Director of School Services

Where Kids Thrive•Cherry Hill Township, NJ

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of School Services leads Thrive's school-based behavioral health services and provides direct client care, clinical supervision, and program leadership. The role ensures services are clinically sound, appropriately staffed, responsive to school and student needs, and aligned with organizational, contractual, and regulatory requirements. The Director is accountable for overall program performance and serves as Thrive's primary leader and contact for school partners. The Director maintains a minimum of 18 direct client-facing hours per week in addition to director responsibilities, primarily at partner schools. The position is based at a Thrive office one to two days per week and at partner schools on the remaining days; the weekly split depends on school service needs and is reviewed with the Executive Director. During school breaks and summer, the Director may spend more time in the office or support summer programming. Required travel within New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including between schools and offices, is covered by salary; travel outside those states is reimbursed under Thrive's travel policy. The Director oversees school-based programs, clinical and staff performance, school partnerships, quality and outcome reporting, and program development. The role independently resolves routine clinical, staffing, and program issues and escalates matters requiring executive-level action.

Requirements

Master's degree in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related field.
Active, unrestricted New Jersey independent clinical license (LCSW, LPC, or LMFT), with credentialing for Medicaid and commercial payers.
Experience providing and supervising school-based behavioral health services with children and adolescents.
Ability to meet school clearance requirements, including background checks.
Reliable transportation to travel between schools and Thrive offices.
Competencies in clinical supervision, direct clinical practice, school-based behavioral health, program leadership, staff management, relationship management, performance management, problem-solving, data interpretation, communication, and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

Maintain a minimum of 18 direct client-facing hours per week, primarily at partner schools, in addition to director responsibilities.
Complete timely, compliant documentation for all direct client services.
Lead and oversee school-based behavioral health programs, including individual and group therapy, assessments, and summer programming.
Set program goals, expectations, and service standards; monitor capacity, staffing, referrals, productivity, and service delivery across schools.
Identify program needs and growth opportunities, including new school partnerships, and ensure programs meet organizational policies and contract and grant requirements.
Provide clinical supervision to assigned school-based clinicians; review clinical work, documentation, treatment planning, and service delivery; consult on complex cases; and monitor clinical competency.
Address clinical performance concerns and ensure supervisees receive appropriate support.
Set staff performance expectations, conduct evaluations, provide coaching and corrective feedback, and participate in hiring, onboarding, discipline, and termination recommendations.
Assign clinicians to schools and maintain coverage as school needs change; develop staff training and professional-development plans.
Build and maintain relationships with school administrators, counselors, and staff; serve as the primary leadership contact for school partners and resolve their concerns.
Participate in school meetings and collaborative planning; coordinate teacher professional development and parent workshops, including Nurtured Heart Approach and trauma-informed trainings, where contracted.
Track program KPIs and grant outcome measures, including pre- and post-assessments, attendance, and incident data.
Prepare monthly reports for school partners and regular reports for the Executive Director; identify performance gaps and implement improvement strategies.
Collaborate with the Director of Outpatient Services on quality initiatives and with the Director of Internship Training on intern placements in schools.
Participate in leadership meetings, develop annual program goals, and recommend staffing, resources, and policies.
Independently resolve routine clinical, staffing, and program issues and escalate matters requiring executive-level action.