Clinical Manager

Job Description

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Clinical Manager is the operational heartbeat of the East Cobb program. This person owns the daily rhythm of care — who is on the floor, what groups are running, which guests need intervention today, and whether the clinical work is happening on time, at the right level of intensity, and documented to standard. They are also accountable for the health of the program as a business: census, retention, and budget.

This is not a distant oversight role. The Clinical Manager is present, visible, and accessible to both staff and guests. They coach therapists rather than police them, they step into a difficult guest situation instead of routing it, and they carry responsibility for the culture of the clinical floor as much as the schedule on it. People don't remember the treatment that saved their life; they remember how they were treated — and the Clinical Manager sets that tone every shift.

Clinical Operations

• Direct the day-to-day flow of clinical services, ensuring every guest receives the services their level of care and treatment plan require
• Serve as the on-site clinical decision-maker for real-time issues: acuity changes, safety concerns, behavioral contracts, level-of-care transitions, and AMA situations
• Partner with medical, nursing, admissions, and utilization review to keep guest movement smooth and clinically appropriate

Census and Financial Performance

• Drive and sustain program census in partnership with admissions, business development, and marketing — including referral relationship maintenance, responsive intake coordination, and removing operational friction that stalls admits
• Own retention as the primary census lever: reduce early discharge and AMA rates through engagement, rapid intervention, and a program experience guests want to stay in
• Monitor census, length of stay, and level-of-care mix daily; forecast trends and escalate early rather than reporting after the fact
• Manage the program to budget — staffing costs, overtime, supplies, and vendor spend — and explain variances with specifics
• Support clean revenue capture by ensuring documentation, authorizations, and utilization review submissions are complete and on time
• Balance growth against clinical integrity: census targets never override medical necessity, admission criteria, or discharge readiness

Scheduling and Staffing

• Build and maintain therapist schedules, caseload assignments, and coverage plans that protect both guest continuity and staff sustainability
• Own the master group schedule — curriculum sequencing, facilitator assignment, room and census logistics, and coverage for call-outs
• Monitor caseload equity and productivity, escalating staffing gaps before they become service gaps

Guest Interventions

• Lead or co-lead clinical interventions, family meetings, and treatment team staffings
• Respond to crisis and behavioral events, ensuring de-escalation, documentation, and follow-through
• Track at-risk guests (early discharge risk, engagement drop-off, disciplinary issues) and drive proactive outreach

Clinical Quality and Compliance

• Ensure documentation is timely, medically necessary, and defensible — treatment plans, group notes, individual notes, and discharge summaries
• Conduct routine chart audits and correct trends through coaching and training, not just correction
• Maintain readiness for state licensure surveys and accreditation review, and safeguard confidentiality under 42 CFR Part 2 and HIPAA

Staff Development

• Provide clinical supervision or coordinate board-approved supervision for staff pursuing licensure
• Onboard new clinical hires, run regular one-on-ones, and deliver performance feedback that is direct and dignifying
• Model servant leadership: assume good intent, ask before judging, lead by example rather than edict

• Preferred Master's degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or a related clinical field such as CADC, CAADC, or MAC certification
• Preferred Active Georgia license (LPC, LCSW, or LMFT) in good standing with the Georgia Composite Board
• Three or more years of direct clinical experience in substance use disorder treatment
• Preferred working fluency in ASAM Criteria, LOCUS Levels, medical necessity, and clinical documentation standards
• Experience managing to a budget or census target, or clear readiness to grow into it
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in a live treatment environment
• One or more years in a management role
• EMR proficiency (Kipu strongly preferred)
• Personal or professional grounding in the recovery community
• Calm under pressure. Decisive without being rigid. Comfortable holding a hard conversation with a therapist in the morning and a family in the afternoon. Organized enough to run a schedule and a budget, warm enough that guests seek them out.

Thoroughbred Wellness & Recovery is a leading behavioral health organization providing compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals struggling with substance use. At our beautiful facility located in Cartersville location, we offer detox and residential treatment. Our team is driven by purpose, excellence, authenticity, and hospitality, creating an environment where both our guests and employees can thrive. If you're passionate about making a meaningful difference, we'd love to have you join our team.