Senior Director, Social Work, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Posted: 24-Jul-26 | Nashville, Tennessee | Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)
About the Role
Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Senior Director of Social Work to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and clinical direction for all social work services within Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH). This executive leader will advance excellence in patient care, care coordination, discharge planning, behavioral health outcomes, regulatory compliance, staff development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
As a key member of the hospital leadership team, the Senior Director will partner with physicians, nursing leadership, case management, quality teams, and community stakeholders to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered behavioral health services. The role fosters a culture of clinical excellence, innovation, workforce engagement, and continuous improvement while aligning social work services with VUMC’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for social work services across Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital.
- Advance clinical excellence in patient care, care coordination, and discharge planning.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and promote evidence-based, patient-centered behavioral health services.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including physicians, nursing leadership, case management, and quality teams.
- Drive workforce engagement, staff development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Serve as a key member of the hospital leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and decision-making.
- Partner with community stakeholders to enhance care delivery and outcomes.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
- Current Tennessee licensure (or eligibility) as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
- Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in social work, with at least 5 years in behavioral health or psychiatric services.
- Demonstrated expertise in program development, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement.
- Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Experience working in a complex, academic medical center or large healthcare system preferred.
About Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH) includes a 106-licensed bed inpatient hospital, a psychiatric emergency department, neuromodulation services, and select outpatient programs. Inpatient units serve child, adolescent, general adult, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, addiction, and geriatric populations.