Harbor Homes of Martha's Vineyard Shelter Director Vineyard Haven, MA · Full time

Apply for Shelter Director

The Role

Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard seeks a compassionate, organized, mission-driven Shelter Director to lead our shelter and warming programs. This is a year-round, full-time position. 

This leadership role is central to our mission to ensure everyone on Martha’s Vineyard has access to safe shelter, essential resources, and the support needed to build a thriving, self-sufficient life. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Shelter Director provides day-to-day leadership of our winter shelter, day warming, and related client services; supports and develops staff and volunteers; and helps ensure that every program operates safely, respectfully, and effectively. 

As part of the leadership team, you’ll help Harbor Homes continue to create trauma-informed, inclusive services and improve the services available to community members experiencing homelessness. 

Why Join Harbor Homes?

At Harbor Homes, your work will directly impact the lives of Island community members. You will join a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to making homelessness on Martha’s Vineyard rare, brief, and non-recurring. 

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the Executive Director, you’ll lead Harbor Homes’ shelter and warming programs, helping ensure they are safe, follow policy and applicable law, well-organized, compassionate, and responsive to community needs. 

You'll:

• Lead the day-to-day operations and continuous improvement of shelter, warming, and related services. 
• Supervise, support, schedule, and develop shelter staff; recruit, train, and support volunteers. 
• Help ensure services are trauma-informed, inclusive, accessible, and in compliance with applicable requirements.
• Maintain effective program policies, client guidelines, records, reports, and incident documentation. 
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and provide leadership during incidents or emergencies. 
• Oversee supplies, vendors, facilities, and other operational needs. 
• Build professional relationships with community partners, volunteers, and service providers. 
• Represent Harbor Homes in community outreach, partnership, and advocacy efforts. 
• Identify and implement practical improvements to service, safety, and operations. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What You Bring  

We’re looking for someone who brings many of the following qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Counseling, Public Administration, Social Work, Nonprofit Management) or an equivalent combination of education and directly related work experience. 
• Experience leading or coordinating staff, operations, and reporting in a human-services, nonprofit, residential, day program, or shelter setting.
• Understanding of homelessness, housing instability, trauma-informed care, and the needs of vulnerable communities.
• Effective leadership, communication, relationship-building, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Sound judgment, emotional resilience, and the ability to respond effectively in challenging or emergency situations.
• Ability to work evenings, nights, weekends, and on-call hours as needed, especially during the winter shelter season. 
• Experience with crisis intervention, de-escalation, HMIS, or similar systems, volunteer management, and working with diverse or marginalized communities is helpful. 

We recognize that great candidates may not meet every qualification listed above. If you're excited about this opportunity and believe your experience aligns with the role, we encourage you to apply. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Harbor Homes is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where employees and applicants are treated with dignity and respect. We base employment decisions on qualifications, merit, organizational needs, and other lawful considerations. We do not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know so we can discuss your accommodation needs.

How to Apply

Please submit an application. Applications will be reviewed as received. 

Questions?

If you need assistance with the application or have questions, feel free to email [email protected].