Associate Program Director

Casa Esperanza, Inc.; Tewksbury (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Matching

Holiday Pay

Paid Time Off

Sick Pay

Disability

Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)

EAP

Educational Opportunities

Employee Discounts

Salary advancement for credentials

Job summary

Casa Esperanza, Inc. in Tewksbury, MA is seeking a bilingual Associate Program Director to lead Conexiones, a 32-bed program at Tewksbury Hospital providing clinical stabilization and residential substance use treatment for adults.

This leadership role guides daily operations and multidisciplinary teamwork. Reporting to the Conexiones Program Director, you will oversee staff supervision, quality oversight, and compliance with BSAS, DPH, CARF, and payer requirements while maintaining a

Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, withdrawal management, mental health, residential treatment, or healthcare operations.
• At least one year of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.
• Current CPR, AED, and Narcan administration certifications.
• Strong knowledge of behavioral health, substance use treatment, recovery-oriented systems of care, trauma-informed practice, patient safety, and co‑occurring disorders.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, crisis management, de‑escalation, conflict‑resolution, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across clinical, medical, administrative, and operational teams while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day program operations, patient flow, census management, crisis response, safety initiatives, and the therapeutic milieu in partnership with the Program Director.
• Coordinate care across medical providers, nursing staff, counselors, unit managers, recovery specialists, and external partners.
• Maintain a structured, culturally responsive, trauma-informed environment that promotes dignity, engagement, stabilization, and recovery.
• Provide hands‑on coaching, supervision, training, and performance feedback to milieu and operational staff across shifts.
• Support staffing, scheduling, onboarding, competency development, performance management, and retention efforts.
• Monitor medication processes, infection control, environmental rounds, safety checks, emergency protocols, and required documentation.
• Ensure readiness for audits, inspections, and accreditation reviews, including compliance with BSAS, DPH, CARF, SAMHSA, DEA, MCSR, payer, and contractual requirements.
• Review incidents, safety documentation, and operational data; lead corrective actions and quality improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness, drills, continuity planning, operational resources, facilities needs, and cross‑functional support.
• Participate in an on‑call rotation and serve as a key liaison with Tewksbury Hospital, Campus Police, emergency services, and community partners when needed.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Staff supervision

Leadership

Crisis management

Quality oversight

Electronic health records

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate degree in nursing or related healthcare field

Bachelor’s degree in nursing or related field

MAP/CARN/CPI training or equivalent

Tools

Electronic Health Records systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Tewksbury, Massachusetts | Full-time | Exempt | Salary: $80,000–$90,000

Join Our Team

Casa Esperanza is seeking a bilingual Associate Program Director to help lead Conexiones, a 32-bed program at Tewksbury Hospital providing clinical stabilization, withdrawal management, and residential substance use treatment for adults. This highly visible leadership role supports safe, compassionate, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented care while guiding daily operations and multidisciplinary teamwork.

Reporting to the Conexiones Program Director, you will combine operational leadership, clinical judgment, milieu management, staff supervision, and quality oversight to ensure services are delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational, licensing, accreditation, and payer requirements.

What you'll do

• Lead day-to-day program operations, patient flow, census management, crisis response, safety initiatives, and the therapeutic milieu in partnership with the Program Director.
• Coordinate care across medical providers, nursing staff, counselors, unit managers, recovery specialists, and external partners.
• Maintain a structured, culturally responsive, trauma-informed environment that promotes dignity, engagement, stabilization, and recovery.
• Provide hands‑on coaching, supervision, training, and performance feedback to milieu and operational staff across shifts.
• Support staffing, scheduling, onboarding, competency development, performance management, and retention efforts.
• Monitor medication processes, infection control, environmental rounds, safety checks, emergency protocols, and required documentation.
• Ensure readiness for audits, inspections, and accreditation reviews, including compliance with BSAS, DPH, CARF, SAMHSA, DEA, MCSR, payer, and contractual requirements.
• Review incidents, safety documentation, and operational data; lead corrective actions and quality improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness, drills, continuity planning, operational resources, facilities needs, and cross‑functional support.
• Participate in an on‑call rotation and serve as a key liaison with Tewksbury Hospital, Campus Police, emergency services, and community partners when needed.

What You Bring

• At least three years of experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, withdrawal management, mental health, residential treatment, or healthcare operations.
• At least one year of supervisory or leadership experience.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.
• Current CPR, AED, and Narcan administration certifications.
• Strong knowledge of behavioral health, substance use treatment, recovery-oriented systems of care, trauma-informed practice, patient safety, and co‑occurring disorders.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, crisis management, de‑escalation, conflict‑resolution, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across clinical, medical, administrative, and operational teams while maintaining confiden tiality and professional boundaries.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in nursing with an active Massachusetts RN or LPN license in good standing, or education in a related healthcare field.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, healthcare administration, behavioral health, social work, psychology, public health, or a related field.
• MAP or Medication Specialist Training certification, CARN or a similar credential, and CPI certification.
• Experience in detoxification, stabilization, or residential treatment settings.
• Experience with quality assurance, accreditation, licensing, regulatory compliance, and services for people with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs.

Physical Requirements

This role requires the ability to walk throughout the facility for extended periods, respond quickly during emergencies, perform environmental and safety rounds, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

Make an Impact

Bring your operational expertise, clinical perspective, and commitment to recovery‑focused care to a team serving adults with substance use disorders, co‑occurring mental health conditions, and complex barriers to care.

What we offer:

• Compensation: $80-90K
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: All eligible employees may elect to participate after 1 year of service. Casa Esperanza, Inc. will match a contribution of up to 6% of your annual salary
• Holiday Pay (12 days per year + 1 floating holiday)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)—18 days in year one, 20.5 days in year two, 23 days in year five
• Sick Pay—10 paid days per year
• Long/Short-Term Disability
• Paid by Company Life Insurance
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• ComPsych Guidance Resources - EAP
• Educational Opportunities
• Employee Ticket at Work (Discounts for Entertainment, Travel, Movies, etc.)
• Increased Salary for Credentials

Physical & Mental Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

At Casa Esperanza, Inc., the health and safety of our people is our number one priority. That’s why all offers of employment are contingent on the candidate showing proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (currently one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and a booster, when eligible) to pass the pre‑employment requirements. Individuals with medical issues or religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement.

Casa Esperanza, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Casa Esperanza, Inc. also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation or need assistance with completing the application process, please email [e-mail].

Casa Esperanza, Inc. is a bilingual/bicultural behavioral health treatment provider serving Boston and the Merrimack Valley. Our mission is to empower individuals and families to recover from addiction, trauma, mental illness, and other chronic medical conditions; overcome homelessness and discrimination; and achieve health and wellness through comprehensive, integrated care.