Director of Behavioral Health

Position Summary

The Director of Behavioral Health provides strategic leadership, clinical oversight, and operational management for the organization’s behavioral health programs. This senior leadership role ensures the delivery of high-quality, ethical, compliant, and culturally responsive behavioral health services aligned with the organization’s mission, community needs, and funding requirements.

The Director oversees clinical operations, supervises multidisciplinary behavioral health staff, ensures regulatory compliance, monitors outcomes, and supports the sustainability and growth of behavioral health services through program development, partnerships, and grant-related activities.

• Provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for all behavioral health programs and services
• Align behavioral health initiatives with organizational mission, values, and strategic goals
• Participate in executive-level planning, organizational development, and decision-making
• Identify service gaps and lead program expansion based on community needs and funding opportunities

• Ensure clinical excellence and ethical practice across all behavioral health services
• Develop, implement, and regularly review clinical policies, procedures, and evidence-based practices
• Monitor service quality, client outcomes, utilization trends, and performance indicators
• Lead continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts and corrective action plans when needed
• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant clinical documentation in accordance with state, federal, county, and funder requirements

• Ensure compliance with all applicable behavioral health regulations, licensing standards, contracts, and funding requirements
• Prepare for and oversee audits, site visits, accreditation reviews, and monitoring activities
• Maintain awareness of changes in behavioral health laws, regulations, and best practices
• Address risk management issues and support ethical decision-making across programs

• Directly supervise clinical supervisors, behavioral health clinicians, and contracted providers
• Recruit, onboard, train, and evaluate behavioral health staff
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback to support staff growth and retention
• Facilitate ongoing professional development, licensure support, and clinical training
• Promote trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approaches across teams

• Collaborate with social workers, healthcare providers, schools, correctional systems, and community-based organizations
• Representing the organization in behavioral health coalitions, advisory groups, and community forums
• Strengthening referral networks and coordinated care models to improve client outcomes

• Support grant writing, proposal development, and budgeting related to behavioral health services
• Ensure timely and accurate grant reporting, outcome tracking, and data submission
• Assist with funder communication, compliance reporting, and sustainability planning
• Contribute to program evaluation and data-informed decision-making

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field
• Current clinical licensure or licensure-eligible preferred (LICSW, LMFT, LPCC, or equivalent)
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in behavioral health services, including clinical or program leadership
• Demonstrated knowledge of behavioral health systems, clinical compliance, documentation standards, and outcome measurement
• Proven experience supervising clinical staff and managing programs or departments
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Experience working with diverse, underserved, and culturally diverse populations
• Ability to pass all required background checks and clearances

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit, community-based, or grant-funded behavioral health settings
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care, culturally responsive practices, and equity-centered service delivery
• Experience working with youth, families, immigrants, refugees, or justice-involved populations
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities (preferred)