Manager, Substance Use Navigation

LCMC Health•New Orleans, LA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Substance Use Navigation (SUN) Manager plays a critical leadership role in overseeing the implementation, performance, and continuous improvement of SUN services within the hospital setting, with a primary focus on the emergency department. This role is responsible for supervising SUN staff who identify, engage, and support patients with substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder (OUD). The Manager ensures that SUNs consistently deliver patient-centered navigation services that promote harm reduction, facilitate initiation of MOUD, and connect patients to outpatient care. In addition to operational oversight, the SUN Manager is accountable for building a strong, supported workforce through structured supervision, coaching, and professional development. The Manager ensures clear role definition, appropriate supervision practices, and effective integration of peer support into interdisciplinary care teams. The SUN Manager collaborates closely with physicians, nursing, social work, case management, behavioral health, pharmacy, and community partners to optimize workflows, remove barriers to treatment access, and improve patient outcomes. This role also leads efforts to advance organizational culture change by promoting non-stigmatizing, harm-reduction oriented approaches to substance use care. This position requires strong leadership, operational, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to manage staff in a fast-paced clinical environment across multiple facilities while maintaining a focus on quality, compliance, and patient-centered care.

Requirements

Minimum of five (5) years of experience working with individuals with substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or other vulnerable populations in a healthcare, community-based, or social services setting.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a supervisory, lead, or program coordination role preferred.
Experience working in an emergency department, inpatient hospital setting, community outreach, harm-reduction program, or MAT program.
Experience coordinating care, navigating health systems, or providing patient navigation or case management services.
Experience supervising or working alongside Peer Support Specialists, Substance Use Navigators, and/or Community Health Workers is preferred.
Master’s degree in social work, public health, human services, nursing, or a related field is preferred.
Licensed Professional Licensed Mental Health Professional (e.g. LCSW, LPC, or equivalent)
Completion of Louisiana Peer Support Specialist Supervisor Training

Responsibilities

Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management for Substance Use Navigators (SUNs).
Establish and maintain structured supervision practices, including regular 1:1 meetings, case review, and documentation oversight.
Ensure staff maintain appropriate boundaries, ethical standards, and adherence to scope of practice.
Support onboarding, training, and ongoing competency development for SUN staff.
Oversee daily SUN operations within the emergency department and hospital settings across LCMC Health.
Ensure consistent identification, engagement, and follow-up of patients with SUD.
Monitor staff productivity, patient engagement metrics, and program outcomes.
Identify workflow gaps and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, patient access, and patient experience.
Collaborate with ED Clinical Champions and interdisciplinary teams to support initiation of MOUD and harm-reduction practices.
Standardize processes for patient identification, brief assessment, referral, and linkage to care.
Support development and maintenance of referral pathways to outpatient clinics and community services.
Lead and support continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Champion the use of non-stigmatizing language and culturally responsive care practices.
Support implementation of evidence-based protocols and alignment with organizational quality and population health goals.
Build and maintain relationships with providers, behavioral health agencies, and community-based organizations providing addiction medicine care.
Ensure SUN staff maintain up-to-date knowledge of community resources and referral processes.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to address barriers to care and improve care transitions.