Clinical Program Manager - Lancaster

Counseling and Research Associates, Inc.; Lancaster (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Counseling and Research Associates, Inc. is seeking a Clinical Program Manager in California to lead community-based behavioral health programs, including CYWB, FSP, TBS, and related services.

The role requires managing staff, ensuring regulatory compliance, and coordinating across departments to deliver high-quality client care. The position is hybrid, with in-office attendance required at least three days per week and potential remote work up to two days weekly.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in behavioral health field required.
• California professional license (LCSW/LMFT/Clinical Psychologist or PsyD) per requirements.
• Minimum five (5) years of supervisory/administrative experience in behavioral health.
• Valid California driver's license and ability to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and operational support to clinical supervisors and program staff to ensure compliant service delivery.
• Oversee program operations, documentation, and quality assurance to meet timelines and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate collaboration across programs and with external partners to support integrated client care.
• Monitor and improve program performance, client outcomes, and staff development.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and staff evaluations in collaboration with leadership.
• Ensure safety, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance across all programs.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Crisis management

Staff supervision

Project management

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or related behavioral health field

Job description

The Clinical Program Manager is responsible for assisting in the overall leadership, coordination, administration, quality assurance, and daily operations of the agency's community-based behavioral health programs, including but not limited to Child and Youth Well-Being (CYWB), Full Service Partnership (FSP), Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS), High Fidelity Wraparound, Outpatient Clinic Care Services, and related community mental health programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. 1. LEADERSHIP: Assists the Director in overseeing the daily operations and clinical management of assigned community-based behavioral health programs and clinic services. Provides leadership and operational support to Clinical Supervisors and staff to ensure effective service delivery and compliance with agency and regulatory standards. Promotes a positive, collaborative, and accountability-driven work environment that supports staff development, teamwork and high-quality client care. Supports implementation of agency strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and program development activities.
2. 2. SUPERVISION AND ACCOUNTABILITY: Provides direct administrative and clinical supervision to Clinical Supervisors and designated staff across assigned programs. Supports Clinical Supervisors in managing staff performance, productivity, documentation quality, service quality, service delivery expectations, and client care coordination. Monitors program operations to ensure documentation, reports, case records, treatment plans, outcome measures, and required program deliverables are completed accurately and with established timelines. Assists in overseeing referrals, admissions, transitions, caseload assignments, access to care, and discharge planning processes to support timely and seamless service delivery. Acts as the operational lead in the absence of the Director as assigned.
3. 3. COLLABORATION: Ensures coordination and collaboration among assigned programs and internal departments to promote integrated, client-centered care. Ensures assigned programs coordinate internal care management resources to support integrated, whole-person care. Collaborates with DMH, DCFS, probation, schools, healthcare providers, community partners, and other stakeholders to support positive client outcomes and effective service delivery. Participates in community meetings, stakeholder meetings, and agency initiatives as assigned.
4. 4. COMPLIANCE: Supports compliance with all agency policies and procedures, LACDMH requirements, Medi-Cal standards, Specialty Mental Health Services regulations, and applicable federal, state, county, and licensing requirements. Monitors compliance with documentation standards, medical necessity criteria, timeliness standards, and quality management expectations. Assists with preparation for audits, chart reviews, site visits, and corrective action plans. Ensures staff maintain required licensure, certifications, training, and compliance requirements.
5. 5. COMMUNICATION: Facilitates effective communication and problem-solving among Clinical Supervisors, staff, Program Managers, Directors, and executive leadership to ensure consistency in operations, procedures, and service delivery expectations. Maintains professional communication with referral sources, regulatory agencies, community providers, and internal stakeholders.
6. 6. MEETINGS AND REPRESENTATION: Participates in multidisciplinary meetings, supervision meetings, provider meetings, Quality Improvement activities, and agency committees as assigned. Facilitates and/or attends staff meetings, trainings, case conferences, peer reviews, and operational meetings to support staff development, accountability, and program effectiveness. Represents the agency professionally in meetings with community partners and county stakeholders as delegated by the Director.
7. 7. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: Collaborates with Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement staff to support ongoing quality improvement initiatives, corrective actions, and operational enhancements. Assists in monitoring program performance indicators, service outcomes, client satisfaction, and utilization trends to identify opportunities for improvement. Supports implementation of culturally responsive, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and client-centered services.
8. 8. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Supports the Director in monitoring productivity, staffing patterns, fiscal performance, billing requirements, and program sustainability goals. Assists in ensuring programs operate efficiently while maintaining high standards of quality care and compliance.
9. 9. ORIENTATION, TRAINING, AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT: Participates in the recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, orientation and training of Clinical Supervisors and program staff. Supports ongoing staff development, coaching, leadership growth, and competency-based training initiatives. Ensures staff receive appropriate supervision, consultation, and support necessary to perform their duties effectively.
10. 10. EVALUATIONS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS: Assists in conducting employee evaluations, providing performance feedback, and supporting corrective action processes in collaboration with the Director and Human Resources. Promotes accountability while maintaining fairness, professionalism, and respect in all personnel matters.
11. 11. ETHICS: Performs all duties within appropriate professional scope, boundaries, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
12. 12. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS: Demonstrates respect for the intrinsic value, diversity, and cultural background of employees and clients. Supports a professional, inclusive, and supportive work environment that encourages teamwork, growth, and employee engagement.
13. 13. CRISIS RESPONSE AND COVERAGE: Provides operational and clinical support during urgent situations and behavioral health crises as needed. Assists with ensuring adequate crisis coverage and continuity of operations across assigned programs and clinic sites. Participates in program specific crisis coverage and after-hours responsibilities as assigned. Maintains active LPS Designation required by assigned programs. Clinical Program Manager oversees the daily operations of all assigned clinical program teams, ensuring services are delivered in compliance with contractual obligations, agency standards and program expectations.

Clinical Program Manager is responsible of the following:

• Oversee and ensure the Clinical Supervisor monitors team operations to achieve established performance targets, including weekly client contacts, field-based service requirements, productivity expectations, and contract deliverables.
• Ensure the Clinical Supervisor provides effective clinical leadership, maintains appropriate oversight of clinical assessments and direct services, and supports staff in delivering high-quality, evidence-based care consistent with program standards.
• Ensure regular multidisciplinary team meetings are conducted by the Clinical Supervisor to review the status of each client, identify barriers to care, coordinate interventions, and promote timely service delivery.
• Monitor program census, caseload distribution, and overall client acuity to ensure the Clinical Supervisor maintains balanced caseloads that support quality care, staff capacity and contractual expectations.
• Oversee the allocation and reassignment of work to ensure the Clinical Supervisor appropriately distributes cases and responsibilities based on client needs, staff competencies, workload and program priorities.
• Ensure ongoing collaboration across levels of care by directing the Clinical Supervisor to coordinate case reviews and transition planning meetings for clients whose clinical needs indicate movement to a different level of care.
• Oversee outreach and field-based service operations by ensuring the Clinical Supervisor appropriately assigns staff, coordinates team-based interventions when needed, and maintains compliance with field safety protocols and service expectations.
• Ensure the Clinical Supervisor maintains appropriate operational oversight throughout the workday to address urgent clinical issues, coordinate crisis response, provide staff consultation, and escalates concerns requiring managerial or executive involvement.
• Monitor program compliance by ensuring the Clinical Supervisor maintains timely documentation, accurate clinical records, completion of required outcome measures, submission of program monitoring data and adherence to agency, payer and regulatory requirements.

14. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT: Supports the Director in implementing strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and program development activities that align with agency goals and community needs. Assists with identifying opportunities to improve service delivery, access to care, staff performance and client outcomes.

15. SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES: Must ensure a hazard-free workplace, enforce Agency safety compliance and OSHA safety regulations, conduct employee worker's compensation investigations and foster a proactive safety culture across the Agency. Ensure that employees follow established safety protocols, procedures and guidelines at all times. Maintaining a safe work environment includes promptly reporting injuries, illnesses, hazards, or unsafe conditions to their supervisor or designated representative. All EMPLOYEE related injuries or illnesses must be reported immediately to HR and Nurse First Response (NFR) should be notified for an assessment. Nurse First Response is available 24/7/365 days, [phone].

16. OTHER DUTIES: Performs other duties as assigned by the Clinical Director of Integrated Behavioral Services or executive leadership.

Position Requirements:

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or related behavioral health field.
• Valid professional license from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an LCSW, LMFT, Clinical Psychologist, PsyD or other appropriate clinical licensure.
• Valid California Driver's License, proof of automobile insurance, good driving record and ability to travel to fulfill the duties of the position.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in behavioral health or community mental health services, including supervisory and administrative experience.
• Experience supervising clinical staff and/or Clinical Supervisors in community-based behavioral health settings preferred.
• Knowledge of LACDMH Organizational Provider Manual requirements, Medi-Cal documentation standards, Specialty Mental Health Services regulations, quality improvement processes and behavioral health compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, communication, crisis management, and interpersonal skills.

Work Environment:

The work environment is primarily an office and clinical setting with a moderate noise level. The position may require flexibility in work schedule based on operational needs, including occasional early or late meetings. This position is not assigned to the agency after-hours or on-call rotation. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This is a hybrid position requiring in-office attendance a minimum of three (3) days per week with the ability to work remotely up to two (2) days per week based on operational needs and approval from executive leadership.