Clinical Director

Venture Behavioral Health; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Paid holidays

Job summary

Venture BHM in Princeton, New Jersey, is seeking a licensed therapist to help launch a new detox and residential SUD program. Start as Therapist during pre-opening, then advance to Clinical Director with a raise when the program opens.

You’ll help build the clinical model, develop policies, recruit staff, and ensure adherence to ASAM criteria and accreditation standards, while delivering direct therapy and supervising the clinical team.

Qualifications

• Active, independent clinical license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or state equivalent).
• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or a related field.
• Experience providing therapy in a substance use disorder setting, ideally detox or residential.
• Working knowledge of ASAM criteria and evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT, trauma-informed care).
• Supervisory credential or eligibility to provide clinical supervision preferred.
• Program startup, licensing, or accreditation experience is a big plus.
• A builder’s mindset: comfortable with ambiguity, organized, and ready to lead.

Responsibilities

• Pre-Opening: develop the clinical model, group curriculum, and daily programming schedule.
• Pre-Opening: write clinical policies, procedures, and templates to meet licensing/accreditation standards.
• Pre-Opening: set up assessment, treatment planning, and discharge workflows; recruit initial clinical team.
• Open: provide individual, group, and family therapy to adults in detox/residential care.
• Open: complete biopsychosocial assessments, ASAM-based plans, and discharge planning.
• Open: respond to crises and conduct risk assessments; maintain timely clinical documentation.
• Transition to Clinical Director: supervise therapists/case managers, lead clinical meetings, audit charts.

Skills

LPC/LCSW/LMFT

ASAM criteria knowledge

CBT/MI/DBT

leadership/supervision

Education

Master’s degree in counseling or social work

Tools

EMR documentation

Job description

Therapist (Clinical Director Track): New Detox & Residential SUD Program

Venture BHM | Full-Time | Compensation Based on Experience

About the Opportunity

Venture BHM is recruiting on behalf of a new detox and residential substance use disorder treatment program that’s preparing to open its doors. We’re looking for a licensed therapist who wants more than a caseload: someone ready to help build a program from the ground up and grow into leading it.

The Path

You’ll start as a Therapist during the pre-opening phase, helping lay the clinical foundation. Once the program is open and running, you’ll step into the Clinical Director role with a title change and a raise to match. This is a rare chance to shape a program from day one and lead the team you helped build.

What You’ll Do Pre-Opening

• Help develop the clinical model, group curriculum, and daily programming schedule
• Assist in writing clinical policies, procedures, and documentation templates to meet state licensing and accreditation standards (Joint Commission or CARF)
• Help set up assessment, treatment planning, and discharge planning workflows
• Support recruiting and interviewing for the initial clinical team
• Partner with leadership on licensing surveys and launch readiness

What You’ll Do Once Open

• Provide individual, group, and family therapy to adults in detox and residential care
• Complete biopsychosocial assessments, ASAM-based treatment plans, and discharge plans
• Respond to crisis situations and assess for risk
• Maintain thorough, timely clinical documentation in the EMR
• Transition into the Clinical Director role: supervising therapists and case managers, leading clinical meetings, auditing charts, and overseeing quality of care

What You Bring

• Active, independent clinical license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or state equivalent)
• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or a related field
• Experience providing therapy in a substance use disorder setting, ideally detox or residential
• Working knowledge of ASAM criteria and evidence-based practices (CBT, MI, DBT, trauma-informed care)
• Supervisory credential or eligibility to provide clinical supervision preferred
• Program startup, licensing, or accreditation experience is a big plus
• A builder’s mindset: comfortable with ambiguity, organized, and ready to lead

Why This Role

• Guaranteed path to Clinical Director with a raise once the program opens
• Real input on how the program is built, not just how it runs
• Meaningful work helping people take their first steps in recovery
• A leadership team invested in doing treatment the right way
• Compensation based on experience, with a raise upon promotion to Clinical Director
• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Paid holidays

Venture BHM is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.