Director of Eligibility

State of South Carolina•Lexington County, SC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the South Carolina Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD) where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Director of Eligibility who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply. This position serves as OIDD's senior clinical authority responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and legally defensible eligibility determinations for individuals with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord injury (SCI), and other related and similar disabilities. Provides professional psychological leadership over eligibility operations, supervises eligibility team managers, and applies advanced clinical judgment to complex and non-standard cases. Acts as the final approver for all special eligibility cases, including referrals from Clinical Services, Special Services, Judicial Admissions, DJJ subclass requests, and other non-standard eligibility pathways. Applies advanced psychological expertise to ensure clinical validity, policy compliance, and equitable decision-making. Co-signs eligibility determination reports for all special eligibility cases. Serves as the primary agency authority and expert representative for all hearings and appeals related to eligibility determinations. Collaborates with legal counsel and judicial admissions program areas to prepare documentation, provide expert analysis, and ensure determinations are legally and clinically defensible. Provides direct supervision to the managers of the Access and Information Team, Non-ASD Clinical Team, ASD Clinical Team, and Level of Care and Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Team. Conducts weekly management meetings, monthly one-to-one supervisory meetings, and quarterly all-staff meetings. Serves as the primary approver for Level of Care determinations. Ensures determinations meet clinical, regulatory, and documentation standards. Serves as the designated backup reviewer for Level of Care reviews when the primary reviewer is unavailable. Provides clinical oversight and consultation to ensure continuity, accuracy, and compliance with Level of Care requirements. Maintains professional licensure and engages in ongoing education to support ethical, evidence-based psychological practice and effective leadership. Performs additional duties as assigned to support agency priorities, including participation in work groups, policy development, inter-office collaboration, and special initiatives. BHDD-OIDD is a part of the state's behavioral health and developmental disabilities agency, providing services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and substance use disorders through a wholistic, streamlined and coordinated approach. OIDD assists in the planning, developing, coordinating, and funding services for South Carolinians with the severe, lifelong disabilities of intellectual disability and related disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury and similar disability.

Requirements

A Master’s degree from an accredited program in an applied psychology field (e.g., Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Psychology, or Counseling Psychology), and at least four (4) years of clinical experience acquired after the completion of the Master’s degree.
Candidates holding a valid license to practice Psychology in the State of South Carolina meet the minimum qualification standards regardless of the specific degree and experience duration listed above.

Nice To Haves

Active independent clinical licensure (e.g., LPC, LMFT, Licensed Psychologist, or LISW-CP).
Active, unrestricted license to practice in the State of South Carolina throughout employment.
Advanced knowledge and professional experience of psychological assessment, diagnostic criteria, and functional limitations associated with complex eligibility determinations involving individuals with ID, ASD, TBI, and SCI.
Knowledge of standardized psychological and adaptive assessment tools and their interpretation is required.
Skilled in independent clinical judgment, reviewing medical, psychological, and educational records to make accurate, defensible eligibility and Level of Care determinations.
Strong supervisory and leadership skills, including mentoring, performance evaluation, and clinical consultation.
Excellent written communication skills along with strong verbal communication skills.
Effective time management and organizational skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

Serves as OIDD's senior clinical authority responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and legally defensible eligibility determinations for individuals with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord injury (SCI), and other related and similar disabilities.
Provides professional psychological leadership over eligibility operations, supervises eligibility team managers, and applies advanced clinical judgment to complex and non-standard cases.
Acts as the final approver for all special eligibility cases, including referrals from Clinical Services, Special Services, Judicial Admissions, DJJ subclass requests, and other non-standard eligibility pathways.
Applies advanced psychological expertise to ensure clinical validity, policy compliance, and equitable decision-making.
Co-signs eligibility determination reports for all special eligibility cases.
Serves as the primary agency authority and expert representative for all hearings and appeals related to eligibility determinations.
Collaborates with legal counsel and judicial admissions program areas to prepare documentation, provide expert analysis, and ensure determinations are legally and clinically defensible.
Provides direct supervision to the managers of the Access and Information Team, Non-ASD Clinical Team, ASD Clinical Team, and Level of Care and Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Team.
Conducts weekly management meetings, monthly one-to-one supervisory meetings, and quarterly all-staff meetings.
Serves as the primary approver for Level of Care determinations.
Ensures determinations meet clinical, regulatory, and documentation standards.
Serves as the designated backup reviewer for Level of Care reviews when the primary reviewer is unavailable.
Provides clinical oversight and consultation to ensure continuity, accuracy, and compliance with Level of Care requirements.
Maintains professional licensure and engages in ongoing education to support ethical, evidence-based psychological practice and effective leadership.
Performs additional duties as assigned to support agency priorities, including participation in work groups, policy development, inter-office collaboration, and special initiatives.

Benefits

Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children.
15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
15 days sick leave per year
13 paid holidays
Paid Parental Leave
S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
Retirement benefit choices
State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
Referral Incentive Reward program
Retention Bonus program