Director of Behavioral Health

Job Description

Job Description

Hours Per Week: 40

Job Type: Full-time, Exempt

Department: Behavioral Health (Multi-Site)

Summary/Objectives of Position

The Director of Behavioral Health Services provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for all Behavioral Health programs at BAIHP. The position is responsible for the planning, implementation, oversight, and evaluation of behavioral health services to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care that reflects BAIHP's mission and integrated healthcare model. The Director oversees clinical operations, supervises behavioral health staff, establishes and monitors evidence-based treatment practices, maintains referral pathways through memorandums of understanding for clients when appropriate, and collaborates closely with medical, care management, traditional healing, and community service teams to ensure coordinated, whole-person care.

Drawing upon prior experience in integrated healthcare systems, the Director promotes a collaborative approach that recognizes the interrelationship between behavioral, physical, social, and cultural health. This includes the provision of cultural appropriate care and services, tailored to the individual needs of AI/AN clients and their families. The position maintains a deep and consistent patient-focused perspective, ensuring that clinical and operational decisions prioritize patient safety, access to care, quality outcomes, and the overall patient experience. The Director is expected to demonstrate strong clinical judgment and effective problem-solving skills to address complex patient care needs, remove barriers to services, and develop practical solutions that improve continuity of care and clinical outcomes.

Essential Duties, Functions & Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the clinical standard of practice and quality of behavioral health services provided by the BAIHP Behavioral Health Department, ensuring services are evidence-based, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and patient-centered.
• Serve as the clinical leader for the Behavioral Health Department by providing clinical direction, consultation, and practice guidelines to ensure consistent, safe, ethical, timely, and effective patient care across all behavioral health programs.
• Provide clinical oversight and guidance regarding patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, crisis intervention, level-of-care determinations, documentation standards, continuity of care, and complex clinical cases requiring independent professional judgment.
• Oversee the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of all Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) programs and services.
• Develop, recommend, implement, and periodically review clinical policies, procedures, protocols, and evidence-based practices governing behavioral health and substance use treatment services.
• Lead the department's crisis intervention and emergency behavioral health response efforts, ensuring staff are appropriately trained and patients receive timely and appropriate intervention.
• Provide administrative and clinical supervision of Behavioral Health Department personnel, including licensed therapists, associate clinicians, Substance Use Disorder Counselors, case managers, peer support personnel, interns, trainees, and other behavioral health staff as appropriate under California law and professional licensing requirements.
• Mentor, coach, and support clinical staff through case consultation, performance feedback, professional development, and ongoing clinical education to promote high-quality patient care and staff competency.
• Oversee the clinical quality, productivity, documentation, compliance, and performance of therapists, Substance Use Disorder Counselors, and all Behavioral Health Department personnel.
• Ensure patient care is delivered in accordance with applicable federal, state, tribal, accreditation, payer, and professional practice standards, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, Medi-Cal requirements, and applicable California regulations.
• Oversee Behavioral Health Department grant-funded programs to ensure all grant goals, objectives, performance measures, reporting requirements, fiscal expectations, and deliverables are achieved within established timelines.
• Collaborate with grant funders, evaluators, community partners, tribal organizations, and governmental agencies to successfully implement behavioral health initiatives and sustain grant-funded services.
• Responsible for program evaluation, performance measurement, outcomes analysis, and recommend operational improvements that support long-term sustainability and organizational growth.
• Ensure timely completion and quality of all clinical documentation, progress notes, assessments, treatment plans, data collection, reporting, billing documentation, and other required departmental records.
• Oversee departmental systems supporting reimbursement, productivity, documentation integrity, utilization management, and regulatory compliance for behavioral health services.
• Participate in and support BAIHP's Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance programs by monitoring clinical performance indicators, conducting audits, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing corrective action plans.
• Responsible for ensuring the timely completion of monthly, quarterly, annual, and grant-required reports and performance measures.
• Recruit, interview, hire, evaluate, discipline, and develop Behavioral Health Department personnel consistent with organizational policies and applicable employment laws.
• Maintain a clinical caseload, as appropriate, to support direct patient care, maintain clinical competency, and remain informed of operational and patient care needs.
• Collaborate closely with Medical, Care Management, Traditional Healing, Community Health Workers, Housing, ECM, and other BAIHP departments to strengthen the organization's integrated healthcare model and improve whole-person patient outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with the Finance Department to develop, monitor, and manage departmental budgets, maximize reimbursement opportunities, ensure responsible stewardship of grant funding, and support the financial sustainability of behavioral health programs.
• Provide recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors regarding behavioral health strategy, regulatory compliance, community needs, program development, workforce planning, and opportunities to expand behavioral health and substance use services.
• Keep the Chief Executive Officer informed regarding significant clinical issues, patient safety concerns, regulatory matters, operational challenges, staffing needs, grant performance, and strategic initiatives affecting Behavioral Health services.

Minimum Mandatory Qualifications:

Education:

• Graduate Level Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) to ten (10) years of direct experience in behavioral health practice.
• Minimum three (3) to five (5) years of experience in a clinical leadership role within behavioral health.
• Minimum of two (2) years of work in alcohol/SUD services or a related field.

License/Certification:

• Active and current license as LCSW, LMFT, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
• Valid CA driver's license.

Skills: 

• Knowledge of clinical behavioral health services administrative and licensing requirements
• Experience engaging community members, specifically in the American Indian/Alaska Native Community
• Experience working with Indian Health Service or an agency funded by Indian Health Service.
• Experience with the Electronic Health Records System. 
• Experience with administrative duties but not limited to budget planning and financial oversight, policy and program development, quality improvement and compliance oversight

Communication Skills:

• Demonstrates proficiency in communication and writing skills.
• Language skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general and professional documents. 
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Ability to foster teamwork; train and direct the work of team members and colleagues.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work productively and make independent decisions.

Technology:

• Familiar with electronic healthcare records systems.
• Proficiency with using computer-based applications (e.g. Microsoft Office) and clinical information management systems.

Benefits Offered at BAIHP:

At BAIHP, we value our employees and strive to provide comprehensive benefits to support their well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. Here's what we offer:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental, Health, & Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off (Vacation, Sick, Vacation Reward)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Indian Preference

Bakersfield American Indian Health Project (BAIHP) is an Indian Health Service-funded Urban Indian Organization and complies with the Indian Preference Act (25 U.S.C. §§ 472 and 473). In accordance with federal law, preference in hiring and employment is given to qualified American Indian and Alaska Native applicants.

Subject to, and consistent with the Indian Preference Act, BAIHP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, except where Indian preference applies as authorized by federal law.

BAIHP is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and culturally responsive workplace dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the American Indian and Alaska Native communities we serve.