Objective: The present study aimed to design and validate a professional competency model for managers of centers for intellectual development of children and adolescents of the General Administration of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Method: The research was applied in terms of purpose and exploratory in terms of approach. In the qualitative part, 8 managers and experts participated in a purposeful manner until theoretical saturation was reached, and in the quantitative part, 162 people were selected from a population of 279 employees and deputies of the center centers. Qualitative data were analyzed by coding and quantitative data by structural equation modeling based on partial least squares.

Findings: The qualitative findings revealed that the professional competency model consisted of three dimensions: cognitive competency, ethical competency, and religious competency. The quantitative results confirmed the reliability and validity of the model. Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, and average variance extracted (AVE) values were all within acceptable ranges, and discriminant validity was confirmed using the Fornell–Larcker criterion. Furthermore, path coefficients indicated that all three dimensions had a positive and significant effect on managers’ professional competency, with t-values exceeding 1.96 for all paths.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that the professional competency of managers in the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults is grounded in a combination of cognitive, ethical, and religious competencies. The proposed model can serve as a practical framework for the selection, appointment, performance evaluation, and professional development of managers.