Director of Clinical Services

Root Center for Advanced Recovery; Manchester (CT); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Employer-paid life insurance

Short-term disability

Generous retirement plan with employer

Four weeks of PTO

Paid holidays (including birthday)

Professional development funding

Annual bonus eligibility

NHSC Loan Repayment Programs

Job summary

Root Center for Advanced Recovery is seeking a Director of Clinical Services to lead high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health services across OTP, residential, IOP, PHP, mental health, adolescent, problem gambling services, and case management.

The Director ensures agency clinical and regulatory compliance, partnering with Operations, Medical Services, Quality, and Finance to align clinical priorities with operational and financial goals.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related behavioral health field.
• Connecticut independent clinical license (LCSW/LPC/LMFT or equivalent). An LADC may qualify with the required education, leadership experience, and demonstrated qualifications.
• LADC eligibility with required education and leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Set consistent clinical standards and evidence based practices across all programs and levels of care.
• Ensure effective assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, referrals, transitions, discharges, and integrated care for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and improve patient engagement, retention, outcomes, and continuity of care.
• Partner with operational and medical leaders on program development, staffing, and clinical initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and Connecticut requirements, including SAMHSA, DEA, DPH, DMHAS, DCF, DSS, CARF, ASAM, Medicaid 1115 waiver requirements, and payer standards.
• Support regulatory surveys, inspections, accreditation reviews, and payer audits.
• Completes agency chart audits and standardizes documentation expectations.
• Ensures records are accurate, timely, clinically appropriate, consistent in the electronic health record, and sufficient to support medical necessity, reimbursement, and external review.
• Address training needs through audits, regulatory findings, and performance indicators in collaboration with Director of Quality.
• Partner with Finance, Revenue Cycle, and Operations to reduce denials and revenue risk while monitoring productivity, utilization, capacity, budgets, and resource needs.
• Establish clinical performance measures and use audits, grievance, incident, utilization, and outcome data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Participate in organizational committees and strategic planning; advise leaders on service delivery, program development, and resource allocation.

Education

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related behavioral health field

Connecticut independent clinical license (LCSW/LPC/LMFT or equivalent)

LADC eligibility with required education and leadership experience

Tools

EMR experience in behavioral health

HRSA requirements knowledge

FQHC operations & integrated care models knowledge

Job description

At Root Center for Advanced Recovery, we build relationships that empower patients with the courage and ability to change by providing guidance and support throughout every step of recovery. We are caring, knowledgeable professionals who believe in honoring the potential of every individual while continually renewing ourselves, embracing new perspectives, and recognizing that progress is the destination. For more than 150 years, we have remained committed to inspiring hope and strengthening the communities we serve.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 to $125,000

We offer a competitive compensation package designed to support your personal and professional well-being, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employer-paid life insurance and short-term disability, a generous retirement plan with employer contributions, four weeks of PTO, paid holidays (including your birthday), professional development funding, annual bonus eligibility, excellent work-life balance with a 35-hour work week and no current on-call responsibilities, and eligibility for multiple NHSC Loan Repayment Programs.

Position Summary

The Director of Clinical Services leads high quality, evidence based, compliant, and financially sustainable behavioral health services across Root Center programs, including OTP, residential, IOP, PHP, mental health, adolescent, problem gambling services, and case management.

The Director of Clinical Services is responsible for agency clinical and regulatory compliance. In partnership with Operations, Medical Services, Quality, and Finance, this position aligns clinical priorities with operational, quality, and financial goals across the organization.

Essential Functions

• Set consistent clinical standards and evidence based practices across all programs and levels of care.
• Ensure effective assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, referrals, transitions, discharges, and integrated care for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and improve patient engagement, retention, outcomes, and continuity of care.
• Partner with operational and medical leaders on program development, staffing, and clinical initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and Connecticut requirements, including SAMHSA, DEA, DPH, DMHAS, DCF, DSS, CARF, ASAM, Medicaid 1115 waiver requirements, and payer standards.
• Support regulatory surveys, inspections, accreditation reviews, and payer audits.
• Completes agency chart audits and standardizes documentation expectations.
• Ensures records are accurate, timely, clinically appropriate, consistent in the electronic health record, and sufficient to support medical necessity, reimbursement, and external review.
• Address training needs through audits, regulatory findings, and performance indicators in collaboration with Director of Quality.
• Partner with Finance, Revenue Cycle, and Operations to reduce denials and revenue risk while monitoring productivity, utilization, capacity, budgets, and resource needs.
• Establish clinical performance measures and use audits, grievance, incident, utilization, and outcome data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Participate in organizational committees and strategic planning; advise leaders on service delivery, program development, and resource allocation.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related behavioral health field.
• Current Connecticut independent clinical license, preferably LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent. An LADC may qualify with the required education, leadership experience, and demonstrated qualifications.
• Experience with electronic medical records (EMR) in a behavioral health setting.
• Working knowledge of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) requirements.
• Knowledge of Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) operations and integrated care models.