Director of Behavioral Health Services

Position: Director of Behavioral Health Services Location: Chicago, IL Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt Salary Range: $90-$110,000/year Reports To: Director of Psychiatric Services Job Summary: The Director of Behavioral Health Services is responsible for leading the clinical operations of the community mental health center (CMHC), ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care across all departments. This includes oversight of day-to-day clinic functioning, direct supervision of mental health therapists and service staff, and coordination with case managers, psychiatric providers, and administrative teams to ensure integrated care planning. This leadership role is not limited to directing licensed-to-licensed supervision models but instead emphasizes the broader structure of a CMHC, which operates with the intensity of an inpatient facility while allowing patients to remain in their homes. The DOPS is accountable for establishing and monitoring clinical protocols and ensuring that documentation from all departments—including case management, therapy, psychiatry, and nursing—aligns with the patient’s care plan and treatment goals. Key Responsibilities: Clinical Supervision and Quality Assurance Directly supervise a team of mental health therapists, ensuring clinical services meet agency, state, and accreditation standards. Monitor and enhance clinical care by: Reviewing and approving treatment plans for alignment with patient goals and diagnosis. Ensuring therapists maintain updated documentation including progress notes, screenings (PHQ-9, GAD-7, etc.), and encounter summaries. Signing off on therapy encounters within Athena to confirm completeness and appropriateness for billing. Verifying minutes used for billing reflect actual services provided and meet regulatory and payer guidelines. Tracking individual and team productivity, ensuring therapists meet defined productivity goals (e.g., 70%+ clinical time utilization). Performance Management and Employment Actions Conduct formal and informal performance evaluations, incorporating measurable outcomes like: Patient satisfaction, Caseload management, Treatment outcomes, Billing accuracy and timeliness Provide coaching, feedback, and Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) where needed. Make informed recommendations for hiring, promotions, or employment actions based on performance, ethics, and contribution to clinical effectiveness. Team Development and Clinical Support Lead weekly team meetings, case consultations, and training sessions to: Foster professional development. Address clinical concerns or compliance issues. Support collaboration across therapy, psychiatry, case management, and administrative teams. Guide therapists in utilizing evidence-based practices and integrating feedback from supervisors, audits, and patient reports. Oversight of Case Management Department Supervise the Case Management Lead and ensure effective leadership of case managers. Ensure the department: Completes IMCANS assessments, Medicaid applications, and service referrals on schedule. Uses Athena effectively to document and track services. Aligns service delivery with organizational partnerships, such as housing, job training, primary care, and community-based supports. Meets census targets by ensuring active engagement with a consistent number of patients (e.g., 20+ active clients per full-time case manager). Provides accurate reporting for funding, billing, and compliance purposes. Operational Leadership and Scheduling Direct day-to-day functions of therapy and case management units, including: Staff and appointment scheduling. Coordination of clinical coverage across shifts and clinic sites. Assignment of new patients based on caseload availability and clinician expertise. Review of care team calendars, ensuring balanced workloads and optimal service delivery. Billing, Productivity, and Documentation Oversight Oversee compliance with billing and documentation standards by: Signing off on therapy encounters and verifying billing minutes per session. Ensuring therapists meet monthly productivity benchmarks based on scheduled and completed appointments. Auditing case documentation for consistency, completeness, and alignment with billing guidelines. Supporting therapists and case managers in understanding billing codes and service limits. Program Integration and Census Management Maintain a target census for both therapy and case management departments: Ensure patients are appropriately assigned to staff. Monitor patient attrition and re-engagement efforts. Align census data with payer requirements and funding contracts. Collaborate with intake, outreach, and compliance teams to ensure the department: Meets or exceeds required monthly census quotas. Keeps consistent engagement of patients across levels of care (therapy, case management, psychiatric). Qualifications: Education & Licensure: Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related mental health discipline required. LCSW, LCPC, PhD, or equivalent state licensure required. Experience & Skills: Minimum of five years of experience in mental health. At least five years of supervisory experience in a clinical or community mental health setting. Expertise in crisis intervention, assessment, and working with individuals experiencing acute psychiatric distress. Strong ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team of professionals. Knowledge of IM+CANS, Medicaid regulations, and community mental health systems. Familiarity with community resources, legal systems, and public health services. Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings or weekends. Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related field. Licensed or license-eligible in the state (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, etc.). Certification in trauma-informed care, DBT, CBT, CADC, or other specialized modalities. Experience in community mental health, integrated care, or outpatient settings. Work Environment & Physical Requirements: Office, telehealth, and community-based service settings. 4 locations (3 clinics and 1 corporate office) in the Chicago area Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Ability to lift up to 15 pounds as needed. Why Vivia Health? At Vivia Health, we believe in the power of community and the importance of accessible mental health care. We are committed to supporting our staff with a collaborative work environment, ongoing professional development, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients in underserved communities in Chicago. Vivia Health is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Let’s connect and make a difference together at Vivia Health! Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Prescription drug insurance Professional development assistance Vision insurance Education: Master's (Required) Experience: Supervisory: 5 years (Required) Community Mental Health: 5 years (Required) IM+CANS: 2 years (Required) License/Certification: LCSW, LCPC, PhD, or equivalent in Illinois (Required) Ability to Commute: Lincolnwood, IL 60712 (Required) Work Location: In person

Integrated mental health and primary care for underserved communities.