Associate Director of Clinical Operations - $8000 sign on bonus

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT JFS

For more than 150 years, Jewish Family Services of Western New York has been committed to providing high quality services to all in need in the interest of helping to "repair the world." Our services are guided by the essential connection between mental well-being, physical wellness, and positive self-worth. Our reputation is the result of our exceptional staff. In addition to offering competitive compensation and truly exceptional benefits, we are committed to providing a supportive work environment in which all employees are able to contribute their best.

OUR VALUES

Be a Mensch: We are ethical, kind, and admirable. We assume good intent and act with integrity. We are thoughtful and deliberative in how we support our clients, each other, and the community. “Choose generosity over judgment—every time” 

Be Purpose-Built:   We create spaces and programs that respect clients’ individuality and opens access. We strive to meet the individual where they’re at and give them the tools to be successful

Be Resolute: We work with tenacity to identify problems, seek out solutions, and get things done. Even small steps forward are acts of resilience.

SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Clinical Services provides clinical and operational leadership for the agency’s Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) clinic and Critical Time Intervention (CTI) program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Behavioral Health, the Associate Director is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, person-centered, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented behavioral health services. The Associate Director provides leadership and supervision to program staff, supports day-to-day program operations, monitors clinical quality and regulatory compliance, and works collaboratively with agency leadership to ensure programs meet the needs of clients and the community. This position plays a key role in strengthening clinical practice, supporting staff development, maintaining regulatory and documentation standards, monitoring program performance, and promoting effective coordination of care across behavioral health, medical, and community-based systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

A representative summary of tasks to be performed is provided below . The employee may be asked to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically stated in this description. The duties and responsibilities of the position are to be carried out in a manner that is consistent with the mission, values, and operating principles of Jewish Family Services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Supervision

• Provide clinical leadership and oversight for the Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) clinic and Critical Time Intervention program.
• Provide regular supervision to assigned clinical and program staff and ensure appropriate supervisory structures are maintained across both programs.
• Support clinicians and program staff in managing complex clinical situations, including risk assessment, safety planning, crisis intervention, and coordination of care.
• Promote evidence-based, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered, and culturally responsive practices.
• Support staff in developing strong clinical assessment, treatment planning, documentation, and care coordination skills.
• Facilitate or participate in clinical case consultation, team meetings, case conferences, and other interdisciplinary meetings.
• Promote a culture of clinical excellence, accountability, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively with psychiatric providers and other members of the multidisciplinary treatment team to support coordinated behavioral health care.
• Oversee the day-to-day clinical operations of the Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) clinic.
• Ensure clinic services are provided in accordance with applicable OMH regulations, Medicaid requirements, agency policies, and professional standards.
• Monitor clinician caseloads, productivity, access to care, scheduling, utilization, and other key operational indicators.
• Support effective intake, assessment, admission, treatment planning, ongoing treatment, and discharge processes.
• Monitor the quality and timeliness of clinical documentation and work with staff to address identified concerns.
• Support coordination between psychotherapy, psychiatric services, care management, and other internal and external providers.
• Identify barriers to client access and continuity of care and work with leadership to develop solutions.
• Support implementation and optimization of the agency's electronic medical record and related clinical workflows.
• Provide programmatic and clinical oversight of the CTI program and ensure services are delivered consistent with the CTI model, program requirements, and applicable OMH guidance.
• Support the CTI team in serving individuals with complex behavioral health, medical, housing, and social needs during critical periods of transition.
• Provide consultation regarding complex cases and assist staff with engagement, risk management, care coordination, and connection to community-based services.
• Promote fidelity to the CTI model, including time-limited, phase-based interventions focused on strengthening long-term community supports.
• Monitor referrals, enrollment, caseloads, service delivery, transitions between CTI phases, outcomes, and successful program completion.
• Strengthen relationships and coordination with hospitals, behavioral health providers, housing providers, care management organizations, social service systems, and other community partners.
• Support the effective integration and utilization of peers and other multidisciplinary team members within the CTI model.

Quality, Compliance, and Documentation

• Ensure compliance with OMH regulations, Medicaid requirements, contractual obligations, agency policies, and applicable accreditation or quality standards.
• Monitor documentation quality, timeliness, treatment plans, assessments, progress notes, discharge documentation, and other required clinical records.
• Participate in chart reviews, quality assurance activities, audits, corrective action planning, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with agency leadership, Quality Improvement, Compliance, and other departments to identify and address clinical or operational risks.
• Assist with preparation for OMH reviews, Medicaid audits, program monitoring, and other regulatory or funding reviews.
• Use program data to identify trends, monitor performance, and develop strategies for improving access, quality, outcomes, and efficiency.
• Ensure clinical incidents, safety concerns, and other reportable events are appropriately addressed, documented, and escalated in accordance with agency policy and regulatory requirements.

Staff Development and Workforce Management

• Participate in recruitment, interviewing, selection, onboarding, and retention of clinical and program staff.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management to assigned staff.
• Identify staff training and professional development needs and assist with developing opportunities to strengthen clinical competencies.
• Support staff through periods of high acuity, organizational change, program growth, and other operational challenges.
• Promote effective communication and collaboration across disciplines and programs.
• Assist with coverage planning during vacancies, leaves, and other staffing transitions to support continuity of care.

Program Operations and Development

• Work closely with the Senior Director of Behavioral Health to establish program goals, priorities, workflows, and performance expectations.
• Monitor program capacity, service utilization, staffing, referrals, and other operational indicators.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows, increase access, strengthen coordination of care, and improve the client experience.
• Participate in implementation of new initiatives, clinical services, technology, workflows, and regulatory requirements.
• Assist with development and implementation of policies, procedures, clinical protocols, and program standards.
• Participate in leadership meetings and communicate relevant information to program staff.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with internal departments and external community partners.
• Represent the programs at internal and external meetings as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, or another related behavioral health discipline.
• Current New York State professional licensure appropriate to the position.
• Demonstrated experience providing behavioral health services to individuals with complex mental health and psychosocial needs.
• Clinical supervision and/or behavioral health program leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of clinical assessment, treatment planning, risk assessment, crisis intervention, care coordination, and clinical documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage competing clinical and operational priorities.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and lived-experience backgrounds.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and ability to utilize data to support program management and quality improvement.

 

Preferred

• LCSW or LCSW-R licensure in New York State.
• Experience working in an OMH-licensed outpatient mental health program.
• Knowledge of New York State OMH regulations and Medicaid behavioral health requirements.
• Experience supervising licensed and/or license-eligible behavioral health professionals.
• Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and complex social needs.
• Experience with Critical Time Intervention, care transitions, community-based behavioral health services, or intensive care coordination.
• Experience with quality improvement, regulatory audits, utilization management, and program development.

 

Expectation Based on Agency Values:

• Must possess a complete commitment to, and understanding of, Jewish Family Service’s Values:

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Will work in the office and in the community; able to travel outside the office to various sites to attend meetings and provide support services.
• Must have access to a reliable vehicle, possess a valid, clean driver’s license and be sufficiently self-insured with liability insurance in the amount of $100/$300k.
• Flexible hours including days and some evenings and/or weekends.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Physical activities and efforts required working in an office environment.
• Visual acuity sufficient to maintain system of files and reports containing computer-generated and handwritten documents.
• Auditory acuity sufficient to communicate with staff, clients, and others by phone and in person.
• Mobility sufficient to conduct regular duties within a normal office environment and community.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Competitive salary of $73,000 - $80,000 annually, commensurate with experience & qualifications.
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) of 4+ weeks in addition to a paid agency wide shut down between Christmas and New Year's Day.
• 401k retirement plan with agency contribution of 4%.
• 13+ observed holidays annually.
• Reduced full-time work week of 35 hours and early close on Fridays.