Associate Director-Specialty BH - Camino Media

Clinica Sierra Vista•Bakersfield, CA

6h•$97,760 - $136,053

About The Position

Clinica Sierra Vista is seeking an Associate Director-Specialty Behavioral Health to plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate Specialty Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) programs and operations throughout Kern County. This role supports the Senior Director of Behavioral Health in managing services and contracts. The Associate Director applies administrative, operational, and clinical leadership to ensure access to care, quality service delivery, regulatory compliance, and continuity of services. This position acts as a liaison between internal leadership, community stakeholders, providers, contractors, and KernBHRS to align with Clinica Sierra Vista’s mission and patient-centered care standards.

Requirements

Requires a Master's degree or Ph.D; and at least 3 years of management or supervisory experience in behavioral health or a related field.
Licensure by the Board of Behavioral Sciences or the California Board of Psychology; and expertise in the delivery of community-based safety net behavioral health services.
Excellent verbal, written and communication skills.
Excellent problem solving and organizational skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in spreadsheet, database, word processing and other computer software applications.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Senior Director‑BH, organize, oversee, and continuously improve patient flow systems across the full continuum of behavioral health and SUD services to achieve high levels of access, efficiency, quality, and patient satisfaction.
In partnership with the Quality Improvement (QI) Manager, ensure organizational compliance with all applicable county, state, federal, contract, Drug Medi‑Cal, Specialty Mental Health, Joint Commission, and Clinica Sierra Vista policies, procedures, and clinical standards across all specialty BH and SUD treatment sites.
Under the direction of the Senior Director‑BH, plan, lead, and supervise multi‑site behavioral health and SUD programs; regularly evaluate program outcomes, service utilization, and performance metrics; and implement improvement strategies responsive to identified patient population needs.
Assist in the recruitment, selection, onboarding, supervision, training, coaching, and performance evaluation of professional and supervisory direct reports, including clinic managers and program supervisors, fostering leadership development and staff retention.
Ensure the integrity, quality, and timeliness of clinical and financial documentation, productivity, and reporting activities in collaboration with the QI Manager, clinic managers, site supervisors, and finance staff.
Participate in preparation for, presentation at, and follow‑up from contract meetings, audits, site reviews, and stakeholder engagements with county agencies, funders, and regulatory bodies to support contract compliance, retention, and growth.
Conduct regularly scheduled individual and group meetings with clinic managers and program supervisors to review program performance, service delivery, productivity, staffing, recruitment, training needs, budget monitoring, and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.
Monitor program budgets, staffing patterns, and service capacity, and collaborate with senior leadership to address operational challenges, resource needs, and strategic planning initiatives.
Serve as a liaison to internal departments and external partners to support coordinated care, continuity of services, and effective communication across systems of care.
Promptly inform the Senior Director‑BH of significant operational, clinical, contractual, staffing, or compliance concerns, along with recommended corrective actions when appropriate.
Crisis response coordination, corrective action planning, and service continuity efforts.
Maintain confidentiality, data security, and ethical standards at all times in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, organizational policy, and applicable laws.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the Behavioral Health Department and organizational objectives.