Director of School-Based Services & Operations

Backpack Healthcare•Columbia, MD

9h•Hybrid

About The Position

Backpack Healthcare is seeking a strategic, highly organized, and results-driven Director of School-Based Services & Operations to lead the day-to-day operations and continued growth of its school-based behavioral health programs. The Director will oversee end-to-end operations, ensuring school partnerships are appropriately staffed, programs operate efficiently, grant-funded initiatives meet reporting and compliance obligations, and program outcomes are measured and evaluated. Reporting to the VP of Clinical Operations, this role is the primary operational leader for all school-based service sites. The Director will work with internal leadership, school district partners, grant funders, and cross-functional teams to support program effectiveness, sustainability, and impact. The position is hybrid, with regular local travel to school partner locations and occasional travel for funder meetings, site visits, conferences, or organizational initiatives. Work takes place across office, school-based, and remote environments. Standard business hours are generally expected, with occasional flexibility for school schedules, program needs, and funder deadlines.

Requirements

Minimum of 4 years of experience in behavioral health program operations.
Demonstrated experience managing grant-funded programs, including funder reporting, deliverables, and compliance requirements.
Experience overseeing staffing, workforce planning, and operational functions across multiple sites.
Working knowledge of HIPAA, FERPA, and state regulations governing school-based behavioral health services.
Familiarity with grant reporting platforms, outcome measurement tools, and workforce scheduling systems.
Strong financial and budget management skills, including monitoring program expenses and resource allocation.
Ability to interpret program data, establish measurable outcomes, and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders.
Excellent relationship management, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational execution in a fast-paced environment.
Comfort using standard office technology and communicating through in-person meetings, video conferencing, phone, and written correspondence.
Ability to remain stationary for extended periods and perform standard computer-based responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, or a related field.
Active clinical licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMHC, or equivalent).
At least 3 years of experience in school-based services or comparable community-based programming.
Previous leadership experience within a school-based mental health program, grant-funded nonprofit organization, or multi-site behavioral health operation.
Experience working directly with school districts, community partners, and external funding organizations.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily operations of school-based behavioral health programs and promote consistent, effective service delivery across locations.
Develop, implement, and monitor operational procedures, performance metrics, and KPIs related to staffing coverage, service utilization, and program deliverables.
Manage school-based program budgets with Finance and ensure effective resource allocation.
Build and maintain relationships with school district partners and ensure contractual obligations and operational needs are met.
Identify opportunities to improve program efficiency, service delivery, and long-term sustainability.
Oversee recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and workforce planning for clinicians and support staff assigned to school-based programs.
Monitor caseloads, staffing ratios, and coverage across school partnerships to maintain appropriate service capacity.
Partner with Human Resources to address staffing shortages, turnover, leaves of absence, and other workforce needs.
Develop and maintain staffing models and projections aligned with school contracts, program needs, and grant requirements.
Serve as the primary operational contact for grant funders and ensure timely, accurate submission of programmatic and outcome reports.
Track grant deliverables, milestones, reporting deadlines, and compliance requirements across active funding sources.
Collaborate with Finance and Grants/Development teams on renewal applications, budget reporting, and funder audits.
Establish and maintain documentation and reporting systems to support grant compliance, funder requirements, and program site visits.
Ensure adherence to HIPAA, FERPA, applicable state regulations, and organizational policies.
Lead and coordinate research and evaluation to assess the effectiveness and impact of school-based behavioral health services.
Partner with clinical leadership to establish, monitor, and analyze program outcome measures.
Translate program data into reports, presentations, and recommendations for leadership, funders, and school partners.
Stay informed about research, industry trends, and evidence-based practices in school-based behavioral health to support program development.
Provide direct leadership, guidance, and operational oversight to school-based program staff and coordinators.
Collaborate with Clinical Operations, HR, Finance, Compliance, and other departments to align work with organizational goals and standards.
Represent school-based services in executive leadership discussions, strategic planning, and organizational initiatives.
Foster accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high-quality service delivery.