Behavioral Health Program Director

AKUA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INC; 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 Inc. is seeking a Program Director to oversee day-to-day operations of a 30-bed residential mental health and substance use treatment facility in California.

This exempt, salaried role leads staff, ensures licensing compliance, and manages budget while maintaining high-quality client care. Ideal candidates will have crisis-management background with experience supervising direct care staff and guiding program performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Sociology or related field with 24+ college units in specified areas.
• Two years of full-time experience in a community program serving clients with mental illness, including supervising direct care staff.
• Alternative: four years in a community program with supervision experience and high school diploma or GED.

Responsibilities

• Train and hold staff accountable for daily functions and adherence to policies.
• Ensure staffing guidelines and shift coverage, including timekeeping and scheduling.
• Maintain regulatory compliance and licensing requirements; ensure the program remains licensed and credentialed.
• Oversee hiring processes and employee discipline in line with HR policies.
• Promptly communicate and resolve client issues or crises.
• Monitor program metrics and control costs within budgeting guidelines.

Skills

Staff management

Training & accountability

Budget & cost control

Regulatory compliance

Crisis management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology / Social Work / related field

Master’s degree preferred

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

Program Details

• The Program Director oversees day-to-day operations of a 30-Bed Mental Health & Substance abuse Residential Facility. This program will treat high acuity clients with mental health disorders such as: Bi-Polar, Schizophrenia, Depression, Anxiety, etc.
• Due to the nature of the clients treated at this program, and the relevant governing body (DSS and DHCS) requirements, candidates with a background of treating mental health clients in a crisis setting are strongly preferred.

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.