Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships

Compass Health Center•Silver Spring, MD

5d•$95,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Weekly outpatient therapy isn't always enough, and a trip to the ER isn't the only answer. Patients and their families rely on Compass Health Center when in crisis – every day, we help people overcome depression, anxiety, suicidality, obsessions/compulsions, trauma, chronic pain, and other obstacles in order for our patients to live freely. About This Role Compass Health Center is a leading provider of Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), delivering immediate access to evidence-based mental health care for children, adolescents, young adults, and adults. With established operations in Illinois and expanding programs across Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, Compass bridges the critical gap between outpatient and inpatient care—diverting patients from emergency departments and inpatient hospitalization while achieving measurable clinical outcomes. As Compass expands in the Mid-Atlantic, we are building a high-performing Strategic Partnerships engine—one that is accountable, market-specific, data-driven, and deeply centered on the patient and referrer experience. The DMV represents a priority growth region with dense provider networks, complex payer environments, and increasing demand for both in-person and virtual levels of care. The Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships – DMV is a clinically informed, relationship-driven business development leader responsible for driving referral growth, building durable partnerships, and expanding Compass’s footprint across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. This role blends clinical fluency, consultative sales, and regional market strategy. It is not a traditional community liaison role—it is a performance-based partnership sales position, accountable for referral volume, admissions growth, partner satisfaction, and long-term referral behavior across a complex, multi-jurisdictional healthcare market. The Associate Director will also play a key role in advancing virtual and hybrid programming, positioning Compass as a flexible, accessible partner for providers navigating capacity constraints, geographic barriers, and evolving patient needs. Location: Hybrid - DC/MD/VA

Requirements

Clinical license or license-eligible preferred
2+ years of clinical experience in mental health; PHP/IOP or higher levels of care strongly preferred
Demonstrated business development or partnership experience; healthcare sales or account management a plus
Strong understanding of multi-market or multi-state healthcare environments preferred
Proven ability to build trust with senior clinical and executive stakeholders
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Data-driven and tech-savvy; experience with CRM systems and performance dashboards
Entrepreneurial mindset with strong accountability and growth orientation

Responsibilities

Business Development & Account Management (DMV Focus)
Own and grow a portfolio of High-Value Target (HVT) accounts across the DMV, including:
Hospital systems and EDs
Academic medical centers
Large outpatient and group practices
School districts and university counseling centers
Employer and EAP partners
Develop and execute territory-specific account plans informed by:
Local admissions trends
State-specific access and payer dynamics
Referral friction points unique to DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Build trusted relationships with psychiatrists, therapists, case managers, discharge planners, school counselors, PCPs, and emergency department staff
Translate relationships into measurable qualified referrals, admissions, and pipeline growth
Partner closely with Admissions to ensure:
Warm handoffs
Clear admission criteria alignment
Rapid resolution of referral and access barriers
Regional Market Intelligence Strategy
Serve as the eyes and ears of the DMV market, monitoring:
Competitive dynamics across in-person and virtual providers
State-specific regulatory and referral nuances
Capacity gaps and unmet clinical needs
Track referral behavior, volume, and feedback using HubSpot CRM and Sigmund Aura
Identify trends and translate insights into strategic recommendations for:
Program development
Access improvements
Market prioritization
Provide regular market intelligence to senior leadership to inform regional growth strategy
Virtual & Hybrid Programming Growth
Position Compass’s virtual and hybrid PHP/IOP offerings as a strategic solution for:
Referrers with long waitlists or geographic barriers
Patients requiring continuity of care across state lines (where clinically appropriate)
School-based and employer partners seeking flexible access models
Educate referral partners on:
Clinical appropriateness of virtual and hybrid care
Admission criteria and patient selection
Outcomes and engagement expectations
Collaborate with clinical and operations leaders to identify:
Opportunities to expand virtual programming reach in the DMV
Referral workflows that integrate seamlessly with virtual care pathways
Support virtual CE events, webinars, and digital partner education initiatives
Clinically Informed Messaging & Credibility
Maintain a strong working knowledge of:
Compass treatment models (PHP, IOP, TMS, specialty programming)
Admission criteria and payer considerations
Clinical outcomes and differentiators
Confidently articulate Compass’s value proposition to:
Hospital leadership
Senior clinicians
Administrative and operational decision makers
Leverage clinical background to:
Build credibility and trust
Translate program offerings into real-world referral solutions
Ensure alignment between referring providers and Compass clinical teams
Growth Campaigns & Strategic Initiatives
Execute DMV-specific growth campaigns tied to:
New program launches
Access expansion
Payer alignment
Seasonal surges (e.g., back-to-school, winter acuity increases)
Partner with Marketing on:
Co-branded outreach
CE programs and partner webinars
Digital and virtual engagement strategies
Support regional initiatives such as:
Concierge referral pathways
Expedited admissions processes
CompassForward discharge and step-down strategies
External Visibility & Community Presence
Represent Compass across the DMV at:
Professional associations
Behavioral health coalitions
Hospital and provider roundtables
Facilitate connections between Compass clinical leaders and:
Speaking engagements
Panel discussions
Educational sessions
Manage a strategic calendar of in-person and virtual engagements aligned with pipeline and growth goals