Director of Behavioral Health Services

Directly Supervises: Behavioral Health Supervisors

Job Summary

The Director of Behavioral Health Services provides daily leadership and oversight for the Behavioral Health Services program, including clinical quality, fiscal performance, operations, personnel management, grant management, and service development. The Director supervises Behavioral Health Supervisors and works closely with agency leadership to ensure behavioral health services are high quality, accessible, and sustainable. In collaboration with the Chief Program Officer, the Director leads outreach, community partnerships, and provider-network development to strengthen the behavioral health field and address identified service gaps. The Director also maintains a small clinical caseload of approximately 5–8 clients to stay connected to clinical practice and program operations.

Principal Accountabilities

• Leadership & Personnel Management – Recruit, hire, orient, train, coach, mentor, evaluate, and, when needed, discipline staff; recommend termination in accordance with agency policy. Provide direct supervision to Behavioral Health Supervisors and the Operations Manager, support leadership development, complete annual performance appraisals, and regularly monitor staff productivity, performance, and progress toward goals.

• Clinical & Program Oversight – Provide leadership for the delivery of high-quality behavioral health services, including clinical standards, access, workflow, service capacity, documentation expectations, and continuity of care. Partner with Behavioral Health Supervisors to address clinical, operational, and staffing needs and support consistent implementation of program policies and procedures.

• Clinical Caseload – Maintain an active caseload of approximately 5–8 clients, as operationally appropriate, while meeting all agency, documentation, quality, ethical, and compliance standards.

• Revenue & Fiscal Oversight – Monitor program budget performance and revenue trends; ensure compliance with funding-source requirements; review billed services, collections, utilization, and productivity data with operations and finance staff; identify trends and areas requiring corrective action; and support the financial sustainability of the program.

• Grant Oversight & Management – Oversee behavioral health grants from implementation through reporting, including deliverables, timelines, budgets, data collection, outcomes, compliance, and coordination with finance, development, and program staff. Support grant applications, renewals, funder communications, site visits, and evaluation efforts as needed.

• Programming Knowledge, Evaluation & Research – Maintain knowledge of current trends, community needs, evidence-based and promising practices, and service gaps within the behavioral health field. Use data, program outcomes, client and staff feedback, and relevant research to inform program evaluation, quality improvement, strategic planning, and service development.

• Community Partnerships & Outreach – Build and maintain relationships with community providers, referral partners, funders, health systems, schools, congregations, and other stakeholders. Strengthen provider-network relationships, share best practices, support coordinated care, and identify opportunities for partnership and service expansion.

• Internal Support & Agency Leadership – Represent Behavioral Health Services within the agency on a day-to-day basis. Participate in the agency Fee Committee and other assigned committees or workgroups. Provide interdepartmental consultation regarding behavioral health needs, clinical considerations, referrals, crisis response, service development, and client support. Collaborate with agency leaders and programs to promote coordinated, integrated services and effective problem-solving across departments. Collaborate and be active member of the crisis response team.

• Security & Privacy – Adhere to all agency and client-protection policies and maintain working knowledge of JFS privacy, safety, security, confidentiality, and information-protection requirements.

• Employee Philanthropy – Participate annually in agency and partner-related philanthropic activities and campaigns.

• Mission Dedication – Embody the mission and values of JFS in all work performed on behalf of the agency and utilize JFS key strategies to support organizational success.

• Miscellaneous – Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively responsible program management and leadership experience in behavioral health services; experience supervising clinical leaders strongly preferred.

Education: Master’s degree in Social Work or a related behavioral health field.

Licensure: Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW) or equivalent clinical licensure required; must meet applicable state requirements for independent clinical practice and supervision.

Minimum Competencies

Skills & Abilities

• Technology – Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, electronic health record systems, and other technology used to communicate, analyze program performance, and support operations.

• Critical Thinking & Data Use – Able to interpret clinical, financial, operational, and outcome data; identify meaningful trends; and translate findings into program improvements, strategic decisions, and clear communication with leadership, staff, funders, and stakeholders.

• Interpersonal & Customer Service – Demonstrates strong relationship-building, empathy, conflict-resolution, and mediation skills. Maintains a high standard of service to clients, staff, stakeholders, and community partners.

• Communication – Communicates clearly and effectively in writing and verbally, including with staff, senior leadership, board or committee members, funders, community partners, and external professionals.

Knowledge

• Education & Training – Supports staff professional growth and development, builds team expertise to address service gaps, and maintains ongoing professional development appropriate to the Director role.

• Behavioral Health – Maintains current knowledge of evidence-based and promising practices in the treatment of mental health, substance use, trauma, co-occurring conditions, and related behavioral health needs.

• Clinical Ethics & Compliance – Demonstrates knowledge of professional ethics, confidentiality, documentation, supervision standards, risk management, and applicable regulatory and payer requirements.

• Cultural Responsiveness – Recognizes and responds to the specialized needs of diverse populations within the Jewish community and broader service area, including differences in culture, religion, age, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, immigration history, and lived experience.

Leadership Behaviors

• Collegiality – Builds and maintains strong internal and external professional relationships for collaboration, consultation, referral coordination, and strategic partnership.

• Motivational Leadership – Communicates a clear vision, develops leaders, and creates an environment in which staff are engaged, supported, accountable, and connected to program and agency goals.

• People Management – Establishes clear expectations, provides timely feedback and support, promotes accountability, and builds a culture of trust, respect, flexibility, and continuous learning.

• Drive & Continuous Improvement – Demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement at both the personal and organizational levels.

Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit is an Equal Opportunity Employer