Senior Director, Direct Services

The posting, as Think of Us wrote it

About Think of Us

Think of Us (TOU) is transforming the child welfare system into one where young people and families can heal, develop, and thrive. We drive purpose-driven work aligned with meaningful systems change, powered by data and the insights of lived experience. Our focus is on prevention, keeping families strong before crisis, and on building kinship-first systems so children grow up with people they know and trust. Through bold collaborations with leaders and innovators across the public and private sectors — from Presidential Administrations to local providers — we identify leverage points and co-create solutions that re-architect child welfare for the future.

Here’s what this looks like

• Built the Lived Experience Engine into the largest dataset of its kind (51,000+ voices), powering AI tools and shaping reforms
• Partnered with California to launch the Kinship Accelerator in 8 counties, backed by $150M and a budget increase from $317M → $896M
• Drove a national kin-first shift: 39 states (plus 5 tribes) adopting kinship standards, unlocking $3B for families
• Operate one of the largest direct resource networks, connecting 1,827 families to $28M+ in support

Our team members share a commitment to driving systems change through creative problem-solving, obsessive curiosity, and a love of quickly driving innovative, measurable, and impactful results.

Position Overview

Department: Programs & Services - Direct Services

Reports to: Executive in Residence

Direct Reports: Senior Manager, Care Navigation; Senior Manager, Beta Team

Location: Hybrid; Washington, DC (min. 3 days in the office)

Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates and will be

provided based on organizational guidelines and approved eligibility criteria.

Category: Full Time; Exempt

Think of Us (TOU) is seeking a mission-driven, operationally strong senior leader to serve as Senior Director of Direct Services — providing programmatic and operational oversight of TOU’s direct services work across two complementary teams: the Care Navigation team serving kinship families, foster youth, and transition-age youth (TAY) in California, and the Beta Team advancing digital resource navigation in Texas Region 7.

This is a cross-functional leadership role that sits at the intersection of direct service delivery, operational management, and systems innovation. The Senior Director will ensure both teams are delivering high-quality, lived-experience-centered support while building the infrastructure, practice standards, and learning systems needed to sustain and scale TOU’s direct service model. The Senior Director will directly supervise the Senior Manager of Care Navigation and the Senior Manager of the Beta Team, creating alignment across both programs while honoring the distinct contexts and goals of each.

At Think of Us, direct service is not separate from systems change — it is systems change in action. The Senior Director of Care Navigation h
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development support and meaningful time off, our benefits reflect our commitment to nurturing a workplace where people can thrive, both personally and professionally.

Health & Insurance

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees; 50% for dependents.
• Access to Talkspace for confidential therapy and mental health support.
• Short-Term Disability, Life, and AD&D Insurance included.
• Optional Long-Term Disability and Supplemental Life Insurance.
• Health Care and Dependent Care FSAs available.

Financial Benefits

• 401(k) Plan for pre-tax retirement contributions.
• Work-from-home setup stipend to optimize your workspace.

Paid Time Off

• Flexible PTO policy, plus sick leave and paid leaves of absence.
• 8 company holidays, plus two organization-wide seasonal breaks.

Learning & Development

• TOU values continuous learning and invests in the professional development of its employees in alignment with organizational needs based on role, performance, business needs, and Company policies.
• Regular organization-wide learning sessions on relevant and reflective topics.

Application Instructions

As part of your application, please submit a resume outlining your skills and experiences relevant to this role.

Please note: We do not accept phone inquiries about this position in order to ensure a fair and consistent hiring process for all applicants.
Equal Opportunity Statement

Think of Us is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome and value applicants of all backgrounds, knowing that diverse perspectives strengthen our work with children, youth, and families. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and for applicants’ religious practices as required by law.