Behavioral Health Program Director

HealthcareIncludes callFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 4mo ago

Job Description

The Director, Hospital Program is responsible for the overall leadership and operation of the facility's services, departments, budget, and functions, subject to oversight by the Company Hospital Chief Executive Officer and host hospital Chief Nursing Officer.

This position directs the ongoing mission and philosophy of care of the unit by demonstrating leadership through exploring, developing, accepting, and implementing new ideas with vision, foresight, and customer sensitivity to meet the facility's and community's needs.

The Director, Hospital Program shall ensure the facility is adequately staffed, programming standards are met, and adequate resources are provided to meet the needs of the patient populations served.

The position is responsible for the unit's financial performance, overseeing departmental and committee activity, coordinating efforts to establish facility/committee goals, strategic planning, performance improvement planning, marketing, and community liaison activities in adherence with facility policy and procedures, compliance plans, and all internal and external regulatory bodies that apply to the daily operation of the facility.

All duties are to be done in accordance with The Joint Commission, Federal and State regulations, Oceans Behavioral mission, policies and procedures, and Performance Improvement Standards. Essential Functions

Managing the overall operation of the Behavioral Health Unit, with responsibility to the Governing Board, including control, utilization, and conservation of its physical and financial assets.

Review and advise in the preparation of the annual budget showing the unit's expected receipts and expenditures; responsible for the supervision of all business affairs and to ensure that all expenditures are controlled to the best possible advantage.

Managing the ongoing functions of the unit by recruiting and directing adequate numbers of appropriately trained professional and auxiliary personnel, including delegating duties appropriately.

Submits monthly reports showing the professional service and financial activities of the unit and prepares and submits such special reports as may be required by the Governing Body.

Assisting the Governing Body in formulating policy by preparing and presenting to and reviewing with the Governing Body:

(i) Long-term and short-term plans of the unit

(ii) Reports on the nature and extent of funding and other available resources

(iii) Reports describing the unit's operations

(iv) Reports evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit or its program activity

(v) Budgets and financial statements

To attend, or have his designated representative attend, all meetings of the Medical Staff; name unit departmental representatives to Medical Staff committees, when appropriate, and when requested by the Medical Staff. Cooperates with the Medical Staff and to secure like cooperation on the part of all those concerned with the rendering of professional service to the end that the best possible care may be rendered to all patients.

Complies with Federal and State statutes and regulations in the performance of his/her duties; assures that appropriate policies, plans, and goals are effectively communicated to all staff members.

Determine which care, treatment, or services are provided directly and which are provided through consultation, contract, or other agreement.

Assures that leadership assesses patient flow issues within the host hospital, the impact on patient safety, and mitigation of that impact.

Performs other related duties as assigned. Education/Experience

Master's degree and at least three years of full-time experience in progressively responsible management positions in healthcare; or

Baccalaureate Degree and at least five years of full-time experience in progressively responsible management positions in healthcare; or

At least ten years of full-time experience in hospital administration.

Registered Nurse with an active license in the state where practicing is preferred. Skills/Abilities

Must be a sound leader who possesses excellent communication and interpersonal skills to foster cooperation across departmental lines and manage information, environmental, and fiscal resources to accomplish goals.

Must be able to maintain and demonstrate a broad knowledge of tasks and assets necessary to accomplish the company objectives.

Must have knowledge about the needs and requirements of third-party payers and the ability to be culturally sensitive to diverse groupings of employees and consumers of services as well as maintain knowledge.

Must continually be up to date on State, Federal regulations, The Joint Commission regulations, etc.

Must successfully complete Basic Life Saving (BLS) course and an Oceans-approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Key Responsibilities

The Director is responsible for the overall leadership, financial performance, and operational management of the Behavioral Health Unit. This includes overseeing staffing, ensuring regulatory compliance with The Joint Commission and state laws, and coordinating strategic planning and community liaison activities.

Requirements

Candidates must have a Master's degree with 3 years of healthcare management experience, a Bachelor's with 5 years, or 10 years of hospital administration experience. A Registered Nurse license and completion of BLS and behavioral health de-escalation programs are preferred or required.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Budget ManagementStaff RecruitmentInterpersonal CommunicationPatient Flow ManagementFinancial OversightClinical OperationsCrisis De-escalation

Healthcare Professional Career Context

Of the 50 active healthcare listings this role was benchmarked against, 22% are remote, 32% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Louisiana is 88.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.8% of Louisiana clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

healthcare pay on WeekdayDoc is up 11.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

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Salary Distribution36 jobs

12
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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs

401k / retirement match
97%
CME allowance
10%
Sign-on bonus
7%
Loan repayment
3%
Relocation assistance
3%

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Work-life snapshot

3.0/ 10
Listing-based score
  • Includes call

Living in Opelousas

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$173k
Typical market rent
$842/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
State income tax
Up to 4.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.