Program Director, Acute Treatment Services

Job Description

Job Description

Program Director, Acute Treatment Services (ATS)

• Approved Salary: $75,000-$100,000
• Schedule: Full-time, exempt; participates in an administrative on-call rotation covering evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergencies
• Reports To: Chief Behavioral Health Officer

Summary/Objective
The Program Director is responsible for the administrative, operational, financial, and regulatory oversight of The Dimock Center's Acute Treatment Services (ATS) program. The Director provides leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered substance use disorder treatment services that comply with all applicable federal, state, accreditation, and Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) requirements. Consistent with BSAS regulations, the Program Director is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and programmatic operations of the program and ensures that staffing, treatment services, documentation, quality improvement activities, and environmental standards meet all regulatory expectations. The Director fosters a culture of accountability, teamwork, excellence, innovation, and continuous performance improvement, and is expected to serve as a visible leader who promotes employee engagement, operational efficiency, and exceptional patient outcomes.

Essential Functions

• Provide overall leadership and management of the ATS program, ensuring continuous, safe, and effective operations 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• Develop, implement, and monitor program goals, strategic initiatives, policies, procedures, and performance improvement plans.
• Ensure adequate staffing patterns, scheduling, and workforce deployment to meet patient acuity, census demands, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead interdisciplinary teams to achieve clinical, operational, quality, and financial objectives.
• Promote a high-performance culture focused on accountability, teamwork, innovation, patient satisfaction, and excellence in care.
• Monitor operational metrics, including census, length of stay, discharge outcomes, staffing efficiency, incidents, and patient experience measures.
• Collaborate with internal departments and community partners to support continuity of care and successful patient transitions.
• Maintain program compliance with all applicable BSAS regulations, including 105 CMR 164.000 and related Department of Public Health requirements.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, accreditation, contractual, federal, state, and organizational standards.
• Oversee quality assurance and performance improvement activities.
• Review audits, surveys, inspections, incident reports, and corrective action plans.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and complete clinical documentation that demonstrates medical necessity and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor patient rights, confidentiality, grievance processes, risk management activities, and incident reporting practices.
• Ensure staff receive required orientation, training, supervision, and competency assessments consistent with BSAS regulations.
• Review revenue, expenses, productivity, and financial performance indicators.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost containment while maintaining quality care.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
• Participate in budget planning, forecasting, and strategic resource allocation.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, coach, and evaluate program staff.
• Maintain staffing levels necessary to meet regulatory and operational requirements.
• Conduct regular staff meetings, performance evaluations, and professional development activities.
• Promote employee engagement, retention, and workforce development.
• Address performance concerns promptly and effectively.
• Support clinical leadership in ensuring the delivery of evidence-based and patient-centered services.
• Monitor treatment planning, discharge planning, aftercare coordination, and patient engagement activities.
• Ensure interdisciplinary collaboration among nursing, counseling, medical, case management, recovery support, and ancillary staff.
• Assist in the development of services that improve patient outcomes and continuity of care.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison between ATS and organizational leadership.
• Maintain effective communication with the Chief Behavioral Health Officer regarding program performance, challenges, risks, and opportunities.
• Establish collaborative relationships with hospitals, referral sources, community providers, regulatory agencies, and external stakeholders.
• Ensure timely dissemination of information to staff and stakeholders.
• Participate in an administrative on-call rotation and provide consultation and leadership support during evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergencies.
• Be available and responsive to urgent operational, staffing, clinical, regulatory, and safety concerns.
• Respond appropriately to incidents, emergencies, and regulatory matters affecting program operations.

Competencies

• Accountability and integrity.
• Reliability and responsiveness.
• Staff development and coaching.
• Strategic thinking and operational excellence.
• Financial stewardship.
• Effective communication, collaboration, and teamwork.
• Patient-centered leadership and results orientation.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Continuous quality improvement.
• Crisis management and sound judgment.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.

Knowledge/Skills

• Extensive knowledge of BSAS regulations, DPH requirements, treatment standards, and healthcare compliance practices.
• Strong operational and organizational leadership skills.
• Excellent financial management and budgeting skills.
• Strong data analysis and performance management capabilities.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications.

Physical Demands
Ability to move throughout the facility. Ability to respond to emergencies and critical incidents. Occasional lifting, bending, and standing for extended periods as needed. Ability to work flexible hours to meet operational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Healthcare Administration, Business, Public Health, Nursing, or related field required.
• Minimum five years of progressive leadership experience in substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health, healthcare operations, or related field.
• Minimum three years of supervisory and management experience.
• Demonstrated experience in BSAS-licensed services, preferably Acute Treatment Services, detoxification, withdrawal management, or residential treatment settings.
• Experience managing budgets, personnel, quality improvement initiatives, and regulatory compliance activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Independent clinical licensure preferred (LICSW, LMHC, LADC I, RN, or equivalent).

EEO Statement
The Dimock Center values diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of age, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Job Posted by ApplicantPro