Program Director of Children's Services

Description:

AMHC is seeking a dynamic and mission-driven Exempt Program Director of Children’s Services to provide operational, clinical, and strategic leadership across all children’s behavioral health programs.

This executive-level role ensures the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate services for children, adolescents, and families across the continuum of care, including outpatient, school-based, community-based, crisis, and specialized programs.

The Director plays a key leadership role in advancing services under the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and aligning program operations with the agency’s strategic vision.

The Program Director reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Program Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of children’s behavioral health services.
  
• Translate agency strategic goals into measurable program objectives and outcomes.
  
• Identify emerging needs and recommend new services or program enhancements based on data and best practices.
  

Staff Leadership & Development

• Supervise and mentor Program Managers, Clinical Supervisors, and program staff.
  
• Promote a culture of accountability, clinical excellence, and family-centered care.
  
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and succession planning.
  

Quality, Compliance & Outcomes

• Establish and monitor child-specific performance metrics and outcome measures.
  
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, Medicaid, HIPAA, licensing, and contractual requirements.
  
• Utilize data analytics to improve access, quality, and service effectiveness.
  
• Prepare reports for leadership, funders, regulatory agencies, and the Board of Directors.
  

Fiscal & Operational Oversight

• Develop and manage program budgets in collaboration with the CFO.
  
• Monitor productivity, utilization, and expenditures to ensure fiscal stewardship.
  
• Ensure alignment with AMHC’s annual service and development plan.
  

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, child welfare, juvenile justice, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders.
  
• Lead children-specific community needs assessments.
  
• Support contract development, grant initiatives, and RFP responses.
  
• Represent AMHC in regional and statewide coalitions and workgroups.
  

Administrative Leadership

• Collaborate with Finance, HR, Billing, IT/EHR, Quality, and Marketing to ensure coordinated operations.
  
• Participate in the agency’s 24-hour administrative on-call rotation.
  

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related behavioral health field (required).
  
• Independent clinical licensure preferred (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, or equivalent).
  
• Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience in children’s behavioral health services.
  
• Experience with Medicaid-funded programs and regulatory compliance required.
  
• CCBHC experience preferred.
  
• Demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed care, child development, and family-centered practices.
  
• Strong fiscal management, data analysis, and strategic planning skills.
  

Physical & Work Requirements

• Primarily office-based with travel throughout the service area.
  
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and operate standard office equipment.
  
• Occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds.
  

Schedule & Classification

• Full-time, exempt position.
  
• Standard hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
  
• Additional hours may be required based on operational needs.
  

Why Join AMHC?

At AMHC, you will have the opportunity to lead transformative children’s behavioral health programs that directly impact families and communities. We are committed to clinical excellence, innovation, and collaborative leadership.

If you are a strategic leader passionate about strengthening systems of care for children and youth, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements:

• This position requires a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or counseling, and 7 years of experience in behavioral health services, crisis intervention, and/or residential care.
• Demonstrated supervisory, leadership, administrative, program, and community development experience is also required. Prior leadership or management experience in a similar setting is preferred.

AMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employerind123