Director of Behavioral Health

About Lifeline Community Services

Founded in 1973, Lifeline Community Services knows that thriving communities begin with people who feel seen, supported, and empowered. Reaching more than 25,000 people across San Diego County each year, our work sits at the intersection of behavioral health and economic empowerment, helping individuals and families face life's challenges and move toward a future filled with possibility. Our strength lies in our integrated approach and deep community connection, today providing services in six key areas: Behavioral Health, Family Strengthening, Housing & Stabilization, Youth Development, Anti-Human Trafficking, and Economic Empowerment.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Behavioral Health provides strategic and operational leadership for Lifeline Community Services' Behavioral Health portfolio and is accountable for the performance, sustainability, growth, and impact of programs within the department. As a member of Lifeline's senior leadership, the Director translates organizational strategy into departmental priorities; oversees program, contract, financial, workforce, and outcome performance; and helps position Lifeline as a strong and trusted partner within San Diego County's behavioral health system.

The Director works in close partnership with the Director of Clinical Services, who establishes Lifeline's organization-wide clinical framework, standards, and direction, to ensure Behavioral Health programs consistently deliver high-quality, evidence-informed, trauma-responsive, culturally responsive, and client-centered services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent in this position will perform the following duties and responsibilities along with other duties that may be assigned:

Strategic & Organizational Leadership

Provide strategic leadership and overall direction for Lifeline's Behavioral Health department, ensuring programs advance the organization's mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to the communities it serves.
Develop and execute departmental goals, annual objectives, priorities, and operating plans, translating Lifeline's strategic plan into measurable results.
Assess emerging community needs, policy and funding changes, and shifts within the behavioral health landscape to inform program strategy and organizational decision-making.
Lead the Behavioral Health department through significant operational, funding, regulatory, and system changes, ensuring program leaders understand the implications of change and have clear plans, systems, and support to implement effectively.
Identify opportunities to strengthen, expand, redesign, or develop programs and partnerships that increase access, improve outcomes, and support the long-term sustainability of Lifeline's Behavioral Health portfolio.
Serve as a member of Lifeline's senior leadership, contributing to organization-wide strategy, culture, decision-making, and cross-functional priorities.
Partner with leaders across Lifeline, including Clinical Services, Youth Development, Anti-Human Trafficking, Finance, Compliance, and other departments, to strengthen coordination where services, populations, funding streams, and systems intersect.

Program, Contract & Financial Performance

Hold overall accountability for the operational, contractual, financial, and programmatic performance of the Behavioral Health portfolio.
Establish and oversee management systems that enable program leaders to consistently monitor staffing, productivity, service delivery, contract performance, financial performance, and other key indicators; ensure emerging issues are identified and addressed before they result in significant programmatic, contractual, audit, or financial risk.
Develop the capacity of program leaders to understand and use operational, financial, workforce, service, and outcome data to manage performance, identify trends, address challenges, and make sound decisions.
Ensure programs meet contractual requirements, performance measures, service expectations, and deliverables established by funders and government partners.
Partner with Finance and program leadership to develop and manage departmental budgets, monitor financial performance, assess program sustainability, and align staffing and resources with service and revenue expectations.
Strengthen operational systems and management practices that support effective service delivery, accountability, efficiency, and responsible growth.
Lead departmental planning and implementation related to new contracts, grant-funded initiatives, program expansions, funding changes, and significant shifts in service delivery.

Clinical Quality, Compliance & Outcomes

Promote a culture of clinical excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across the Behavioral Health department, working in close partnership with the Directors of Clinical Services and Compliance to translate organization-wide clinical, quality, and compliance standards into strong program practice and performance.
Partner closely with the Director of Clinical Services to ensure Behavioral Health programs consistently implement Lifeline's organization-wide clinical standards, quality framework, evidence-informed practices, and clinical supervision expectations.
Maintain accountability within the Behavioral Health portfolio for adherence to applicable contractual, regulatory, licensing, ethical, payer, accreditation, privacy, and documentation requirements, including requirements established by the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal, HIPAA, and applicable accreditation bodies.
Partner with the Director of Compliance and program leadership to ensure effective systems for clinical documentation monitoring, quality assurance, incident reporting, risk mitigation, and corrective action.
Coordinate with the Director of Compliance and other organizational leaders on program audits, monitoring reviews, corrective action plans, accreditation reviews, and other external oversight activities, ensuring Behavioral Health programs maintain ongoing readiness and address identified issues in a timely and sustainable manner.
Use client outcomes, service data, quality indicators, and other performance measures to identify opportunities to improve access, effectiveness, service quality, and the client experience.

People & Leadership Development

Recruit, hire, supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Behavioral Health program leaders, establishing clear expectations and accountability for leadership and program performance.
Build a strong departmental leadership team capable of translating strategy into effective day-to-day operations.
Provide program leaders with the coaching, tools, and management support needed to effectively oversee staff performance, productivity, service delivery, and contractual expectations, intervening when necessary to strengthen management practices and address persistent performance challenges.
Partner with Human Resources and program leadership to anticipate workforce needs, strengthen recruitment and retention, and ensure staffing models support program, contractual, clinical, and financial requirements.
Develop leadership capacity and succession pathways within the department, creating opportunities for staff growth and increasing organizational bench strength.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, inclusion, engagement, and continuous improvement that helps staff understand both the expectations of their roles and their connection to Lifeline's broader mission, while supporting strong performance and retention.

System Leadership, Partnerships & Growth

Serve as a senior representative of Lifeline within San Diego County's behavioral health system, building strong relationships with County Behavioral Health Services, healthcare providers, schools, community-based organizations, law enforcement, child welfare agencies, funders, government agencies, and other key stakeholders.
Develop and maintain strategic relationships that strengthen care coordination, improve access to services, support program sustainability, and create opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Represent Lifeline in relevant coalitions, collaboratives, advisory groups, planning efforts, and other system-level forums.
Stay informed about changes in behavioral health policy, financing, regulation, delivery systems, and community needs; assess their implications for Lifeline and translate significant changes into actionable recommendations for executive leadership and departmental implementation.
Help strengthen Lifeline's visibility, credibility, and influence as a behavioral health provider and community partner throughout San Diego County.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Master's or doctoral degree in psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, applied behavior analysis, or a closely related behavioral health field.
Active California clinical licensure or certification as an LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, BCBA, licensed psychologist (Psy.D. or Ph.D.), or other credential specifically permitted by applicable program and contractual requirements, with a minimum of two years of post-licensure or post-certification experience.
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in behavioral health or a closely related human-services field, including significant responsibility for complex programs or service portfolios.
Minimum of five years of leadership experience, including responsibility for managers, multidisciplinary teams, and/or multiple programs.
Demonstrated experience managing publicly funded behavioral health programs and contracts, including responsibility for program performance, compliance, budgets, and outcomes.
Experience with outpatient mental health and/or substance use disorder treatment programs.
Strong knowledge of behavioral health service delivery, regulatory and payer requirements, quality improvement, and the operational environment of publicly funded behavioral health systems.
Demonstrated ability to use financial, operational, workforce, and program data to assess performance, identify emerging risks, and guide decision-making.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience leading behavioral health services for children, youth, and families.
Experience with County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, County-funded behavioral health contracts, Medi-Cal-funded services, and California's evolving behavioral health financing and delivery environment.
Experience working in a nonprofit, community-based, or complex human-services organization.
Experience providing or leading services that are responsive to the cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic needs of children, youth, adults, and families from a wide range of backgrounds and communities.
Experience with accreditation processes such as CARF or COA.
Experience developing, launching, expanding, or redesigning behavioral health programs.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and working across organizational departments or service areas.
Experience developing and managing government-funded programs and initiatives.
Authorized to provide clinical supervision in California.
Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Demonstrated ability to lead with sound judgment, integrity, humility, self-awareness, and accountability, including the ability to receive feedback, reflect on its implications, and adapt when needed.
Strong strategic and systems-thinking skills, with the ability to understand complex clinical, operational, financial, regulatory, and organizational issues; identify emerging risks and root causes; and translate them into clear priorities and action.
Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills, with the ability to establish trust, navigate differing perspectives, and work effectively across disciplines, departments, organizational levels, and external partners.
Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and significant change, balancing strategic direction with the practical realities of implementation and helping leaders and teams successfully navigate transitions.
Demonstrated ability to develop managers and build leadership capacity, including setting clear expectations, strengthening accountability, coaching through performance challenges, and supporting effective use of data and sound decision-making.
Ability to communicate clearly and credibly with a wide range of audiences, including staff, executive leadership, government partners, funders, community partners, and other stakeholders.
Strong knowledge of trauma-informed, client-centered, culturally responsive behavioral health care and the ability to support its consistent application within complex community-based programs.
Ability to exercise appropriate initiative and independent judgment while recognizing when collaboration, consultation, or escalation is needed, and a demonstrated commitment to Lifeline Community Services' mission and to serving children, youth, adults, and families with dignity and respect.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Reliable transportation. Must have a California driver license and good driving record. Willing to use own, properly insured, reliable vehicle for the job (mileage reimbursed). Employment subject to clearances, including background fingerprinting checks, driving record, tuberculosis testing, and drug testing.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may be exposed in an extremely stressful environment where there are considerable mental and emotional demands. Travel is required to client homes. Employee may be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The employee will be required to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Lifeline Community Services is committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices that are focused on equity and inclusion and that balance experience and education as qualifications. Lifeline Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, genetics, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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