Senior Director of Behavioral Health

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Behavioral Health provides operational and program leadership for Akin’s behavioral health service lines, supporting the effective delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed care across multiple programs and regions. Reporting to the Vice President of Clinical Services, this role is responsible for overseeing day-to-day behavioral health operations, supporting clinical directors and managers, and ensuring alignment with organizational policies, performance expectations, and regulatory requirements.

The Senior Director serves as an operational leader focused on program execution, workforce support, practice management consistency, and implementation of strategic initiatives established at the executive level. This role partners closely with Finance, CQI, Human Resources, Compliance, and Clinical Leadership to ensure behavioral health services operate efficiently, ethically, and in alignment with Akin’s mission and values.

This position will also have, as necessary, access to paper and electronic protected healthcare information (PHI) and confidential identifiable information (CII) to perform related job duties and responsibilities.

Essential Functions

Behavioral Health Operations and Program Oversight

• Provide operational oversight and support for behavioral health programs across assigned regions and service lines, ensuring consistency in service delivery and adherence to organizational expectations.
• Support implementation of organizational priorities, workflows, and operational standards established by executive leadership.
• Support implementation of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiatives across behavioral health programs, utilizing operational data, performance indicators, and collaborative review processes to strengthen service quality, compliance, and program effectiveness.
• Monitor program performance indicators related to access, productivity, utilization, compliance, documentation, staffing, and service delivery.
• Partner with Clinical Directors and managers to address operational barriers, improve workflows, and maintain service continuity.
• Ensure behavioral health programs operate in alignment with Medicaid requirements, CARF standards, contractual obligations, and organizational policies.
• Assist with operational readiness efforts related to audits, accreditation reviews, and payer monitoring activities.

Practice Management and Quality Support

• Support standardization of scheduling, documentation, billing coordination, caseload management, and operational workflows across behavioral health programs.
• Collaborate with CQI, Compliance, and program leadership to monitor service quality and operational effectiveness.
• Participate in operational review processes and support implementation of corrective action plans when needed.
• Promote measurement-informed and trauma-informed practices throughout behavioral health operations.
• Support implementation and adoption of operational and clinical process improvements across programs.

People Leadership and Workforce Development

• Supervise and support assigned behavioral health leaders, fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Promote effective communication, reflective supervision practices, and operational consistency across teams.
• Support workforce development efforts including onboarding, training coordination, leadership development, and retention initiatives.
• Assist with succession planning and development of operational leadership capacity within behavioral health programs.
• Partner with Human Resources and executive leadership regarding staffing structures, operational concerns, and employee performance matters.

Systems Improvement and Implementation

• Support implementation of system improvement initiatives, operational redesign efforts, and workflow optimization activities.
• Assist with behavioral health operational implementation related to EMR enhancements, documentation standards, and process changes.
• Facilitate collaboration between behavioral health programs and internal departments to improve operational integration and client experience.
• Utilize data, operational trends, and performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities and support decision-making.

External Collaboration and Organizational Representation

• Represent behavioral health operations in internal committees, collaborative meetings, and community partnerships as assigned.
• Support relationships with funders, referral partners, and external stakeholders in coordination with executive leadership.
• Assist with implementation of new contracts, program expansions, and operational initiatives.
• Participate in statewide and regional discussions related to behavioral health operations and service coordination as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to build rapport, develop trust and credibility with peers, direct team and across the organization.
• Thorough understanding of management and financial practices in all areas and phases of business operations.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, electronic medical record (EMR) systems, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Proven leadership in advancing accessibility, inclusion, and belonging across complex organizations or systems, particularly in supervision, accountability, and strategic planning
• Deep understanding of legal, regulatory, and cultural dimensions of accessibility, nondiscrimination, and inclusion, with a demonstrated capacity to center equity while navigating compliance frameworks (including Title VI and related mandates)
• Strong understanding of Medicaid-funded behavioral health services, documentation requirements, and regulatory expectations.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, measurement-informed practice, and operational quality improvement processes.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) programs to support performance monitoring, quality initiatives, operational improvement planning, and outcome-driven service delivery within behavioral health settings.
• Experience supporting practice management functions including scheduling, productivity monitoring, workflow coordination, and operational compliance.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to interpret operational data and support performance improvement efforts.

Working Environment

• Moderate noise (i. e., business office with computers, printers, phones)
• Typical office lighting and temperatures
• Moderate interruptions
• Ability to work in a confined area
• Ability to sit at a computer for an extended period
• Moderate travel is needed to perform the essential functions of the job

Hybrid Work Arrangements

Hybrid work is a benefit of Akin’s flexible workplace but cannot be offered for all positions. Some positions require daily presence in the office. Hybrid work arrangements may be adjusted or rescinded based upon business needs.

Physical Demands

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard; occasionally to reach, stoop and kneel
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work
• Regular, predictable attendance is required

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in behavioral health, healthcare administration, nursing, social work, counseling, psychology, behavior analysis or related healthcare discipline.
• Independent clinical licensure in Washington State preferred (e. g., LMHC, LMFT, LICSW, Psychologist, RN, ARNP, SLP, BCBA, OT, or other applicable licenses).
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health or related healthcare settings, including operational oversight responsibilities.
• Experience supporting multi-site or multi-program behavioral health operations preferred.
• A valid driver's license and a favorable driving record, with no more than three violations within the past three years

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit or community-based behavioral health organizations;
• Background or expertise in infant and early childhood mental health
• Bi-lingual in Spanish, or other languages
• Experience with a dispersed workforce

Compensation and Benefits

We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive pay, medical, dental and retirement benefits and paid time off. As required by various pay transparency laws, we share a competitive range of compensation for candidates hired into each position.

The target starting pay for this position is $119,579 - $149,468 per year, typically within the first half of the range. Actual offers will be based on individual qualifications relevant to the role and will not take an applicant’s pay history into account.

The range above allows our employees room for growth during their tenure in the position.