Director of Clinical Services

Childrens Home of Jefferson • Watertown, NY

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Clinical Services provides agency-wide clinical leadership and oversight for all programs delivering clinical services. This role is responsible for establishing and maintaining clinical standards, supervision structures, and workforce development systems that support high-quality, compliant, and person-centered care. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Director of Clinical Services collaborates closely with senior leadership to guide clinical strategy, support program implementation, ensure regulatory compliance, and strengthen the overall clinical capacity of the organization.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or a closely related clinical field from an accredited institution
• Current, unrestricted New York State clinical licensure that meets the scope of practice requirements to independently supervise clinical staff, required (LCSW or LMHC (Diagnostic Privilege))
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible clinical experience, including direct service delivery to children, adults, and/or families in behavioral health settings
• Demonstrated experience providing clinical supervision to licensed and unlicensed clinicians, interns, and clinical supervisors
• Advanced knowledge of New York State regulatory requirements governing clinical practice, supervision, utilization review, and professional licensure.
• Prior experience in clinical leadership, program oversight, or administrative roles within a complex human services or behavioral health organization
• Experience developing or overseeing clinical policies, workflows, training programs, and quality assurance or utilization review processes
• Experience working across multiple service settings (e.g., outpatient clinic, crisis services, foster care, community-based programs) strongly preferred
• Thorough knowledge of clinical practice standards, evidence-based and informed treatment models, and trauma-informed care across behavioral health service settings
• Advanced knowledge of New York State laws, regulations, and professional standards governing clinical services, supervision, utilization review, and licensure requirements
• Working knowledge of Medicaid and other payer requirements related to clinical documentation, medical necessity, and service authorization
• Knowledge of workforce development models, including clinical supervision structures, internship programs, and licensure hour tracking
• Understanding of quality improvement methodologies, utilization management, and risk management in behavioral health systems
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills with the ability to set clinical direction and respond effectively to complex or high-risk situations
• Demonstrated skill in providing effective clinical supervision, consultation, and mentorship to licensed clinicians, clinical supervisors, and interns
• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate clinical policies, workflows, and operational systems across multiple programs
• Effective communication skills necessary to collaborate with executive leadership, program leadership, staff, regulators, and external partners
• Ability to analyze clinical data, utilization trends, and quality indicators to inform decision-making and continuous improvement
• Capacity to assess organizational clinical needs and lead staff development and training initiatives to address skill gaps
• Skill in evaluating and supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices and new clinical initiatives
• Ability to exercise independent clinical judgment while balancing regulatory, ethical, and organizational considerations
• Ability to oversee multiple clinical service lines simultaneously and maintain consistency in clinical standards across programs
• Ability to manage competing priorities, respond to emerging issues, and adapt to changing regulatory or operational demands
• Ability to work collaboratively within an executive leadership structure while representing clinical priorities and risks
• Ability to maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and sound judgment in sensitive personnel, ethical, and clinical matters
• Must maintain privacy of confidential information.
• Successful completion of routine pre-employment requirements as mandated by the New York State Department of Health, Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services along with ongoing clearances and exclusion checks. These requirements are to include employment health requirements, reference checks, criminal background checks/fingerprinting, State Central Registry clearance and your eligibility to work in the United States.
• A valid NYS driver’s license required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working across multiple service settings (e.g., outpatient clinic, crisis services, foster care, community-based programs) strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Provides direct and/or indirect clinical supervision of licensed and unlicensed clinical staff across the Clinic and other agency programs with clinical services
• Oversees clinical supervisor assignments to ensure appropriate coverage, scope alignment, and licensure compliance
• Ensures adequate clinical consultation, supervision, and support is available to all programs delivering clinical services
• Oversight of ethical practice concerns, boundary issues, and professional conduct
• Provides consultation on matters related to clinical judgment, professional standards, and scope of practice
• Represents the agency on clinical matters with regulators, partners, payers, and community stakeholders
• Works in collaboration with the Medical Director and Executive Leadership to support licensing visits, audits, and reviews from a clinical authority standpoint
• Oversees all facets of the agency’s clinical internship program, including program design, placement approvals, supervision structures, compliance with academic and licensure requirements, documentation standards, and evaluation of intern performance
• Ensures internship activities align with agency needs, regulatory standards, and workforce development goals
• Provides clinical oversight and accountability for utilization review processes across clinical programs, including medical necessity, service intensity, and continued stay determinations
• Collaborates with the Director of Behavioral Health Administration on policy development, regulatory compliance, and clinical workflows
• Ensures clinical services are delivered in compliance with federal, state, payer, and licensing requirements
• Defines and maintains agency-wide clinical practice standards
• Ensures consistency of clinical expectations across programs
• Oversees corrective action when clinical practice deviates from standards
• Oversees clinical supervision and tracking of client contact hours toward professional licensure
• Ensures clinical staff and interns receive appropriate training, supervision, and skill development aligned with program needs, evidence-based practices, and regulatory expectations
• Identifies skill gaps and leads staff development strategies to maintain a clinically competent workforce
• Responsible for developing, overseeing, and updating clinical staff onboarding processes and ongoing clinical training to support staff competency and licensure-aligned skill development
• Provides clinical input and support for agency-wide training programs to ensure clinical concepts and expectations are effectively incorporated for all staff
• Vets evidence-based and promising practices and collaborates with the COO and applicable program leadership on implementation planning, resource allocation, and execution
• Provides clinical input on the development, implementation, and evaluation of new and existing programs
• In collaboration with program leadership, develops, implements, and monitors day-to-day clinical operational systems and workflows
• Provides clinical feedback on agency operations, policies, procedures, and processes
• Contributes to strategic planning and provides leadership on agency-wide clinical priorities and initiatives
• Communicates clinical performance, risks, and system-level issues to Executive Leadership
• Supports agency goals related to quality, access, compliance, and service effectiveness
• Represents the agency on clinical matters in external community forums, interagency meetings, and system-level collaborations, supporting coordinated care and community-wide clinical initiatives
• Serves as the agency’s primary clinical authority, providing leadership and oversight for clinical practice across programs
• Provides consultation or decision-making on high-risk clinical situations, complex cases, and system-wide practice concerns

Benefits

• Corporate Compliance, HIPAA Privacy Security, and Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Training and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, First Aid and CPR will be required following date of hire.

What This Job Offers

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