Director of Behavioral Services – Inpatient Behavioral Health

Great Bay Staffing Group•Ithaca, NY

About The Position

The Director of Behavioral Services takes full clinical and administrative ownership of an inpatient behavioral health unit within a growing healthcare organization. The role provides direction for the department’s clinical operations, staffing, budget, and quality outcomes, while contributing to the broader behavioral health and substance use disorder service line. The director works with physicians, nursing, social work, therapy, and health-system partners to maintain effective treatment programs and support patient-centered care.

Requirements

BSN or New York State LMSW.
Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health conditions.
Demonstrated clinical and administrative leadership.
Ability to manage clinical operations, staff, budgets, and resources.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years of leadership experience in an acute mental health setting.
Experience leading inpatient behavioral health programs.
Master’s degree in a leadership-focused field, such as an MSN, MBA, or MHA.
Certification in psychiatry or another applicable behavioral health field.
Track record in quality improvement and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

Lead the clinical and administrative operations of the inpatient behavioral health unit.
Supervise and evaluate staff, set goals, and ensure staffing levels are appropriate and efficient.
Build and manage the departmental budget, identifying cost savings and revenue opportunities without compromising patient care.
Develop and evaluate department policies, procedures, and programs.
Track patient-care outcomes and drive data-informed quality improvement.
Maintain compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements.
Work with health-system partners on utilization review, corporate compliance, operations, and patient safety.
Collaborate with medical staff, nursing, social work, and therapy to keep treatment programs effective.
Support a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and patient-centered care.