Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services

About the role

This pivotal role will provide oversight of the agency's mental health and substance use disorder outpatient program, ensuring the agency's mission, values, and treatment philosophy are integrated into daily operations. The Director will focus on staffing, client care, compliance, and financial management without carrying a client load.

• Oversee the agency's daily operations for its mental health and substance use disorder services, including clinical and business aspects such as revenue, budgeting, hiring, and personnel management.
• Further develop the organization's behavioral health practice, including recruiting additional referral sources and clients, and expanding into other counseling services.
• Manage clients' clinical treatment and ensure operational compliance with state and federal regulations, including auditing documentation, intake and termination processes, and treatment planning.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight of program staff to ensure successful program delivery across outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services.
• Provide full administrative oversight of outpatient behavioral health services, including planning, directing, and managing program operations such as staffing, fiscal management, reporting, and service delivery.
• Oversee and manage clinical treatment, including documentation, compliance, and operational flow of clinical services (intake operations, assessment, service planning, termination processes, and coordination of care).
• Ensure all mental health and substance use services are evidence-based and aligned with recognized treatment principles and best practices, including treatment of co-occurring disorders.
• Assure integration of the agency’s mission, values, and treatment philosophy into daily operations.
• Ensure agency compliance with all Federal, State, County, and City regulations, including NJ DHS/DMHAS requirements, program requirements, and accreditation standards.
• Oversee facility operations to ensure compliance with safety, building, fire, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with any accreditation process.
• Lead outpatient quality assurance measures and oversee a comprehensive quality assurance and performance improvement program.
• Participate in the identification of quality care indicators, outcome objectives, and the collection and review of data to monitor clinical staff and program performance.
• Participate in the Org PQI Team, Risk Management Team, and Client Advisory Board.
• Ensure development, implementation, and enforcement of clinical policies and procedures to meet regulatory standards, including those specific to substance use disorder treatment services.
• Write and assist with developing new policies and procedures as needed.
• Assist with curriculum creation and implementation.
• Ensure substance use disorder counseling services are delivered in accordance with NJAC 10:161B standards, including program structure, service delivery, documentation, and clinical supervision requirements.
• Monitor program outcomes, including utilization of NJSAMS data where applicable, and implement improvements based on findings.
• Ensure services address priority populations and support timely access to care or appropriate referral.
• Ensure clinical staff complete necessary paperwork, adhere to established supervision requirements, and maintain proper documentation for recordkeeping.
• Ensure assessment, diagnosis, and treatment are provided by appropriately trained and qualified staff, with clinical supervision in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Directly supervise the Assistant Director, clinical staff, and interns.
• Oversee hiring processes, including credential verification, background checks, and staff qualifications, ensuring staff licensure and credentialing compliance.
• Provide clinical orientation training to new clinical staff and support ongoing staff development, education, and training.
• Responsible for planning and budgeting for the provision of mental health and substance use counseling services.
• Participate in Billing Team meetings and assist the Executive Director and Business Operations Manager in conducting utilization reviews to coordinate clinical and billing issues and support revenue cycle integrity.
• Establish and maintain relationships with community providers, referral sources, and stakeholders.
• Assist the Executive Director with community outreach, partnership development, and new client acquisition.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director or as needed by the organization.

Qualifications

• LCSW and LCADC are required.
• Clinical Supervisor Certification is required; SIFI certification is a plus.
• Minimum of 2 years post-licensure supervisory/management experience in a substance use disorder treatment setting.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in mental health and/or substance use treatment, including co-occurring disorders.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing or managing substance use disorder programs.
• Required experience with NJSAMS reporting systems and ASAM placement criteria.
• Experience with program development, budgeting, and billing.
• Strong knowledge of NJ regulatory requirements, including DHS/DMHAS standards.
• Understanding of the organization’s mission and culture and the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with staff and clients.
• Program development, evaluation, solid organizational skills, and public speaking.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to maintain confidentiality.
• Awareness and sensitivity to the cultures represented by the organization.
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to relate and work well with people from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural groups.
• Excellent organizational skills to handle multiple priorities while remaining professional and calm.
• Ability to organize and prioritize both their tasks and their staff.
• Ability to be accurate, even at a fast pace and high-volume level of work.
• Ability to work independently and be self-directed and flexible.
• Ability to perform functions with minimal supervision.

Skills

• A self-motivated thinker and doer who can work independently and with a team.
• Relentless attention to detail.
• A curious and inquisitive mental health clinical supervisor who can understand and navigate a constantly evolving and dynamic environment.
• A thoughtful and talented communicator willing to assist management, employees, and community members in navigating the complexity of everyday clinical operations.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities and be flexible to changing goals and demands on your time.

Nice to Haves

• Ability to write and assist with developing new policy and procedures.
• Ability to assist with curriculum creation and implementation.
• Proficiency in computer skills, especially using agency electronic health records, Outlook, Word, Excel, and customized databases.
• Ability to work flexible hours.

Pay

The target salary range for this position is around $105,000.

Schedule

The position is expected to be in the office Monday through Friday.

About our client

A comprehensive health and human service non-profit agency dedicated to strengthening the social and emotional well-being of individuals and families through accessible, affordable mental health counseling and social service programs. They have been a steadfast force in community outreach for over 100 years and are now focused on mental health counseling, social service programs, and community outreach initiatives to individuals and families in Northern New Jersey.