Director of Admissions

NEW MEXICO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE LL•Albuquerque, NM

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Admissions provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of the admissions department within a psychiatric hospital. The role ensures efficient, compliant, and patient-centered intake processes aligned with organizational goals. The Director collaborates with clinical leadership, business development, and external partners to optimize patient access, census growth, and continuity of care, and provides welcoming, patient-centered communication during admissions. The Director leads and develops the admissions department, establishes strategies to improve access, admissions volume, and throughput, and uses admissions metrics, referral trends, and market data to guide performance. The position oversees departmental policies and procedures, budget, staffing, and resource allocation; addresses escalated access issues; and advances quality improvement. It also coordinates admissions with the multidisciplinary care team, communicates census and patient-flow information to management, maintains regulatory readiness, and works with nursing, clinical personnel, community resources, and referral partners. The role requires the ability to work in a fast-paced hospital setting, communicate effectively with varied audiences, lead and coach staff, and respond to urgent and emotionally sensitive situations. The position may involve extended hours, on-call availability, travel, and a flexible schedule including weekends, holidays, and shift changes.

Requirements

A master's degree in social work or counseling, an RN qualification with an RN license, or equivalent experience is required.
At least 21 years of age.
Valid driver's license.
Level I NMHCA Fingerprint Clearance and ability to pass required clearances and background checks.
Flexibility to adjust to the needs of a fast-paced environment and effective problem-solving skills.
Proficient oral and written communication skills.
Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and shift changes.
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to coach, mentor, and provide quality feedback to managed staff, with demonstrated ability to lead effectively in a changing environment.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret human service periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports and business correspondence and analyze policies and procedures.
Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and the public.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Knowledge of Electronic Health Records, internet software, payroll systems, spreadsheet software, and word-processing software.
Ability to see and read a computer monitor or notebook screen and use a keyboard.
Ability to stand, walk, and sit during assigned shift hours; handle patient belongings with gloved hands; and manually assess patients as part of a physical exam.
Ability to climb, reach, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Normal access to special senses for patient care, including hearing, taste, and smell; required vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
Ability to travel and drive a vehicle.

Nice To Haves

At least four years of experience in behavioral health inpatient healthcare management is preferred.

Responsibilities

Facilitate and coordinate patient admissions to ensure timely treatment.
Provide concise, relevant clinical information about patients to the multidisciplinary team responsible for their care.
Use crisis assessment and intervention criteria as needed, conduct clinical assessments, and document information for review by the appropriate clinical team to determine the required level of care.
Maintain knowledge of and establish contacts with community resources.
Ensure policies, procedures, and practices comply with service standards and applicable administrative, legal, governmental, and accrediting requirements, including HIPAA and Joint Commission standards.
Communicate and interact effectively as a leader and team member with management and staff at all levels, and collaborate with others.
Keep management informed about pending discharges, admissions, and expected census.
Attend leadership meetings, provide required reports and admissions information, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
Maintain continuous regulatory readiness.
Communicate with nursing and clinical personnel to assess acuity and ensure admissions are appropriate.
Provide information to management to improve service quality and resolve identified problems.
Communicate and implement process improvements and new system initiatives related to intake and admissions.
Conduct briefings and area meetings and maintain frequent contact with other managers across the department and company.
Lead, develop, and oversee admissions managers, coordinators, and intake staff.
Establish and implement strategic goals to optimize patient access, admissions volume, and throughput.
Analyze admissions metrics, referral trends, and market data to inform strategy and improve performance.
Partner with business development and outreach teams to strengthen referral relationships and expand service utilization.
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and best practices to improve efficiency and patient experience.
Manage the departmental budget, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
Address escalated patient-access issues, including complex cases, capacity constraints, stakeholder concerns, patient concerns, and logistical challenges.
Drive continuous quality improvement initiatives and participate in organizational performance improvement efforts.
Monitor admissions data, trends, and key performance indicators to improve efficiency and patient flow.
Perform other duties as assigned.