Program Director

AKUA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INC; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance: Medical, Vision &amp

Paid Time Off: Sick & Vacation

Equity Shares

Job summary

Akua Behavioral Health is seeking a Program Director to oversee a 30-bed mental health and substance use residential facility. Lead daily operations, staff supervision, and regulatory compliance to ensure licensed, high-quality care for high-acuity clients.

The role emphasizes crisis management, accountability, and budget control, with strong leadership to maintain performance standards and staffing coverage across all shifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field with 24 semester units in specified subjects.
• Two years full-time experience in a community program serving clients with mental illness; one year supervising staff.
• Alternative: four years direct service experience with supervision, plus high school or GED.

Responsibilities

• Training & Accountability: ensure staff carry out daily functions with ongoing monitoring and training.
• Staffing & Scheduling: maintain staffing guidelines and adequate shift coverage, including timekeeping.
• Compliance: ensure adherence to policies and licensing requirements and maintain licensure/credentialing.
• Employee Management: participate in hiring, interviewing, and oversee disciplinary actions.
• Emergency Management: promptly communicate and resolve client issues/crises.
• Performance and Cost Management: monitor metrics and control costs within budget.

Skills

Staff management

Program oversight

Regulatory compliance

Crisis management

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

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.