Clinical Program Director: School-Based K-12

Effective School Solutions • Piscataway, NJ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Effective School Solutions (ESS) is a well-established, rapidly growing organization changing the nature of in-school mental health services for K-12 students. The Clinical Program Director leads the clinical and operational success of ESS's program at NuView Academy, supporting K-12 students with the highest level of need — many of whom are stepping down from hospitalization or residential care, or could not be safely maintained in a traditional public school. This is a high-responsibility, high-impact role: you'll provide leadership to clinical staff, own program operations, and serve as the primary point of contact between ESS and school leadership, all while making sure some of the highest-need students in the state get the intensive care they need to stabilize and move forward. This role is built for a seasoned, independently licensed clinician who is ready to lead at a program level. It's a fast-paced environment where priorities shift quickly, so comfort anticipating needs before they're voiced and making sound decisions with incomplete information goes a long way. You bring deep clinical expertise with acute, high-need student populations, real experience managing and developing clinical leaders and teams, and the relationship-building skills to earn trust with school and state education leadership alike. In return, you'll get a structured, well-resourced program to run, a team of experienced clinical and educational leaders behind you, and the kind of ownership that comes with building something that works, plus extensive training in ESS protocols, systems, and service models as you get started.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related mental health field.
• Active, independent clinical license (LCSW, LPC, LMFT) in NJ.
• Certification to provide clinical supervision.
• 6–8 years providing clinical services to children and adolescents with significant behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges.
• 3–5 years of supervisory or leadership experience in a clinical setting.
• Proven ability to build trust and strong working relationships with school administrators, district leaders, families, and community partners.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and project management skills, with a solution-focused approach to problem solving.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic documentation/EHR systems.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in a school-based mental health program.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.
• Comfort using data to drive clinical and operational decisions.

Responsibilities

• Provide weekly individual clinical supervision (~9 hours/week) to Clinicians and Mental Health Technicians, including consultation and oversight for individual, group, and family interventions.
• Lead weekly consultation meetings on treatment planning, progress monitoring, and documentation compliance.
• Represent ESS in IEP meetings, manifestation determinations, disciplinary hearings, and re-entry planning following hospitalization or disciplinary action.
• Coordinate care across families, school staff, psychiatrists, and community providers so students move smoothly across the full continuum of care.
• Collaborate directly with the psychiatrist on medication management — appointment setting, confirmation, and follow-through with families and the school nurse — acting as the bridge between psychiatry and the school.
• Build strong multidisciplinary partnerships that support students' academic, behavioral, and emotional success.
• Lead family engagement efforts, including a monthly in-person parent support group, parent meetings, and educational programming.
• Serve as the program's go-to expert for managing crises and high-risk student situations and be available by phone to support staff providing after-hours family therapy.
• Own day-to-day program operations and people management for the clinical team — staffing, scheduling, adherence to ESS standards, performance feedback, annual reviews, and corrective action, in partnership with the Clinical Regional Director and HR.
• Partner with ESS's Regional Recruiting Manager on interviewing and hiring clinical staff.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with school and district leadership on program needs, outcomes, and student support, and report program progress to district and ESS leadership.
• Identify potential clinical, relationship, or staffing issues early, and resolve them independently and effectively.
• Coordinate with school leaders on tours, referrals, and assessment scheduling for prospective students and families.
• Step in to cover clinical coverage gaps when needed.
• Ensure clinical documentation is accurate, timely, and compliant with ESS, ethical, and regulatory standards.
• Track and analyze program data (attendance, behavior, academics, utilization) and turn it into action plans that close performance gaps.
• Represent ESS professionally across the district, traveling as needed to support your team.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401K plan with employer match.
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage.
• PTO and paid holidays.
• Access to CEUs and professional development.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), plus access to discount programs for entertainment/travel and a childcare network.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior