Associate Director of Behavioral Health

Recovery Works Northwest

$75K — $95K *
Healthcare
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of leadership experience in behavioral health or substance use disorder services.
  • Demonstrated success in launching new programs in outpatient settings.
  • Strong understanding of Oregon behavioral health regulations and Medicaid requirements.
  • Experience with compliance standards from agencies like the Joint Commission or CARF.
  • Training in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar process improvement methodologies desired.
  • Project management certification (PMP or equivalent) preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Support daily operations across multiple behavioral health clinics and detox facilities.
  • Develop and implement efficient workflows and policies.
  • Monitor clinic performance and operational metrics.
  • Identify and address operational challenges to enhance patient care.
  • Coordinate operational needs between outpatient and detox services.
  • Lead and manage projects from planning to execution.
  • Foster collaboration amongst clinical, administrative, and support teams.

Benefits

  • Multiple medical insurance plan options to fit employee needs.
  • Company-paid dental and life insurance.
  • Flexible spending accounts including HSA and dependent care.
  • Accrued PTO with additional increases over time.
  • 401k plan with 3% matching after 3 months of employment.
  • Up to $400 annually for continuing education support.
  • All licensure and certification costs covered by the company.
Full Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Behavioral Health serves as a key operational leader responsible for supporting the delivery of high-quality behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) services across four outpatient clinics and one medically managed detoxification facility. This position partners closely with the Director of Operations and executive leadership to ensure operational excellence, clinical program efficiency, regulatory compliance, and organizational growth.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, solutions-oriented leader with exceptional operational, logistical, and project management skills. They thrive in fast-paced environments, embrace continuous improvement, and possess a growth mindset focused on building sustainable systems that support both staff and patient success.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

Operational Leadership
  • Support day-to-day operations across multiple behavioral health programs and clinic locations.
  • Develop and implement standardized workflows, policies, and procedures to improve consistency and efficiency.
  • Monitor clinic performance metrics, patient access, productivity, scheduling efficiency, and operational outcomes.
  • Identify operational challenges and proactively develop solutions to improve patient care and organizational effectiveness.
  • Assist in coordinating operational needs between outpatient clinics and detox services.
  • Partner with site leadership to optimize staffing, patient flow, and resource allocation.
  • Lead operational projects from planning through implementation while ensuring timelines are met.


Program Development & Growth
  • Support expansion of existing behavioral health and substance use disorder services including PHP and Mental Health programs.
  • Assist with opening new programs, service lines, or clinic locations as organizational growth occurs.
  • Evaluate operational processes and recommend improvements that increase scalability.
  • Participate in strategic planning initiatives that promote organizational growth and long-term sustainability.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous quality improvement.
  • Provide coaching and operational guidance to program managers and supervisors.
  • Promote collaboration between clinical, medical, administrative, and support teams.
  • Help develop leadership capacity throughout the organization by mentoring emerging leaders.
  • Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention initiatives in partnership with Human Resources.
  • Assist with employee performance management and professional development planning.


Quality, Compliance & Risk Management
  • Ensure operational compliance with applicable federal, state, and accreditation standards.
  • Support readiness for audits, licensing reviews, and accreditation surveys.
  • Monitor quality indicators and participate in performance improvement initiatives.
  • Collaborate with compliance and quality teams to implement corrective action plans when necessary.
  • Maintain knowledge of Oregon behavioral health regulations, Oregon Administrative Rules, substance use disorder treatment standards, and payer requirements.


Financial & Resource Management
  • Assist with operational budgeting and resource planning.
  • Monitor operational expenses and identify opportunities for cost-effective improvements.
  • Review productivity, census, staffing levels, and operational reports to support informed decision-making.
  • Collaborate with finance and executive leadership on operational forecasting.


Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with medical leadership, clinical leadership, Human Resources, Finance, Billing, Credentialing, and Operations teams.
  • Facilitate communication across departments to ensure coordinated service delivery.
  • Represent the organization in meetings with community partners, referral sources, and external stakeholders as assigned.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)
  • , or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.
  • Experience working within substance use disorder treatment programs , specifically with the full continuum of outpatient services.
  • Proven track record of launching new programs (i.e. IOP, PHP, Mental Health)
  • Knowledge of Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs), Medicaid/OHP requirements, Joint Commission or CARF standards required.
  • Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement training desired.
  • Project management certification (PMP or equivalent) desired.


BENEFITS
  • We offer three medical insurance plan options, allowing employees to choose the coverage that best first their needs and budget
  • Dental insurance 100% paid by the company (option to add family members which are paid for by the employee)
  • Life insurance 100% paid for by the company
  • HSA, Medical FSA, and Dependent Care FSA available
  • Access to supplemental accident, critical illness, and additional life insurance coverage
  • PTO (earned on an accrual basis with increases at one year and every 5 years thereafter)
  • Sick Time (40 hours annually)
  • Time and a Half Holiday Pay
  • 401k and up to 3% match after 3 months of employment
  • Up to $400 per year for approved CEUs
  • All required licensure/certification costs for position paid for by the company


**Position is contingent on passing an OHA Background check and successful completion of a urine analysis (UA) after accepting job offer**

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