Director of Outpatient Services and Programs

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nNorthern Children's Services Wins the 2026 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award and the 2026 Top Workplaces Professional Development Award For more information, visit Join Our Team as a Director of Outpatient Services and Programs and help make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families! Northern Children’s Services (Northern) is seeking an experienced, mission-driven Director of Outpatient Services & Programs (Director) to lead the day-to-day clinical and administrative operations of Northern’s Outpatient Program and manage our Wellness summer program. Reporting to the Senior Director of Behavioral Health, the Director is a key member of Northern’s Behavioral Health leadership team and plays a central role in ensuring that outpatient services are clinically excellent, operationally sound, and producing measurable outcomes for the children, youth, and families we serve. This role is not solely a clinical oversight position. The Director is expected to bring both clinical expertise and administrative discipline — embracing data, benchmarks, and performance accountability as core tools of effective leadership. The Director is responsible for ensuring: High-quality, evidence-based, and trauma-informed clinical care Strong census and financial sustainability Measurable client outcomes, consistently tracked and acted upon Clear performance accountability, including adherence to established benchmarks, client surveys, quality assurance standards, and city and state audit requirements Effective supervision of clinical staff and Master’s-level student interns A culture of professionalism, transparency, direct communication, and continuous improvement KEY RESPONSIBILITIES This is not solely a clinical oversight role. It is a leadership position requiring operational discipline, data fluency, and the ability to shape and sustain a high-performing program culture. Clinical Excellence & Program Oversight Clinical quality must be paired with structured systems that sustain it. Oversees the clinical and administrative operations of the Outpatient Program, ensuring delivery of services consistent with best practices and regulatory standards. Monitors electronic health records (Credible/Qualifacts) for documentation quality, accuracy, and timely submission; reviews and approves clinical work within the program. Ensures clinical supervision structures are strong, consistent, and appropriately matched to staff licensure levels. Promotes evidence-based and trauma-informed practices across the program. Ensures that children and youth have current, high-quality treatment plans and that treatment reflects individualized, outcomes-driven care. Supports clinicians in pursuing licensure and certification in approved evidence-based models. Monitors and maintains strict adherence to Northern policies and procedures, as well as the policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements of Community Behavioral Health (CBH) and the state Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). Leadership & Supervisory Discipline The Director must model clear, consistent, and accountable leadership at all levels. Provides direct administrative and clinical supervision to Outpatient therapists, program staff, and Master’s-level student interns. Ensures that performance expectations are clearly communicated, documented, and consistently reinforced. Addresses performance concerns directly and promptly, using coaching, retraining, and corrective action as appropriate. Responds to identified issues without defensiveness, avoidance, or minimization. Applies performance standards equitably and consistently across all staff members. Recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates program staff in alignment with Northern’s standards. Makes appropriate human resources recommendations to the Senior Director of Behavioral Health. Data, Benchmarks & Outcomes Ownership Northern is a data-informed organization. The Director must embrace and model that value — and bring program staff along in understanding, using, and valuing data as part of professional practice. Regularly reviews program dashboards, including census, productivity, access, client outcomes, and documentation compliance. Ensures standardized outcome tools are implemented and used consistently across the program. Analyzes trends and implements timely, mid-course corrections when performance declines. Maintains data integrity, including closed cases, documentation accuracy, and consistent outcome scoring. Embraces benchmarks as tools for program improvement - not threats - and actively builds that understanding within the clinical team. Asks consistently: “Are we making a measurable difference?” Maintains monthly reports to track key quality performance indicators. Administrative Leadership & Operational Discipline Effective program management requires disciplined use of available tools and systems. Ensures that the Outpatient Program is fully and effectively using available program management tools (Credible/Qualifacts, Janet/Mission Driven Data, Office 365 including Outlook, Excel, and Power BI, and UKG) as real-time management tools that support mid-course corrections, billing optimization, and program improvement. Aligns staffing models with census and program needs. Ensures workflows support productivity, documentation quality, and timely billing. Oversees productivity, access, discharge planning, and authorization processes. Maintains accurate, clean documentation systems and reporting. Monitors program budget; maintains operating margin within budgeted guidelines and effectively and responsibly allocates resources. Responsible for implementing and documenting disciplinary actions resulting from internal investigations and/or job performance, ensuring that terminations, corrective actions, or performance improvement plans (PIPs) are executed with full documentation and HR alignment. Financial & Census Accountability Program sustainability is a leadership responsibility. The Director must understand the financial drivers of the Outpatient Program and manage them proactively — not reactively. Maintains strong census across the Outpatient Program. Proactively identifies and responds to declines in utilization, referrals, or access. Partners with the Senior Director of Behavioral Health and Finance to monitor program margins and revenue performance. Responds strategically to funding, regulatory, and authorization changes. Communication, Honesty & Accountability Responsive, honest, and direct communication is a core professional expectation of this role — not a preference. The Director must be reachable, reliable, and transparent with supervisors, peers, and staff alike. Responds promptly to emails, calls, and messages from supervisors, colleagues, and staff — within one business day as a baseline expectation. Silence is not an acceptable default. Communicates proactively: does not wait to be asked for updates on program issues, staff concerns, census challenges, or compliance risks. Surfaces problems early, with honesty and without minimization. Communicates clearly, honestly, and respectfully in professional interactions.Demonstrates accountability by acknowledging mistakes and taking appropriate corrective action.Clearly communicates organizational goals, priorities, expectations, and decisions.Encourages open communication and supports employees in raising questions or concerns through appropriate channels.Addresses workplace concerns, interpersonal conflicts, and communication issues promptly and professionally.Promotes teamwork, transparency, collaboration, and mutual accountability.Demonstrates reliability through consistent follow-through on commitments. Quality Assurance & Compliance Compliance is not a reactive exercise. The Director is expected to maintain a proactive culture of quality — where audits and reviews confirm what is already known to be true, not reveal surprises. Ensures program compliance with governing regulations, including CBH, DBHIDS, OMHSAS, and all applicable DHS-State requirements. Collaborates with the Program Quality department to ensure standards are consistently met and exceeded. Supports the preparation for and response to city and state program audits; assists in the development and effective implementation of any Plans of Correction (POC). Proactively maintains compliance through ongoing staff training, supervision, and documentation monitoring. Continuous Improvement & Innovation The best ideas often come from the people closest to the work. The Director must create the conditions for those ideas to surface, be evaluated honestly, and be acted upon. Actively encourages constructive feedback, creative problem-solving, and new ideas from staff at all levels. Evaluates proposed improvements based on data and potential impact — not hierarchy. Fosters psychological safety: an environment where staff feel comfortable raising ideas and concerns while maintaining clear standards of performance and accountability. Models intellectual curiosity and adaptability. Cross-Department Collaboration Collaboration is an organizational expectation. The Outpatient Program must function as an integrated part of Northern’s broader mission. Maintains an active and collaborative relationship with Northern’s Residential Programs, including conducting or coordinating behavioral health assessments for residents and providing ongoing clinical support for youth in residential care as needed. Collaborates closely with the Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) program to ensure continuity of care, warm transitions, and coordinated clinical planning for shared or transitioning clients. Works directly with Northern’s part-time psychiatrist on shared cases, including coordination of medication management and participation in regular clinical consultation meetings to ensure integrated, high-quality care. Coordinates actively with other Northern service components, departments, and outside agencies involved with shared clients. Participates in agency committees, working groups, and other bodies as assigned. Avoids siloed culture and decision-making; reinforces organization-wide goals and accountability. Collaborates with Development and other departments on fund development, grant opportunities, and community engagement as applicable. Trauma-Informed Practice & Culture Champions a trauma-informed culture across the Outpatient Program, ensuring that all practices, supervision, and team interactions reflect trauma-informed principles. Ensures staff demonstrate emotional intelligence, person-first and strengths-based language, and an understanding of the impact of trauma on child and adolescent development. Commits to the maintenance of a therapeutic environment that promotes safety, nonviolence, and resilience for both clients and staff. Performs other duties as assigned. REQUIRED EDUCATION & LICENSURE Master’s degree in a mental health discipline or related field required. Active clinical licensure issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania required. Qualifying licenses include: Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Licensed Psychologist (Psy.D. or Ph.D.) REQUIRED EXPERIENCE At least six (6) years of experience in a health or social service organization, with at least three (3) years in a supervisory or administrative leadership role. Demonstrated experience providing clinical supervision utilizing evidence-based practices and outcomes-driven treatment, with expertise in working with children, adolescents, and families. Strong knowledge of CBH, the Department of Behavioral Health and Disability Services (DBHIDS), OMHSAS, and applicable Department of Human Services (DHS)-State regulations and procedures. Knowledge of and experience working with commercial insurance and authorization processes. Proficiency in electronic health records systems (Credible/Qualifacts preferred) and healthcare information technology. Demonstrated ability to use data and program dashboards to drive operational and clinical decision-making. Strong track record of building and sustaining high-performing clinical teams. Passionate about Northern’s mission and able to articulate and promote its philosophy, values, and goals to internal and external stakeholders. Preferred: Experience in outpatient behavioral health programs serving children and youth in an urban setting. Familiarity with Mission Driven Data (Janet), Power BI, or similar program management/reporting tools. Knowledge of the child welfare system. CORE COMPETENCIES Clinical expertise paired with strong operational and administrative discipline Data-literate and outcomes-oriented; embraces benchmarks as tools for improvement Clear, direct, and transparent communicator Strong supervisory skills with courageous accountability