Milieu Director

ODYSSEY BEHAVIORAL GROUP•Columbiana, AL

About The Position

The Milieu Director leads the Recovery Care Specialist (RCS) team and is accountable for the overall quality, safety, and structure of the therapeutic milieu. This role directs staffing, scheduling, and performance expectations, supports clinical integration, and ensures a consistent environment that promotes client engagement and positive treatment outcomes. The Milieu Director models and reinforces the mission, values, and professional standards of the organization in all interactions.

Requirements

Requires 2+ years of experience working in a behavioral health setting, preferably with eating disorders.
Requires 1–2 years of leadership experience in a behavioral health, residential, or healthcare setting, including responsibility for supervising staff, directing daily operations, or leading program activities.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in combined education and experience preferred.
Position requires incumbent to have a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
Clearance of TB test, Health Physical, and any other mandatory state/federal requirements.
Current CPR and First Aid Certification, or willingness to complete within the first 30 days of employment.
Demonstrates an understanding of therapeutic boundaries and confidentiality requirements.
Demonstrates strong leadership capability, including mentoring, performance coaching, and team development.
Demonstrates the ability to recognize and respond to behavioral escalation and employ crisis-intervention techniques.
Demonstrates sound judgment and discretion, analytical thinking, and decision-making skills.
Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills and maintains professional working relationships.
Demonstrates an understanding of safety, security, infection-control, and emergency procedures.
Demonstrates the ability to observe, evaluate, and document client behaviors in groups and activities.
Demonstrates respect for cultural diversity and individual client values.
Demonstrates commitment to the goals, mission, and values of the organization.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and operational oversight for Recovery Care Specialists (RCS) in the supervision of clients throughout the treatment program, ensuring client safety and high-quality therapeutic engagement.
Responsible for the overall structure, quality, and consistency of the therapeutic milieu, ensuring programming aligns with clinical objectives, regulatory standards, and facility mission.
Collaborates with leadership to develop and implement training pathways, competency expectations, and ongoing education for RCS team; ensuring team members are equipped to support client needs and maintain therapeutic standards.
Promotes client involvement in the daily schedule and therapeutic milieu, modeling and reinforcing appropriate boundaries and behaviors.
Performs routine daily client care activities and ensures timely, effective completion of clinical support tasks, charting, and orientation processes.
Collaborates with the Clinical Director to ensure appropriate emotional support and continuity of care for clients.
Demonstrates the ability to lead groups and mentors RCS team members in developing facilitation skills.
Maintains timely and clinically appropriate documentation; ensures RCS team members are trained in and adhere to documentation expectations.
Ensures RCS team members participate in and model healthy behaviors during meals; observes and evaluates client behavior during and after meals.
Represents the RCS team in treatment team meetings, leadership meetings, and other assigned meetings.
Oversees completion of administrative tasks including checklists, phones, mail distribution, scheduling, and supply needs; provides direct support when necessary.
Makes hiring decisions for Recovery Care Specialists and communicates staffing and scheduling needs proactively.
Leads the annual review process for Recovery Care Specialists, providing coaching, feedback, and performance management guidance.
Conducts RCS team meetings throughout the year to review expectations, provide training, and support communication.
Conducts facility tours for clients, families, visitors, students, and referral sources as requested.
Updates job knowledge by participating in training and educational opportunities.
Functions within the guidelines of the facility’s Code of Ethics and in accordance with corporate compliance.
Conduct chart audits following program policy timelines, as requested.
Demonstrates an ability to adapt to changes in the facility function, management styles, and facility routines.
Reads, understands, adheres to and models all company policy statements on ethics, conduct, and conflict of interests.
Maintains positive attitude and acts as a team player with others on the treatment team.
Attends all supervisory trainings within assigned time frames as required by the facility.
Other duties as assigned.