Director of Clinical Services

Sierra Tucson, a world-renowned residential treatment center, is seeking a Director of Clinical Services to work at our beautiful campus in Tucson, AZ.

About the Role

The Director of Clinical Services (DCS) provides leadership and clinical oversight to ensure the highest standards of clinical excellence and patient-centered care. This role designs, implements, and sustains evidence-based treatment programs (e.g., CBT, DBT) that drive measurable outcomes, uphold regulatory compliance, and foster recovery across the continuum of care. The DCS champions evidence-based practices, advances staff competencies, and embeds fidelity to proven models of care to create a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to clinical teams, including therapists, social workers, and other staff.
• Oversee day-to-day clinical operations, including budget management, developing marketing and strategic plans, and independent decision-making for programs requiring clinical expertise.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and patient-centered care, ensuring efficiency and collaboration between departments.
• Serve as a member of the facility leadership team and make independent clinical decisions to ensure quality care and alignment with organizational goals.
• Provide direction, clinical consultation, and oversight of case planning and care coordination.
• Direct crisis intervention efforts and intervene as required.
• Supervise, mentor, and support clinical staff, promoting professional growth and competency.
• Provide clinical supervision to ensure all clinical staff are trained on and consistently implement evidence-based practices, including assessments, measurement-based care, and evidence-based interventions.
• Engage in regular fidelity monitoring of clinical programming and groups to ensure alignment with evidence-based practices and provide ongoing training when drift occurs.
• Manage hiring, development, training, and performance management of staff to ensure effective operations.
• Conduct regular reviews of caseloads to optimize utilization of services.
• Ensure staff are current on all certifications and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement clinical programs based on evidence-based models (e.g., CBT, DBT) and integrate these practices into treatment plans.
• Evaluate clinical performance metrics, including service-delivery models, patient-reported outcomes, satisfaction scores, length of stay, treatment completion, and discharge effectiveness.
• Conduct regular clinical audits to ensure high-quality documentation, fidelity to care models, and appropriate levels of care.
• Champion best practices in suicide risk assessment, safety planning, and risk mitigation, ensuring standardized application across facilities.
• Facilitate the continuum of care, partnering with outpatient facilities to develop robust step-down processes.
• Provide clinical oversight of other programs and levels of care as needed.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and accrediting bodies (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, CARF, state licensing boards).
• Monitor clinical performance metrics and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Oversee documentation and reporting to maintain accurate patient records.
• Ensure safety and infection control requirements are met.
• Work with hospital or facility leadership to align clinical services with hospital-wide initiatives and values.
• Serve as a liaison between clinical staff, administration, and external partners, fostering clear communication.
• Engage with community organizations and healthcare providers to enhance patient access to services.
• Maintain a limited caseload when necessary and provide onsite coverage for other programs.
• Develop operating policies and ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and standards of care.
• Recognize patient safety as a top priority and work to resolve complaints if needs are unmet.
• Participate in on-call rotation schedule as determined and required by facility.
• Support business development, engage with local community groups, participate in education events, and collaborate with referral sources to build and maintain strong relationships.

Requirements

• License-bearing Master’s or Doctorate degree in Behavioral or Mental Health (e.g., MSW, MA in marriage and family, MA in professional counseling, PhD in Clinical, Counseling, or Educational Psychology), or PsyD.
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience working with the clinical population of the facility.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, CARF) and experience ensuring compliance.
• Excellent leadership, collaboration, and communication skills among audiences ranging from front-line clinical staff to facility leadership.

Qualifications

• Independently Licensed Clinician – e.g., LCSW, LPC, LMFT, Psychologist license.
• MA in Social Work (MSW/LCSW) strongly preferred.
• Experience in an inpatient psychiatric or behavioral health hospital.
• Experience in specialty provided at facility (e.g., substance use or eating disorder experience).

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.