs is responsible for the leadership, quality, effectiveness, safety, compliance, development, and continuous improvement of Liberty Youth Ranch’s residential care program.
The Director will ensure that every child entrusted to Liberty Youth Ranch receives coordinated, individualized, Christ-centered care consistent with the mission, values, policies, standards, and philosophy of the organization.
The Director of Programs will provide leadership for Houseparents, counseling and therapeutic services, admissions and intake, individualized care and treatment planning, program staffing, child records and documentation, staff and Houseparent development, program compliance, child safeguarding, referral relationships, program outcomes, transitions, and continuous program improvement.
This individual will serve as a key member of Liberty Youth Ranch’s senior leadership team and will work collaboratively with the President & CEO, Director of Operations, Director of Facilities, counselors, Houseparents, administrative personnel, schools, healthcare providers, families, referral sources, volunteers, and outside professionals.
The Director of Programs will focus primarily on the children, people, services, systems, and outcomes associated with Liberty Youth Ranch’s residential program. Facilities, maintenance, grounds, and infrastructure are the responsibility of the Director of Facilities, while broader administrative and organizational operations are coordinated through the Director of Operations.
The successful candidate will understand that this position represents both a significant professional responsibility and a Christian ministry calling. The Director will help ensure that Liberty Youth Ranch provides an exceptional environment in which vulnerable children can experience stability, safety, family, faith, healing, growth, and hope for the future.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates should possess significant progressively responsible experience working with children and youth in residential care, children’s services, social services, counseling, youth development, education, ministry, or a closely related environment.
The successful candidate should demonstrate significant supervisory and leadership experience, including experience leading professionals, caregivers, or multidisciplinary teams.
Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of child development, residential care, behavior management, family systems, trauma and adversity, safeguarding, professional boundaries, and the needs of vulnerable children.
The successful candidate should possess experience with individualized care or treatment planning, documentation, case management, program compliance, quality assurance, staff development, and program evaluation.
Candidates must demonstrate strong judgment, emotional intelligence, organizational ability, conflict-resolution skills, written and verbal communication, and the ability to remain calm and effective during challenging situations.
The successful candidate must be capable of managing multiple priorities while maintaining careful attention to children, people, documentation, deadlines, compliance requirements, and organizational responsibilities.
The Director must be able to handle highly sensitive and confidential information with appropriate discretion.
Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and successfully complete all background screening, drug screening, driving record review, reference checks, and other employment requirements established by Liberty Youth Ranch and applicable regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

A master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, human services, ministry, nonprofit leadership, education, or a related discipline is strongly preferred. Liberty Youth Ranch may require specific educational or professional credentials where necessary to satisfy applicable licensing or regulatory requirements.
Professional licensure or credentialing in counseling, social work, psychology, or another relevant human-services discipline is highly desirable.
Seven to ten or more years of progressively responsible experience serving children, youth, or families is preferred, including meaningful leadership experience.
Previous experience in residential childcare, children’s homes, youth residential programs, foster care, child welfare, or another 24-hour care environment is strongly preferred.
Experience working within a Christian ministry or other faith-based organization is highly desirable.
Experience with Houseparent or residential caregiver models, admissions and intake, licensing, program evaluation, outcome measurement, staff training, and organizational leadership is beneficial.