Director of Clinical Services (DCS)

Ridgeview Institute Smyrna•Smyrna, GA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Clinical Services (DCS) provides executive-level leadership and strategic direction for the facility’s clinical and social services programs, ensuring high-quality care, regulatory compliance, and alignment with organizational performance goals. The DCS partners closely with the Medical Director and senior leadership to design, implement, and continuously improve clinical programming that supports patient outcomes, staff excellence, and long-term growth. The role provides strategic and operational leadership for clinical services, including administrative oversight, clinical workflows, and performance management systems. As the executive representative for Clinical Services, the DCS collaborates with the Medical Director to plan and implement structured, evidence-based social services programs within the therapeutic environment. The DCS oversees program integrity for specialized patient populations and ensures responsiveness to community needs and payer expectations. The position monitors market trends, referral patterns, payer dynamics, and regulatory or political factors affecting behavioral health delivery. It sets a vision for clinical programming, evaluates current services, and drives improvements to quality, efficiency, and outcomes. The DCS applies systems-level thinking to organizational challenges, establishes measurable goals, and guides change through leadership and collaboration. The role also establishes clinical standards of practice, mentors clinical leaders and interdisciplinary teams, leads departmental budget planning and fiscal oversight, and ensures clinical initiatives align with the facility’s mission, strategic priorities, and performance objectives. The DCS manages Program Therapists, the Discharge Planner, and other treatment team members.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school with a master’s in social work or a related mental health field; listed as preferred.
Minimum of five years of experience in the psychiatric or mental health field.
Active appropriate Georgia mental health license: LCSW, LMFT, or LPC-CPCS.
Strong knowledge of Joint Commission and CMS standards, OSHA regulations, patient rights standards, and applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing mental health care facilities.

Nice To Haves

At least three years of experience in advanced clinical or management practice is preferred.
A master’s degree in social work or a related mental health field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for clinical services, including administrative oversight, clinical workflows, and performance management systems.
Represent Clinical Services at the executive level and collaborate with the Medical Director to plan, develop, and implement structured, evidence-based social services programs.
Ensure the integrity of clinical programs for specialized patient populations and responsiveness to community needs and payer expectations.
Monitor market trends, referral patterns, payer dynamics, and regulatory or political factors affecting behavioral health delivery.
Set a vision for clinical programming, evaluate existing services, and drive improvements in quality, efficiency, and outcomes.
Apply systems-level thinking to complex organizational challenges, establish measurable goals, and guide change through leadership and collaboration.
Establish and uphold clinical standards of practice, providing direction, mentorship, and guidance to clinical leadership and interdisciplinary teams.
Lead departmental budget planning, including development, justification, and ongoing fiscal oversight for staffing, facilities, and resources.
Ensure clinical service goals and initiatives align with the facility’s mission, strategic priorities, and performance objectives.
Manage Program Therapists, the Discharge Planner, and other treatment team members.