Neurodevelopmental Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

New Directions Program Director
Nexus Children’s Hospital – Dallas

POSITION SUMMARY:

The New Directions Program Director provides strategic, clinical program, and operational leadership for the hospital’s neurodevelopmental program, serving patients with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and complex behavioral and medical needs. The Director is responsible for program implementation, refinement, performance, and continuous improvement, ensuring a coordinated, evidence-based approach to care across disciplines.

Working collaboratively with hospital leadership, medical staff, nursing, behavioral therapy, rehabilitation, and case management, the Program Director ensures enterprise program standards, aligns services with patient needs, and promotes measurable improvements in patient safety, functional skills, behavioral stability, and family readiness for discharge.

The Program Director provides direct leadership and accountability for the Manager of Behavioral Therapy Services (ABA), Psychotherapists, and other assigned program personnel. The position’s primary focus is programmatic oversight and interdisciplinary integration. Routine ABA caseload management, treatment implementation, and discipline-specific supervision are managed through the Behavioral Therapy Manager and appropriately credentialed clinicians. 

JOB-SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Leadership and Development

• Implement the New Directions program’s goals, priorities, and model of care in alignment with hospital and Nexus Health Systems standards.

• Refine program structure, service offerings, treatment pathways, and standards to meet the needs of patients with neurodevelopmental conditions and co-occurring behavioral and medical needs.

• Translate evidence-based practices into consistent program processes, staff expectations, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with hospital leadership to assess program capacity, staffing needs, resources, and opportunities for service development.

• Develop, review, and maintain program policies and procedures in collaboration with the appropriate clinical and operational leaders, and in alignment with system governance.

• Represent the program in hospital leadership meetings and organizational initiatives, communicating progress, barriers, and improvement priorities.

Interdisciplinary Care Integration

• Establish processes that support coordinated treatment planning and communication among medical providers, nursing, behavioral therapy, rehabilitation, case management, and other involved disciplines.
• Promote an integrated approach to behavioral support, communication, daily living skills, medical care, and therapeutic engagement throughout the patient’s stay.
• Participate in interdisciplinary program reviews and complex case discussions to address barriers to treatment progress and discharge readiness.

• Partner with admissions and clinical leadership to ensure adherence to program admission criteria, evaluate service capabilities, and support appropriate patient placement.

• Work with case management and treatment teams to identify discharge barriers early and strengthen transitions to home, school, residential, or community settings.
• Provide program-level consultation within professional qualifications and scope, while preserving each discipline’s responsibility for clinical assessment and treatment decisions.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Provide supervision, performance management, and leadership development for the Manager of Behavioral Therapy Services, Psychotherapists and other assigned personnel.
• Establish clear responsibilities and accountability across program leadership, including expectations for service delivery, communication, documentation, and follow-through.
• Hold the Behavioral Therapy Manager accountable for effective ABA operations, staff competency, clinical quality, and appropriate credential-specific supervision.
• Hold the Psychotherapy team accountable for effective treatment interventions and high-quality documentation.
• Collaborate with department leaders to develop program orientation and ongoing education related to neurodevelopmental care, therapeutic engagement, communication, de-escalation skills and behavioral support.
• Support recruitment, retention, succession planning, and staff engagement for assigned program positions.
• Build a collaborative environment that promotes professional accountability, ethical practice, and timely resolution of concerns.

Patient and Family Experience

• Ensure program practices support patient dignity, individual communication needs, developmental abilities, cultural preferences, and trauma-informed care.
• Establish consistent expectations for family involvement, caregiver education, and discharge preparation throughout the treatment process.
• Incorporate patient and caregiver feedback into program evaluation and improvement.
• Partner with clinical leaders to promote proactive therapeutic/behavioral supports and reduce preventable crises and the need for restrictive interventions.

Quality, Safety, and Program Performance

• Monitor program performance measures, including treatment progress, patient and staff safety, caregiver participation, discharge readiness, and other agreed-upon outcomes.

• Review program data to identify trends, gaps in care, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead program improvement initiatives with defined goals, assigned responsibilities, and ongoing evaluation of results.
• Collaborate with Quality, Risk Management, nursing, medical staff, and behavioral therapy leadership on significant event reviews and corrective actions.
• Ensure program processes align with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements, organizational policies, and professional standards.
• Present program performance and recommendations to hospital leadership.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of patient and organizational information.

Operational and Financial Stewardship

• Partner with hospital leadership to develop and monitor program budgets, staffing plans, and resource priorities.
• Evaluate staffing and service needs in relation to patient acuity, census, treatment requirements, and program capacity.
• Identify opportunities to improve coordination, resource utilization, and operational efficiency while supporting quality care.
• Collaborate with Admissions and Business Development to accurately communicate program capabilities and support appropriate referrals.
• Evaluate proposed program expansions based on patient needs, clinical readiness, staffing capacity, and financial feasibility.

Professional Responsibilities

• Support and communicate the Mission, Vision, and Values of Nexus Health Systems.
• Maintain required credentials, education, and professional competencies.
• Stay current with developments in neurodevelopmental care, interdisciplinary treatment models, and program leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION:

• Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or a related behavioral health field from an accredited institution required. 

• Doctoral degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or a related behavioral health field from an accredited institution preferred. 

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive clinical experience providing behavioral health, psychological, psychotherapy, or applied behavior analysis services as an LPC, LCSW, BCBA, or equivalent qualified professional, including a minimum of two (2) years of leadership experience overseeing clinical staff, program operations, quality outcomes, and performance management. 
• Demonstrated experience in clinical program development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and staff supervision. 
• Experience working with diverse populations and across multiple service settings. 
• Experience working with pediatric, adolescent, or neurodevelopmental populations is preferred. 

SKILLS:

• Strong understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions and evidence-based approaches to behavioral, developmental, and interdisciplinary care.
• Ability to translate clinical priorities into program standards, operational plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to build effective partnerships with medical staff, clinical departments, hospital leadership, and families.
• Proficiency in program evaluation, data interpretation, clinical documentation systems, and performance reporting.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and guide program change.
• Knowledge of staffing, budgeting, and resource management in a clinical setting.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

• Current Texas licensure is preferred or obtained within the first 6 months of employment.

• Maintain any professional license or certification required for assigned clinical activities.
• Current AHA BLS/CPR certification required.
• Complete and maintain facility-required behavioral management and de-escalation training.