Substance Use Disorder Director.
Job Duties
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive and Program Leadership
• Provides leadership and oversight of SUD treatment programs across the continuum of care.
• Develops and implements the strategic vision and operational goals for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services.
• Establishes annual departmental goals, objectives, performance measures, and key performance indicators.
• Ensures alignment of SUD services with the Medical Center's mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities.
• Works collaboratively with the Clinical Director to establish appropriate clinical and operational structures.
• Advises leadership regarding SUD treatment trends, regulatory requirements, community needs, access to care, program performance, and opportunities for growth.
• Participates in long-range planning, strategic initiatives, and development of new SUD services.
• Evaluates community needs and identifies opportunities to expand or enhance addiction treatment services.
Operational Management
• Provides day-to-day administrative and operational oversight of SUD treatment services.
• Directs daily operations through subordinate directors, managers, supervisors, and other designated staff.
• Organizes departmental operations, workflows, procedures, records, supplies, and resources.
• Oversees staffing models, productivity, scheduling, resource allocation, patient access, and operational efficiency.
• Monitors patient throughput, census, referral patterns, access to care, and continuity of services.
• Identifies operational and service delivery gaps and develops recommendations for improvement.
• Ensures efficient utilization of staff, facilities, equipment, and other operational resources.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates policies, procedures, workflows, and systems.
• Assesses gaps in policies and procedures and develops necessary policies and procedures to address identified needs.
• Ensures departmental policies and procedures remain consistent with regulatory requirements and Medical Center standards.
Clinical and Patient Care Oversight
• Provides administrative and programmatic oversight of patient care processes in collaboration with the Clinical Director.
• Ensures services are delivered using evidence-based practices and in accordance with applicable clinical and regulatory standards.
• Promotes integrated care across substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health, medical, psychiatric, and recovery services.
• Supports appropriate assessment, treatment planning, level-of-care determination, referral, continuing care, discharge, and transfer processes.
• Develops and maintains referral processes for acute, rehabilitation, support, medical maintenance, continuing care, mental health, and substance use disorder services.
• Participates in interdisciplinary diagnostic and treatment planning meetings and makes recommendations regarding patient needs.
• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds, case consultation, and treatment planning activities.
• Ensures clinical staff are supervised by appropriately credentialed personnel.
• Works with the Clinical Director to ensure clinical services are provided within applicable scope-of-practice, licensing, and regulatory requirements.
• Promotes continuity of care and appropriate transitions between levels of treatment.
Withdrawal Management and Clinical Program Responsibilities
In accordance with applicable New Jersey regulatory requirements and the individual's scope of practice and credentials, the Director may be responsible for:
• Assessing the counseling needs of SUD patients.
• Assessing patients using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), standardized assessment tools, or other evidence-based validated assessment instruments.
• Participating in the assessment and diagnosis of substance use disorders using the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
• Determining or participating in determination of the appropriate level of care consistent with applicable ASAM criteria.
• Obtaining prior records relevant to the current treatment episode.
• Collaborating with patients to develop individualized, recovery-oriented treatment plans containing measurable goals and objectives.
• Providing substance use disorder counseling services within the scope of applicable licensure and assigned responsibilities.
• Reviewing patients throughout the treatment episode to determine the continued need for services, discharge, or transfer.
• Reviewing and revising the substance use disorder counseling portion of treatment plans when clinically indicated.
• Developing discharge and transfer plans to facilitate movement to appropriate levels of care.
• Contacting referral sources and providing case consultation and coordination.
• Participating as a member of multidisciplinary teams for assigned patients.
• Documenting assessments, reassessments, counseling, education, referrals, follow-up, and other services in the patient's clinical record in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Ensuring clinical documentation is complete, accurate, appropriately signed, and dated, including electronic documentation.
Financial Management and Revenue
• Participates in the development and management of departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Monitors financial performance, productivity, staffing costs, and resource utilization.
• Collaborates with Finance and Revenue Cycle regarding professional billing and reimbursement.
• Supports financial performance related to Medicaid, Medicare, commercial insurance, managed care, state contracts, grants, and other funding sources.
• Monitors and supports compliance with contractual requirements and Quality Incentive Program (QIP) measures.
• Identifies opportunities to maximize reimbursement and improve financial performance.
• Develops financial projections and business plans for new and expanded services.
• Evaluates opportunities to improve operational efficiency and resource utilization.
Regulatory and Compliance
Ensures ongoing compliance with applicable requirements, including:
• New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH)
• Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)
• Joint Commission
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as applicable
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Medicaid and managed care requirements
• Applicable New Jersey licensing requirements
• State and federal regulations
• Medical Center policies and procedures
• Contractual and funding requirements
Additional responsibilities include:
• Maintains regulatory and accreditation readiness.
• Participates in regulatory, licensing, and accreditation surveys.
• Develops and implements corrective action plans when deficiencies are identified.
• Monitors compliance with applicable staffing, documentation, patient care, safety, and operational requirements.
• Collaborates with Quality, Compliance, Risk Management, and other departments to address regulatory and operational concerns.
Quality Improvement and Performance Management
• Leads and participates in performance improvement initiatives within SUD Treatment Services and across the Medical Center, as appropriate.
• Establishes and monitors clinical, operational, patient experience, and financial performance measures.
• Monitors patient satisfaction and clinical outcome measures.
• Reviews incidents, patient complaints, risk events, and service concerns.
• Develops and implements action plans to improve patient safety, quality, patient experience, and program effectiveness.
• Utilizes data and performance metrics to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Develops and maintains processes for implementing, tracking, and analyzing screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment activities.
• Continuously evaluates SUD services to ensure programs remain responsive to patient and community needs.
Staff Leadership and Management
• Participates in the selection, hiring, orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation of program staff.
• Provides administrative supervision and direction to assigned Directors, Managers, Supervisors, Counselors, and multidisciplinary staff.
• Initiates and participates in disciplinary action, including termination, in accordance with Medical Center policies and Human Resources procedures.
• Conducts and/or participates in annual performance evaluations.
• Orients and trains new employees regarding departmental operations, policies, procedures, and expectations.
• Provides ongoing supervision, coaching, mentoring, and training opportunities for counseling and other program staff.
• Ensures staff receive mandated in-service education related to Safety, Quality Improvement, Risk Management, Customer Service, Infection Control, and other applicable requirements.
• Coordinates and promotes staff meetings, group supervision, in-service education, and professional development.
• Ensures staff maintain required licenses, certifications, competencies, and continuing education.
• Promotes employee engagement, professional growth, retention, and accountability.
• Supports succession planning and leadership development within the department.
Staffing and Workforce Management
• Coordinates and maintains direct-service staff schedules in collaboration with the Senior Director and other leadership.
• Ensures minimum facility coverage and appropriate staffing across all shifts.
• Monitors staffing utilization and overtime and identifies opportunities to improve workforce efficiency.
• Maintains safe staffing consistent with patient needs and state licensing requirements.
• Ensures critical staffing requirements are maintained across all shifts.
• Supports continuity and non-abandonment of patient care.
• Serves as a leadership resource for staffing emergencies and assists in securing appropriate coverage when replacement staff are unavailable.
Program Development
• Evaluates community needs and develops new addiction treatment programs and services.
• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of new clinical and operational services.
• Develops business plans and operational strategies for program expansion.
• Identifies opportunities to improve access to treatment and continuity of care.
• Develops partnerships with community organizations, recovery agencies, hospitals, healthcare providers, county and state agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Evaluates emerging evidence-based models of addiction treatment and recovery services.
Community and External Relations
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with internal and external referral sources.
• Represents the Medical Center at county, state, community, and professional meetings.
• Serves as a liaison with regulatory and governmental agencies, as applicable.
• Participates in professional organizations, advisory committees, and community initiatives.
• Develops relationships that support access to appropriate levels of care and continuity of treatment.
Customer Service and Patient Experience
• Incorporates the Medical Center's customer service goals into departmental policies, procedures, and systems.
• Promotes a patient-centered culture throughout SUD Treatment Services.
• Receives, acknowledges, and addresses patient complaints and concerns in a timely manner.
• Responds promptly to and resolves problems related to services and patient care.
• Continuously evaluates service delivery processes to improve patient and family satisfaction.
• Promotes respectful, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented interactions with patients and families.
Professional and Organizational Responsibilities
• Participates in departmental meetings and organizational activities.
• Serves on Medical Center and external committees as assigned.
• Participates in required continuing education and professional development.
• Maintains current knowledge of substance use disorder treatment practices, regulatory requirements, and emerging treatment models.
• Understands and adheres to the Medical Center's Code of Conduct.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and commitment to the Medical Center's Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Performs other related clinical and administrative duties as assigned by the Clinical Director or other authorized Medical Center leadership.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Education
• Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Behavioral Health, or a related field required.
• Additional graduate education in healthcare administration, behavioral health, public health, addiction studies, or a related discipline preferred.
Licensure and Certification
Required:
• Meets all applicable requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:34C-2.2.
• Current New Jersey Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) or Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential, as applicable to the position and scope of responsibilities.
• Completion of required continuing education in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Current American Heart Association HeartSaver CPR/ required
Preferred:
• Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) credential.
• Dual New Jersey clinical licensure or another applicable behavioral health credential.
• Completion of required clinical supervision coursework.
Experience
• Minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressive profes
