Clinical Director

POSITION SUMMARY

The Clinical Director provides clinical leadership, supervision, and oversight for all behavioral health and substance use treatment services at ATLS. The Clinical Director ensures services are delivered ethically, safely, and in compliance with NC DHHS rules, NC Medicaid clinical coverage policies, LME/MCO contract requirements, and applicable federal law, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2. This position is accountable for clinical quality, documentation integrity, and the professional development of clinical staff across ATLS locations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND LICENSURE

• Licensure: Must hold a full, active, unrestricted North Carolina license in good standing in one of the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), or Licensed Psychologist (or other licensure recognized by NC DHHS/NC Medicaid as a Licensed Professional for clinical oversight). Provisional, associate-level, or restricted licenses do not qualify.

• Education: Master’s degree or higher in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a related human services field from an accredited institution.

• Experience: Minimum of [five (5)] years of post-licensure clinical experience in behavioral health, including at least [two (2)] years in a supervisory or leadership role.

• Credentialing: Eligible for, or currently enrolled in, NC Medicaid and credentialed or able to be credentialed with LME/MCOs and commercial payers, with a valid NPI.

• Screening: Satisfactory criminal background check, NC Health Care Personnel Registry check, and OIG/SAM/NC Medicaid exclusion screening; TB screening and pre-employment health requirements.

• Other: Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for travel between ATLS locations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with opioid treatment, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and integrated primary care/behavioral health models.

• Experience with Alliance Health, Partners, Trillium, Vaya, or other NC LME/MCO credentialing and audit processes.

• Clinical supervision credential (e.g., LCSW-S, Approved Clinical Supervisor) and experience with QA/QI programs.

• Working knowledge of Person-Centered Planning, ASAM criteria, and NC Medicaid Clinical Coverage Policies 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D series as applicable.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Leadership and Oversight

• Provide overall clinical direction for assessment, treatment planning, service delivery, and discharge planning across all ATLS programs.

• Ensure services meet medical necessity, person-centered planning, and service definition requirements.

• Serve as the clinical resource and point of escalation for complex, high-risk, and crisis cases, including coordination with the Medical Director and primary care providers.

• Oversee integration of behavioral health, primary care, and opioid treatment services to ensure coordinated, whole-person care.

Supervision and Staff Development

• Provide or arrange clinical supervision for therapists, QPs, CSTs, and other clinical staff in accordance with licensure board and NC Medicaid requirements.

• Conduct weekly staff meetings, case reviews, and peer review; maintain supervision records.

• Participate in hiring, onboarding, performance evaluation, corrective action, and training of clinical staff in coordination with the HR Director.

• Verify staff credentials, scope of practice, and qualifications before client assignment.

Compliance, Quality Assurance, and Documentation

• Ensure compliance with NC DHHS rules (including 10A NCAC 27G), NC Medicaid Clinical Coverage Policies, LME/MCO contract requirements, CARF/accreditation standards where applicable, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2.

• Lead QA/QI activities, including routine record audits, review of service notes, service authorizations, and physician/PCP orders for accuracy and timeliness.

• Identify documentation deficiencies and billing risks; develop and monitor corrective action plans in collaboration with billing and administration.

• Prepare for and respond to payer audits, credentialing reviews, site visits, and DHHS/DHSR surveys, including Plans of Correction.

• Review and report critical incidents, complaints, and grievances in accordance with state requirements and ATLS policy.

Administrative and Program Management

• Develop, review, and update clinical policies, procedures, and workflows; recommend improvements to the CEO.

• Monitor clinical productivity, caseloads, and outcomes; report key performance indicators to leadership. Maintain a limited direct client caseload as assigned, if applicable.

• Collaborate with administration on staffing, scheduling, and service capacity.

• Represent ATLS with LME/MCOs, referral sources, community partners, and regulatory agencies.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong knowledge of NC Medicaid behavioral health services, documentation standards, and billing compliance.

• Demonstrated leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound clinical and ethical judgment.

• Proficiency with electronic health record systems, Microsoft Office, and secure communication tools.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines across multiple sites.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work is performed in clinical office settings with periodic travel between ATLS locations. Duties may require prolonged sitting, computer use, and the ability to respond to client crises. Some evening, weekend, or on-call availability may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Continued employment is contingent on maintaining an active, unrestricted license, NC Medicaid enrollment and payer credentialing, and compliance with ATLS policies. Employment with ATLS is at-will. This job description is not an employment contract and may be revised at any time to meet the needs of the organization. ATLS is an equal opportunity employer.