Director of Clinical Services

North County Lifeline•Vista, CA

About The Position

Lifeline Community Services seeks a visionary, hands-on leader to serve as our next Director of Clinical Services, a key member of the senior leadership team responsible for shaping, elevating, and ensuring excellence across all clinical services. This role is a unique opportunity to transform the agency's clinical practices, set bold standards, and help Lifeline become an employer of choice in behavioral health. As we implement our new strategic plan, Lifeline is deepening its work at the intersection of behavioral health and economic empowerment. The Director of Clinical Services will play a pivotal role in aligning clinical systems with this vision - leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of standards, training, supervision, and quality assurance across all programs. This is a strategic and operational leadership role: you will not only design the frameworks that guide clinical care, but also ensure those frameworks are effectively communicated, supported, and executed at all levels of the organization.

Requirements

Master's or doctoral degree in psychology, social work, marriage & family therapy, applied behavioral health analysis, or a related field (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, BCBA, Psy.D., or Ph.D.).
Active California licensure or certification with a minim of two years' post-licensure or post-certification experience. Five (5) or more years are strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience creating and implementing clinical standards, training frameworks, and outcome measurement systems.
Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience in behavioral health, including supervision of clinical staff and oversight of multiple programs.
Strong working knowledge of trauma-informed care, evidence-based practices, and the intersection of behavioral health and social determinants.
Highly organized, strategic thinker with excellent communication and project management skills.
Deep alignment with Lifeline's mission and a passion for building systems that center dignity, equity, and client voice.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships while showing open-mindedness and a collaborative spirit.
Compatibility with agency purpose, goals, philosophy, and approach.
Demonstrates enthusiasm and passion for their work.
Utilizes a creative approach to problem solving.
Interactions with others reflect a spirit of honesty, humbleness, and self-awareness.
Accepts constructive criticism with a positive attitude and willingness to implement change.
Ability to work well independently and demonstrate appropriate initiative.
Must demonstrate knowledge of trauma Informed, client driven, and culturally competent care.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a nonprofit or community-based setting.
Experience working with children, youth, and families from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
Authorized to provide clinical supervision in California.
Familiarity with Medi-Cal documentation, managed care requirements, and workforce development programs.

Responsibilities

Set and Operationalize Standards of Excellence
Lead the development of clinical guidelines, documentation protocols, and therapeutic best practices across all programs.
Set high standards for clinical care and service delivery, and ensure those standards are not only understood but also implemented, measured, and continuously improved.
Develop and maintain systems to track clinical performance against these standards.
Provide hands-on support to supervisors and clinicians to guide implementation, offer feedback, and adjust course as needed.
Collaborate with other departments and external partners to ensure integrated, whole-person care.
Foster a collaborative, positive, and mission-driven work culture that promotes staff engagement and retention.
Build a Comprehensive Clinical Training Framework
Design and lead a structured clinical training and onboarding program for all licensed staff, associate clinicians, trainees, and interns.
Identify and develop clinical competencies, specialty tracks, and leadership pipelines to support long-term staff development and retention.
Maintain a clinical training calendar, curriculum, and resource library to ensure consistency and quality across teams.
Lead Quality Assurance and Compliance in Partnership with the Director of Compliance
Design and implement a robust quality assurance process to evaluate and enhance clinical practices. Partner with the Director of Compliance to align internal protocols with external regulatory and licensing requirements.
Lead or support audits, internal reviews, and fidelity assessments, and ensure corrective actions are followed through.
Develop and Manage Outcome Measurement Systems
Establish systems to collect, track, and analyze clinical outcomes, including client progress, program impact, and clinician effectiveness.
Use data to inform service delivery decisions, adjust training plans, and report on impact to internal and external stakeholders.
Drive Innovation in Clinical Practice
Monitor trends in behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and integrated service delivery.
Pilot and scale innovative models (e.g., telehealth, family-centered interventions, mobile or community-based care).
Cultivate a culture of learning, adaptability, and continuous improvement within clinical teams.
Integrate Behavioral Health with Economic Empowerment
Ensure clinical programs incorporate economic mobility strategies in alignment with Lifeline's strategic direction.
Collaborate with program leadership to explore cross-functional models that integrate behavioral health and economic development.
Train clinicians to understand and engage with the social determinants of health, particularly poverty and economic stress.
Supervision and Staff Development
Directly supervise clinical supervisors and oversee the full clinical supervision system, including intern and trainee coordination.
Support supervisors in the development of strong, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive teams.
Facilitate regular individual and group supervision, leadership development, and consultation structures.
Recruit, hire, train, and conduct performance reviews for clinical staff and managers.
Internal Leadership and External Representation
Serve as a collaborative member of Lifeline's senior leadership team, contributing to agency-wide planning, strategy, and culture.
Represent the agency in community coalitions, professional associations, conferences, and university partnerships.
Ensure clinical work is aligned with Lifeline's mission, values, and commitment to equity, innovation, and impact.
Completes other related duties as assigned