Careers

FIRST STEP HOUSE

We help people build lives of meaning, purpose, and recovery.

Salt Lake City, Utah firststephouse.org

Program Manager - Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team

$85,000 - $103,000 Annual Salary $3,000 Sign-On Bonus Relocation Package Available

36-Hour Week 4 Days x 9 Hours

IS THIS YOU?

The ACT Program Manager role at First Step House isn't for everyone - and that's kind of the point.

You're a fully licensed clinician or registered nurse who has spent years working with adults with serious mental illness. You know the ACT model. You've supervised multidisciplinary teams, held fidelity standards, and navigated the messy reality of serving people where they are - literally. Maybe you haven't worked on an ACT Team, but you've herded professionals in an emergency department somewhere and you know how to help them provide the best services possible when people are struggling.

You've probably worked somewhere that talked a good game about mission and culture. And you've noticed the gap between the poster on the wall and the actual day-to-day. You're looking for a place where those two things are actually the same.

That's what we're building at First Step House. If you want to lead a team that is serious about recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care, and you're ready to spend at least half your week in direct service alongside your team, not just managing from a distance, read on.

YOU MIGHT BE A FIT IF...

• You find it energizing, not exhausting, to coordinate care for people with schizophrenia, bipolar I, or schizoaffective disorder.
• You lead from the front - you'd rather be in the field with your team than behind a desk.
• You have a genuine working knowledge of the SAMHSA ACT fidelity model and can speak to it without reading off a slide.
• You're the kind of supervisor who makes time for your people, gives feedback directly, and holds the line on standards without becoming the enemy.
• You're organized enough to manage daily scheduling for a team of 8-14 across a 24x7 crisis-available program, and flexible enough to triage when it all goes sideways.
• You care about this work because you've seen what recovery actually looks like - and you want more people to get there.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Lead the Team

• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team of 8-14 (therapists, case managers, nurses, peer specialists, and psychiatric providers).
• Provide individual and group clinical supervision with clear expectations and consistent follow-through.
• Facilitate daily team meetings to coordinate care, track contacts, and assign responsibilities.
• Build and maintain weekly/monthly schedules including evening, weekend, and 24x7x365 on-call coverage.

Serve Clients Directly

• Spend at least 50% of your time in direct, face-to-face service with ACT recipients.
• Ensure each recipient receives a minimum of 4 contacts weekly – your team is responsible to make this happen.
• Conduct clinical interviews and assessments for potential and existing ACT recipients.
• Triage crises in real time while keeping scheduled services on track.

Manage with Rigor

• Ensure full compliance with the SAMHSA ACT fidelity model, Medicaid/Medicare requirements, and accreditation standards.
• Monitor key outcomes including service intensity, hospitalization rates, engagement, and housing stability.
• Oversee accurate billing, utilization tracking, and documentation.
• Prepare for and participate in internal and external audits; lead improvement plans in response to findings.
• Collaborate with partner organizations including the Salt Lake County Division of Behavioral Health and Optum.

WHAT YOU BRING

Education & Licensure

• Master's degree (MSW, MSC) in mental health treatment and 3 years post-licensure experience (minimum 5 years post-graduate) with specific knowledge of perceptual, thought content, and mood disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar I, schizoaffective disorder) OR Bachelor's degree in nursing with 4+ years serving this population; RN-BC (Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing) strongly preferred.
• Current professional licensure in the State of Utah.
• CPR Certification and Mental Health Officer designation in Utah.
• Valid driver's license and insurance eligibility required.

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to accurately assess and diagnose using DSM-5-TR.
• Working knowledge of applicable ethical codes (ACA, APA, AMHCA, NAADAC, NASW, UNA).
• Fluency in electronic health records and clinical software; ability to learn systems independently.
• Understanding of grant administration and contract management.

WHAT WE OFFER

• $85,000 - $103,000 salary, commensurate with experience.
• $3,000 sign-on bonus and relocation package for the right candidate.
• Standardized 36-hour work week - 4 days x 9 hours.
• Robust paid time off program with enhanced benefits as tenure grows.
• 15 paid holidays annually, including your birthday.
• 401(k) with employer matching.
• Annual merit increase and bonus opportunity.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.

ABOUT FIRST STEP HOUSE

First Step House is a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit with a straightforward mission: we help people build lives of meaning, purpose, and recovery. We provide high-quality, evidence-based, recovery-oriented health care, employment, and housing services - and we're serious about growing that reach significantly year-over-year for a long time to come.

Our culture is grounded in seven core values: integrity, transparency, positive proactivity, humility, accountability, altruism, and compassion. Our leadership team's work is guided by the tenants of the Arbinger Institute, and we look for the same from our team members. If these concepts feel like a checklist, this likely isn't the right fit for you or for us, but if they reflect how you show up in your life and work, apply today.

Learn more about our team: firststephouse.org/employment-opportunities

First Step House is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.