Program Director -MHOP

Reports To: Vice President of Clinical Services
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervisory Responsibility: Clinical Supervisors and all MHOP staff

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mental Health Outpatient Program (MHOP) Director provides clinical, operational, and administrative leadership for all outpatient mental health programs, across multiple locations, inclusive of adult, children, and youth services.

The MHOP Program Director is responsible for clinical quality, regulatory and contractual compliance, staff performance and competency, patient and program outcomes, budget oversight, and continuous quality improvement. The position works closely with the Vice President of Clinical Services, community stakeholders and referral sources, and other organizational leaders to ensure effective, compliant, and financially sustainable outpatient mental health services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall leadership and oversight of all mental health outpatient programs
• Ensure services are clinically appropriate, person-centered, trauma-informed, and consistent with applicable Washington State laws, regulations, contracts, payer requirements, CCBHC criteria, CARF standards, and all other applicable regulations
• Oversee referral partnerships, caseloads, clinical supervision, staff credentialing, individual service plan review and authorization, documentation quality, treatment planning, patient outcomes, access to services, staff training and performance, and continuity of care.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate assigned leaders and staff; ensure appropriate orientation, training, credentialing, and competency development.
• Monitor program performance, including quality indicators, productivity, staffing, timely and accurate billing, contract requirements, patient outcomes, and financial performance.
• Develop and monitor program budgets and work with leadership to address significant operational or financial variances, with the goal of ongoing financial sustainability for all MHOP programs.
• Participate in and support audits, CCBHC implementation, grant/contract reporting, accreditation surveys, regulatory reviews, and corrective action planning.
• Use performance data, audit findings, patient feedback, and operational results to identify and implement improvements.
• Maintain effective relationships with community partners, referral sources, payers, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Quality, Compliance, Human Resources, Finance, Revenue Cycle, Medical Services, Operations, and other departments to support program needs and maximize outcomes.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

The Program Director must demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• Clinical Leadership: Provide effective oversight of outpatient mental health services and demonstrate sound clinical judgment and expertise.
• Regulatory & Accreditation Compliance: Uphold applicable laws, regulations, contractual requirements, professional standards and ethics, CCBHC criteria, and CARF expectations.
• Quality Improvement: Use data, outcomes, audits, and feedback to evaluate performance and improve services.
• Workforce Development: Establish clear expectations and ensure staff maintain required skills, credentials, training, and competencies.
• Operational & Financial Management: Effectively manage staffing, budgets, productivity, contracts, reporting, and program resources.
• Leadership & Accountability: Demonstrate sound decision-making, communication, collaboration, professionalism, and accountability for patient and program outcomes.
• Ethics & Confidentiality: Maintain professional boundaries and protect confidential patient and organizational information.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

Performance will be evaluated based on:

• Clinical quality and patient outcomes.
• Regulatory, contractual, and accreditation compliance.
• Timeliness and accuracy of clinical documentation, billing, and required reporting.
• Achievement of productivity, access, and program performance expectations.
• Program performance within approved staffing and budget parameters.
• Employee competency, supervision, development, and accountability.
• Timely completion of corrective action and quality-improvement activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or higher in counseling, psychology, social work, behavioral health, or another applicable clinical discipline required.
• Must qualify as a Mental Health Professional in Washington State and maintain an active, unrestricted professional license.
• Minimum of five years of mental health treatment experience.
• Minimum of two years of clinical supervisory or mental health leadership experience.
• Experience providing and overseeing mental health services for children and youth required.
• Experience with outpatient mental health treatment, clinical documentation, treatment planning, and program management required.
• Experience with personnel supervision, quality improvement, performance monitoring, and budget management required.
• Knowledge of Washington State behavioral health regulations, Department of Health requirements, payer requirements, CCBHC criteria, and CARF standards preferred.
• Experience with co-occurring mental health and substance use services preferred.
• SUDP credential or ability to meet applicable Washington State requirements preferred.
• Strong leadership, clinical judgment, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS

The MHOP Program Director is expected to perform responsibilities in accordance with Lifeline Connections’ mission, policies, confidentiality requirements, applicable laws and regulations, contractual requirements, professional standards, and accreditation requirements.

The MHOP Program Director is responsible for maintaining required licensure, credentials, training, and competencies and for ensuring assigned staff receive appropriate supervision, training, competency development, and performance feedback.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities. Duties may be modified based on organizational, regulatory, contractual, accreditation, funding, or operational needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Salary Range

$80,168.40 - $91,468