Clinical Program Director

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Clinical Program Director

Classification: Exempt

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, including some evenings/weekends as needed, onsite in Oakland, CA

Reports to: Executive Director

Direct Reports: Clinical Program Manager, Housing Program Manager

Compensation: $135,000 – $150,000 annually, depending on experience

About St. Mary’s Center

St. Mary’s Center is a community of hope, healing and justice dedicated to improving the well-being of Seniors and Preschool Families in West Oakland by meeting basic needs for food, housing, and social connection. We build on a strong foundation of direct service provision and participant‑led advocacy that amplifies the voices of people directly impacted by hunger, homelessness, and inequity to create a more just and caring society.

Today, our staff of 39 provides Senior Homeless and Housing Services, including case management and housing clinics; transitional housing at multiple sites; and a vibrant Community Center offering hot meals, social connection, and leadership development. We are partnered with a local nonprofit developer to build and service 73 new homes for Seniors near our headquarters. St. Mary’s Center was recently one of two East Bay nonprofits to receive first‑round federal HUD funding for street outreach to unhoused Seniors, and we are a CalAIM provider.

St. Mary’s Center was the California Association of Nonprofits 2021 Nonprofit of the Year (District 9). Guidestar /Charity Navigator has awarded us their top‑tier, 4‑star rating for fiscal management and integrity for six consecutive years.

The Role

The Clinical Program Director oversees the agency’s clinical programs, ensuring impactful service delivery, programmatic innovation, regulatory compliance, staff development, and alignment with best practices in aging, homelessness, and community building spheres. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker or other licensed professional, the Clinical Program Director ensures that St. Mary’s Center programs support Seniors in becoming and remaining housed, building community, and improving their health and well‑being.

The position manages manager‑level teams in Senior Housing and Mental Health Services, representing approximately 12 professional and paraprofessional staff who work to find, support, and house Seniors; create a supportive community environment that improves physical and mental health; and engage in data collection and analysis to support ongoing improvement in program design and delivery.

The Opportunity

St. Mary’s Center has robust, focused program offerings that meet the needs of acutely low‑income Seniors for housing security, mental health services, and social supports. The successful candidate will utilize years of experience in direct services, program planning, contract analysis and management, evaluation, and leadership to lead program teams toward dynamic, data‑driven programming.

Program Planning, Oversight, and Evaluation (50%)

• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of a specialty mental health program tailored to the unique needs of acutely low‑income and unhoused Seniors, ensuring alignment with Medi‑Cal and behavioral health standards.
• Ensure that all services and programs are designed and delivered in full compliance with the requirements, goals, objectives, outcomes, and standards of public and private funding sources.
• Develop work plans with managers to ensure program staff are on track to meet goals.
• Attend all relevant funding source meetings, training, and events regularly to stay current on contractual‑related matters.
• Provide support to the Preschool and Community Outreach & Services departments as needed, offering clinical guidance and interventions when situations require additional expertise.
• Coordinate with Development and Finance teams to prepare program budgets, financial and narrative, and timely reports – demonstrating achievement – as required by public and private funding sources.
• Develop, convene, manage, and maintain effective community partnerships and engage through Operational Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.
• Analyze client satisfaction and program effectiveness (internal tools/external trends), report findings to the Executive Director, and develop new evaluation/feedback systems as needed.
• Provide 24‑hour on‑call coverage for emergencies, either directly or through delegation.
• Special projects and other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Clinical Training (20%)

• Design, implement, and oversee a clinical training and internship program for Master’s‑level students (MSW, MFT, PCC, etc.) that strengthens the behavioral health workforce serving older adults and unhoused community members with a focus on community engagement and racial diversity.
• Develop training curricula that align with evidence‑based practices, trauma‑informed care, harm reduction, and culturally responsive service models relevant to Senior mental health and homelessness.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with graduate programs, universities, and training institutions to recruit and place interns.
• Ensure supervision is provided in accordance with licensing board requirements and maintain high standards for documentation, ethical practice, and professional development.
• Evaluate program effectiveness through feedback, performance assessments, and outcome measures; refine training components to ensure a high‑quality learning environment and strong organizational pipeline.

Agency Leadership (30%)

• Manage contract renewals in collaboration with Finance and Executive Directors, developing outcomes, budgets, and work plans.
• In consultation with the Director of Administration, recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and retain well‑qualified employees and consultants.
• Support frontline managers to ensure knowledge and compliance with personnel policies and procedures for all employees, volunteers, and consultants.
• Collaborate with the Director of Administration to develop training and professional development activities.
• Oversee the implementation of daily operating procedures, safety protocols, and existing program manuals.
• Regularly engage with clients and stakeholders to gain community support and to welcome input for program improvement and enhancement.
• Lead program‑specific meetings, staff meetings, and in‑service training.
• Serve as an active member of the management team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree: Must have LMFT/LCSW/LPCC/LEP or be a Licensed Psychologist by the CA Board of Psychology or a Board‑Certified Psychiatrist by the Medical Board of CA, and be licensed to supervise social workers seeking licensure.
• Three years of post‑licensure experience as a behavioral health professional.
• Five or more years of progressively senior‑level management and supervisory experience in a nonprofit setting.
• Proven ability to lead a team toward success and consistently reach required goals and obligations.
• Outstanding communicator (verbal and written) with an aptitude for public speaking, training, and partnership building.
• Proven track record of implementing and managing new and existing public and private grants and contracts for programs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Superior record with meeting deadlines and managing multiple tasks and projects.
• Demonstrated ability to interface with high‑level departmental and community leaders and represent the agency and programs at local and statewide conferences, public hearings, and other events.
• Must be able to work on weekends, before and after regular business hours (8:30 am to 5:00 pm) for events, outreach activities, training, and meeting deadlines.
• Able to maintain confidential, accurate, and complete records, including daily activities, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, etc.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the job, including lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, and walking up stairs.
• Clearance through fingerprinting (Live Scan) is required.
• Valid California Driver’s License, clean driving record, and insurable under the agency’s policy.

Compensation & Other Information

Competitive Salary: $135,000–$150,000 annually, DOE. The benefits package includes an employer‑paid Kaiser or Anthem Gold health plan, dental, vision, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan after 6 months of employment, eligibility for a 4‑week paid sabbatical after completing 5 years of service, and a generous holiday and vacation plan. The Clinical Program Director is a full‑time, exempt position requiring flexibility, including working evening and weekend hours.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter via The cover letter should describe your experience and perspective on the following:

• Key factors in supporting acutely low‑income Seniors to age with dignity;
• Your approach to management and supervision, and what you like most about managing staff;
• Your commitment to St. Mary’s Center’s mission.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In general, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is expected to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

• Must be able to clearly communicate with others to understand them and to be understood.
• Must be able to read and compose documents so that their intent is easily understood.
• Must be able to make public presentations, speaking to groups of 10‑500 individuals.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to effectively use a computer and telephone to conduct business.
• Must be able to operate office equipment: telephones, copy, scanner and fax machines (and empty and load office dishwasher).
• Must be able to communicate over the telephone and take notes.
• Must be able to attend in‑person or web‑based meetings, sitting, listening, and taking notes.
• Must be able to prepare documents, research data on websites, and work on computers (with mouse or trackpad), operations up to 8 hours per day.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

St. Mary’s Center is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active Equal Employment Opportunity Program (EEOP). It is the stated policy of St. Mary’s Center that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, medical condition, or physical handicap.

Pursuant to California’s Fair Chance Ordinance, we consider qualified applicants with arrest/conviction records.