Job Description

WHAT WE DO

When a child is fighting a serious illness, Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego (RMHC-SD) provides a true "home away from home"—a loving, stable environment where families can stay together during the hardest times. Since 1980, this independent nonprofit has been a lifeline, lifting the burden of basic needs so parents can focus entirely on healing. Through the compassionate care of RMHC-SD’s 52 dedicated staff members, a $55M annual operating budget, and the invaluable service of its volunteers, the House provides a comprehensive system of support, housing over 600 families and providing access to essential resources to 14,000 additional individuals annually. Key programs and services include:

• Warm Shelter & Housing (82 Rooms): State-of-the-art residential housing ensures families have a comfortable place to sleep, just steps away from the hospital, with full amenities, including laundry and a fitness room.
• Family Care Center: Provides a comfortable setting where “day visitors” can take care of themselves during their child’s hospitalization. From recreation and relaxation to personal care, all services are free of charge.
• Meals from the Heart: Each year, over 250,000 freshly prepared meals are provided to families, ensuring proper nutrition is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Education & Enrichment: Over 100 students take part in School Away from School: A crucial partnership with San Diego Unified School District offering free, onsite education for resident children, ensuring siblings and young patients can continue their academic journey. Through a partnership with Head Start, younger children may attend nearby preschools as well.

RMHC-SD ensures that no family battles alone, offering comfort, community, and the priceless gift of togetherness, all powered by the hearts of its caring community.

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

RMHC-SD is distinguished by its heart-centered workplace, led by an extremely dedicated leadership team. This highly engaging and positive internal culture is characterized by staff longevity, supportive colleagues, and a deep commitment to the RMHC-SD community. Leadership invests in staff's success, prioritizing professional development through both internal and supported external educational opportunities. The Director of Family Support Services will report to COO, Oscar Gomez. A highly collaborative leader, Oscar leverages 15 years of leadership experience in the government and non-profit sectors to oversee House operations, budgeting, guest services, staffing, and volunteer engagement.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary – $130,000 - $150,000 DOE
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 403b retirement with an employer match
• PTO: 14 paid days off, 40 hours paid sick leave, 9 paid holidays

LOCATION

This is an on-site role with an office located at 2929 Children’s Way, San Diego, CA 92123.

POSITION SUMMARY

It is an exciting time to join RMHC-SD as the organization prepares to significantly enhance its impact through the launch of the Family Support Services (FSS) department. The new department is strategically focused on building comprehensive support systems for three primary profiles: family support, sibling/patient support, and RMHC-SD staff well-being. The FSS department will be crucial in significantly increasing individual and family resiliency through the expansion of RMHC-SD’s individualized care by:

• Providing Customized Support: Partnering closely with families to offer emotional support and address their unique needs throughout their stay.
• Managing Crisis Situations: Offering a specially trained team for expert response to challenging situations.
• Fostering Collaboration: Prioritizing team relationships to ensure trust and seamless support across all departments.

Reporting to the COO, the Director of Family Support Services (FSS) is a newly created leadership role responsible for building and strategically growing the FSS department. The Director manages a $550k program budget and will oversee the development, administration, management, and evaluation of comprehensive supportive services for families. They will collaborate across all functions, including fundraising, to ensure RMHC-SD is responsive to evolving family needs, providing consistent support before, during, and after their stay. The role requires the continuous enhancement of FSS's effectiveness through sound clinical judgment, data analysis, and client feedback. Once the department is fully built, the Director will provide direct supervision and oversight for the complete FSS team, including the Director of Social Work, Family Support Services Manager, House Activities Coordinator, and MSW and Occupational Therapy interns.

Year One Priorities:

• Immersive Learning: Quickly integrate by understanding House operations and collaborating closely with key internal partners.
• Strategic Team Building: Define the needs of vacant roles and recruit a high-performing FSS team.
• Partnership Development: Establish critical Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with hospital systems (Rady Children’s Hospital, Mary Birch) and university partners to secure Fall 2026 internships.
• Program Foundation: Further develop the FSS program, establishing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), clear referral pipelines, and foundational infrastructure.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide active oversight of departmental program areas, including Social Work, Family Support Services, Family Activities, and Staff Support Services.
• In partnership with the Director of Operations, co-lead the buildout and reorganization of the House’s Operations team into two coequal divisions: Social Work and Operations.
• Guide staff in the development of workshops, programs, and policies that enhance services for individuals and families.
• Collaborate professionally with hospital partners to ensure comprehensive support for the families we serve.
• Engage professional volunteers and external organizations—such as academic institutions and social service agencies—to deliver onsite and virtual support services (e.g., child life, support groups, spiritual care, health, and wellness programming).
• Establish and maintain a best-in-class internship program by cultivating partnerships with local universities to offer meaningful learning opportunities for eligible students.
• Conduct regular reviews of House rules and policies to promote consistency, fairness, and a clear understanding of community living expectations.
• Facilitate team meetings to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services to families.
• Identify and address staff training and professional development needs.
• Lead the creation of workshops for staff and volunteers focused on family engagement topics such as medical trauma, empathy, grief, cultural sensitivity, and language access.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and organized completion of all required documentation, reports, and special projects.
• Foster a supportive, inclusive, and culturally competent environment for the diverse families, children, staff, and volunteers at RMHC-SD.
• Perform other duties as necessary to promote and foster the mission of RMHC-SD.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• Must be a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in management and administration, including team supervision, budget management, program evaluation, and design.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and manage effective teams, coupled with strong skills in program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities, with the capacity to focus on complex, emotionally intense issues in both emergencies and project-based work.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, demonstrated ability to collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and the capacity to maintain professional boundaries while supporting families in crisis.
• Ability to remain flexible with scheduling and available to be on-call for emergencies.

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