Job Title: Director of Clinical Services
Industry: Healthcare / Health Services Social Services / Mental Health
Job Category: Medical / Health Therapy
Employment Type: Full-time
Seniority Level: Director

Position summary

The Director of Clinical Services oversees all clinical programs for a behavioral health facility treating patients with mental health and substance use disorders. This role provides clinical and operational leadership to ensure high-quality, patient-centered care, effective program development, and full regulatory compliance in alignment with the organization s mission and values.

Key responsibilities Leadership & management

• Provide strategic direction and clinical oversight to therapists, social workers, and other clinical staff, ensuring coordinated, multidisciplinary care.

• Oversee day-to-day clinical operations, promoting efficiency, collaboration between departments, and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

• Serve as a core member of the facility leadership team, making independent clinical decisions to support safe, high-quality care.

• Partner with organizational leadership to align clinical services with corporate goals, strategic initiatives, and performance expectations.

Program development & implementation

• Develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based clinical programs that address community needs in mental health and substance use treatment.

• Integrate evidence-based practices into treatment planning, group and individual services, and program design, ensuring alignment with facility-wide goals.

• Lead initiatives to improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and efficiency of service delivery while optimizing available resources.

Quality, compliance & safety

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and standards from accrediting bodies such as Joint Commission and CMS.

• Monitor clinical quality indicators, documentation, and performance metrics, and implement corrective action plans when needed.

• Oversee clinical documentation standards and reporting to maintain accurate, timely patient records and support audits and reviews.

• Ensure adherence to safety, risk management, and infection control policies across all clinical services.

Staff development & supervision

• Supervise, mentor, and support clinical staff, fostering professional growth, competency, and trauma-informed, patient-centered practice.

• Provide or oversee clinical supervision, ensuring staff are trained in and consistently applying evidence-based assessments, measurement-based care, and interventions.

• Conduct regular fidelity monitoring of clinical programming and groups, identify areas of drift, and provide targeted training to realign practice with evidence-based models.

• Manage hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management processes for clinical staff, including caseload review and utilization oversight.

• Coordinate required trainings and competency validation such as CPR, de-escalation, and other mandated certifications.

Collaboration, communication & community engagement

• Collaborate with facility leadership to align clinical services with hospital-wide initiatives, operational goals, and organizational values.

• Serve as a liaison between clinical staff, administration, and external partners, ensuring clear communication and effective problem-solving.

• Engage with community organizations, referral sources, and healthcare providers to expand access to services and support business development and outreach.

Additional responsibilities

• Oversee crisis intervention efforts, case planning, and care coordination for high-risk or complex cases.

• Maintain a limited caseload and provide on-site clinical coverage for programs when necessary.

• Develop and update operating policies and procedures to align with regulatory requirements and current standards of care.

• Prioritize patient safety, address concerns and complaints, and ensure issues are resolved in a timely, patient-centered manner.

• Participate in an on-call leadership or clinical rotation as defined by facility needs.

• Support marketing, education events, and community presentations to strengthen relationships with referral sources and community partners.

Qualifications Education & licensure

• Master s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a related behavioral health field required.

• Current, independent state licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent) required; fully licensed and no longer in need of clinical supervision.

• CPR and de-escalation certification required (may be obtained upon hire per facility policy).

Experience

• 5 7 years of progressive clinical leadership experience in behavioral health, including supervision and program oversight.

• Demonstrated experience in clinical program development, staff supervision, and operational management in mental health and/or substance use settings.

• Working knowledge of Joint Commission, CMS, and other relevant regulatory and accreditation standards.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in an inpatient psychiatric or behavioral health hospital or residential treatment setting.

• Familiarity with performance improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or other quality improvement frameworks.

• Experience expanding or scaling clinical programs and supervising staff toward licensure.