Behavioral Health Program Director

Akua Mind Body; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance: Medical, Vision &amp

Paid Time Off: Sick & Vacation

Equity Shares

Job summary

Akua Behavioral Health, a leading residential mental health and substance abuse treatment center in California, seeks a Program Director to oversee treatment programs and ensure regulatory compliance. The role emphasizes leadership, accountability, and program integrity.

The Program Director will manage staffing, training, and budget-driven operations while maintaining licensing standards and delivering high-quality client care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Psychology or related field
• 3+ years of mental health experience with 1+ year in a supervisory role
• CA Driver's License, health screen, TB test clearance, CPR/First Aid, Live Scan clearance

Responsibilities

• Training & accountability: monitor staff performance and provide training
• Staffing & scheduling: ensure coverage and timekeeping per guidelines
• Compliance: adhere to policies, licensing requirements and accreditation
• Employee management: assist in hiring, interviewing, and disciplinary actions
• Emergency management: address client issues and crises promptly
• Performance & cost management: monitor metrics and control staffing/expenses

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (required) or master’s degree (preferred) in Healthcare Administration, Psychology or related field

3+ years mental health experience and 1+ year management experience

Job description

Description

Position: Program Director

Type: Salary, Full-Time, Exempt

Compensation: Up to $126k per year

• Base Salary: $90k-$100k per year
• Performance Bonus: Up to $26k per year ($500/week based on census, earned weekly, paid monthly)

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Medical, Vision & Dental
• Paid Time Off: Sick & Vacation
• Equity Shares

Key Responsibilities:

• Training & Accountability: The Program Director ensures that all program staff are carrying out their daily functions and responsibilities through continuous monitoring, training and accountability.
• Staffing & Scheduling: The Program Director is responsible for ensuring that the program operates within its Staffing Guidelines and maintains adequate coverage on every shift, at all times (incl. Timekeeping).
• Compliance: The Program Director ensures strict adherence to Akua’s policies, regulatory standards, and licensing requirements, , ensuring their program remains fully licensed, credentialed, accredited, and in good standing.
• Employee Management: The Program Director actively participates in hiring, interviewing candidates within staffing guidelines, and oversees disciplinary actions and terminations, ensuring compliance with HR policies.
• Emergency Management: The Program Director is responsible for promptly communicating and resolving any client issues/crisis.
• Performance and Cost Management: The Program Director monitors key program metrics to drive performance improvements and ensures cost control by adhering to budgetary guidelines, including staffing, scheduling, and operational expenses.

Requirements

The Program Director of a certified Residential Treatment Program shall have the following Qualifications prior to employment:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work or any other major which includes at least 24 semester college units in one or more of the following subject areas: (A) Psychology, (B) Social Work, (C) Sociology, (D) Behavioral sciences (E) Psychiatric Nursing; and:
• Two (2) years of full-time work experience in a community program that serves clients who have a mental illness. Such experience must be in the direct provision of services to clients, of which one (1) year must be in the position of supervising direct care staff, or
• As an alternative to the Bachelor Degree and experience, a total of four (4) years of experience in a community program providing direct services to persons with mental disabilities, of which one (1) year must be in the position of supervising direct care staff, and graduation from high school of possession of a GED may be substituted.

Qualifications:

• License/Credentials: LADC OR +, SUDCC-CS II OR +, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW, or functional equivalent / appropriate license or certification (preferred).
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree (required) or master’s degree (preferred) in a relevant field (e.g. Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Psychology)
• Experience: 3+ years of mental health experience and 1+ year(s) of management experience (required)
• Additional: Valid CA Driver's License, Current Health Screen / Physical, TB Test Clearance, Current CPR/First Aid certificate, Able to Pass Live Scan (required)

Key Qualities:

• Blend of clinical expertise and business administration skills
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Compassion for clients and employees in all interactions
• Emotional stability under pressure
• Exceptional leadership skills and execution capabilities

Company Description:

Akua Behavioral Health is California’s leading mental health and substance abuse treatment center. We provide our clients with individualized, compassionate treatment from Master’s and Doctorate level clinicians across various levels of care at fully licensed and accredited facilities throughout Northern and Southern California. To give our clients the best chance at lasting recovery, we pioneered an integrative East-meets-West approach that combines Western evidence-based treatment with holistic Eastern traditions to treat the mind, body, and spirit. Our mission is to create an environment of healing and transformation for each client seeking change.