Assistant Director of Clinical Services

Job Description

Job Description

Help Youth Heal. Develop Clinicians. Lead Transformational Care.

Lad Lake is seeking an experienced behavioral health leader to serve as our Assistant Director of Clinical Services for our Dousman Residential Program . This position provides clinical leadership, supervision, and direction to ensure youth receive exceptional trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment in a supportive and therapeutic environment.

The Assistant Director of Clinical Services is a key member of the residential leadership team and serves as a bridge between clinical practice and residential operations. This role is responsible for developing high-performing clinical teams, strengthening treatment practices, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advancing a culture of continuous improvement.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate clinical leader who wants to influence care delivery, mentor developing professionals, and make a lasting impact on the lives of youth and families.

What You Will DoProvide Clinical Leadership & Excellence

• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure clinical services are trauma-informed, evidence-based, and aligned with best practices in residential treatment.

• Ensure effective clinical assessment, treatment planning, documentation, interventions, and discharge planning.

• Monitor clinical outcomes and use data to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Provide individual, family, and group therapy to an assigned caseload and/or service area based on program needs.

• Maintain current knowledge of clinical best practices through ongoing professional development and continuing education.

Develop & Lead Clinical Teams

• Directly supervise Therapists, Case Managers, Clinical Interns, and other assigned clinical staff.

• Provide coaching, consultation, performance feedback, and professional development to strengthen clinical practice.

• Supervise therapists in training who are working toward completion of required supervised hours for independent licensure.

• Support the growth of future behavioral health professionals through meaningful supervision and mentorship.

• Build a clinical culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, psychological safety, and continuous learning.

Strengthen the Therapeutic Environment

• Partner with residential leadership to ensure treatment philosophy is integrated throughout the residential environment.

• Collaborate with residential operations, education, nursing, recreation, and other departments to provide coordinated care.

• Provide clinical consultation during crisis situations and support staff in effective therapeutic interventions.

• Participate in the clinical on-call rotation.

• Promote consistency in trauma-informed care practices, interventions, and team communication.

Ensure Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure clinical services meet licensing, accreditation, payer, ethical, and organizational requirements.

• Review and support quality clinical documentation and treatment practices.

• Participate in audits, quality assurance activities, accreditation processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Identify opportunities to improve services through clinical outcomes, feedback, and data-informed decision-making.

Build Partnerships & Advance Services

• Develop collaborative relationships with referral partners, counties, families, and community stakeholders.

• Represent Lad Lake in treatment meetings, court proceedings, and professional collaborations as appropriate.

• Participate in organizational committees and cross-functional initiatives.

• Support the implementation and advancement of clinical programming and treatment initiatives.

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director of Residential Services.

Leadership Expectations

At Lad Lake, leaders are expected to model our THRIVE Leadership Framework by creating an environment where employees, youth, and families can thrive.

Build Trust Through Transparency

Communicate openly, honestly, and consistently. Create clarity by helping others understand expectations, decisions, and the purpose behind our work.

Hold with Heart and Backbone

Lead with compassion and accountability. Support employees while maintaining clear expectations and addressing challenges directly and respectfully.

Regulate and Respond

Remain calm, thoughtful, and intentional during challenging situations. Model professionalism and emotional regulation during times of stress or change.

Invite Input and Grow

Develop others through coaching, feedback, learning opportunities, and shared problem-solving.

Value Collaboration and Connection

Build strong relationships across disciplines and create a culture of teamwork, belonging, and shared ownership.

Execute and Deliver Results

Translate priorities into action, follow through on commitments, use data to guide decisions, and hold yourself and others accountable for outcomes.

What You BringEducation

Required:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field.

Licensure

Required:

• Current Wisconsin independent clinical licensure in Social Work, Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or another applicable behavioral health discipline.

Candidates who are license eligible may be considered only if they can demonstrate a clear plan and timeline for obtaining independent licensure. Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of licensure requirements within the established timeframe.

Experience

• Three to five years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and families in residential treatment, behavioral health, or a related setting.

• Demonstrated experience providing clinical supervision, coaching, or leadership.

• Experience working within multidisciplinary treatment teams.

• Experience with trauma-informed care and evidence-based clinical practices.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of child and adolescent development, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health treatment practices.

• Strong clinical assessment, treatment planning, supervision, and consultation skills.

• Ability to lead and develop clinical professionals while fostering collaboration.

• Knowledge of residential treatment licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.

• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated leadership aligned with Lad Lake’s values and THRIVE Leadership Framework.

Why Lad Lake?

At Lad Lake, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive. For more than a century, we have partnered with youth and families facing significant challenges by providing compassionate, innovative, and effective services.

When you join Lad Lake, you become part of a mission-driven team committed to changing lives, strengthening communities, and creating a workplace where employees are supported, valued, and empowered to make a difference.

Lad Lake is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.