Program Director

Perimeter Healthcare; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Perimeter Behavioral of the Ozarks in Springdale, Arkansas, seeks a Program Director to lead our residential youth program. You will oversee daily operations, mentor staff, and ensure a safe, therapeutic milieu through strong teamwork with nursing, clinical, and activities therapy departments.

Ideal candidates bring proven leadership in behavioral health, hands-on coaching, and a commitment to structured programming that supports both youth and staff success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a human services-related field.
• Minimum two years of supervisory experience in a medical or behavioral health setting.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clinical, nursing, administrative, and direct-care teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the daily operations of the residential treatment milieu.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Mental Health Technicians, MHT Coordinators, Program Coordinators, and other assigned staff.
• Create a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and therapeutic engagement.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence on the units and provide real-time coaching, guidance, and problem-solving.
• Oversee staffing schedules, daily assignments, shift coverage, and required patient-to-staff ratios.
• Partner with nursing, clinical services, case management, activities therapy, and other departments to promote coordinated patient care.
• Support the development and implementation of structured residential behavioral programming that aligns with individualized treatment goals.
• Oversee activity programming and special events in collaboration with the Program Coordinator.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training, performance management, and professional development of milieu staff.
• Review MHT and MHT Coordinator documentation for accuracy, timeliness, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Staff development

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in human services-related field

Job description

Program Director – Behavioral Health

Perimeter Behavioral of the Ozarks | Springdale, Arkansas

Lead the Team. Strengthen the Program. Make an Impact.

Are you a behavioral health leader who enjoys being where the work happens?

Perimeter Behavioral of the Ozarks is seeking an experienced and energetic Program Director to provide leadership to our residential treatment program in Springdale, Arkansas. This is a highly visible, hands‑on leadership role for someone who can develop strong teams, create structure and accountability, and help maintain a safe, therapeutic environment for the youth we serve.

As Program Director, you will oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the therapeutic milieu and provide leadership to our Mental Health Technicians, Mental Health Technician Coordinators, and Program Coordinators. You will work closely with nursing, clinical, case management, activities, and facility leadership to ensure our teams are aligned and our youth receive consistent, high‑quality care.

This position is ideal for a leader who can balance people, programming, safety, and operations while remaining actively engaged with staff and youth throughout the facility.

What You’ll Do

As Program Director, you will:

• Provide leadership and oversight for the daily operations of the residential treatment milieu.

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Mental Health Technicians, MHT Coordinators, Program Coordinators, and other assigned staff.

• Create a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and therapeutic engagement.

• Maintain a visible leadership presence on the units and provide real‑time coaching, guidance, and problem‑solving.

• Oversee staffing schedules, daily assignments, shift coverage, and required patient‑to‑staff ratios.

• Monitor census, patient acuity, staffing needs, and unit activity and make operational adjustments when needed.

• Partner with nursing, clinical services, case management, activities therapy, and other departments to promote coordinated patient care.

• Support the development and implementation of structured residential behavioral programming that aligns with individualized treatment goals.

• Oversee activity programming and special events in collaboration with the Program Coordinator.

• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training, performance management, and professional development of milieu staff.

• Review MHT and MHT Coordinator documentation for accuracy, timeliness, quality, and regulatory compliance.

• Identify performance and documentation trends and develop coaching or corrective action strategies when improvement is needed.

• Support crisis prevention and intervention by helping staff anticipate escalating behaviors and utilize effective de‑escalation strategies.

• Promote patient rights, employee safety, patient safety, and a trauma‑informed treatment environment.

• Assist with regulatory readiness and compliance with facility policies, state requirements, and accreditation standards.

• Review program data and operational trends and recommend opportunities to strengthen services and outcomes.

• Participate in the Administrator‑On‑Call rotation and serve as a leadership resource when operational, staffing, or patient‑care needs arise.

• Step into unit operations when necessary to support patient safety, staffing ratios, and continuity of services.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a leader who is comfortable leading from the floor—not just from an office.

The successful candidate will be able to build relationships with frontline staff while maintaining clear expectations and accountability. You should be comfortable making decisions in a fast‑paced behavioral health environment, responding to changing priorities, coaching staff in real time, and collaborating across departments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.

• Bachelor’s degree in a human services‑related field required.

• Minimum of two years of supervisory experience in a medical or behavioral health setting.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills.

• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and respond effectively to changing operational needs.

• Ability to work collaboratively with clinical, nursing, administrative, and direct‑care teams.

• Flexibility in scheduling based on facility and program needs.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Residential behavioral health

• Psychiatric residential treatment

• Child and adolescent behavioral health

• Therapeutic milieu management

• Mental Health Technician or direct‑care leadership

• Staff development and performance management

• Trauma‑informed care

• Crisis prevention and de‑escalation

• Behavioral health regulatory or accreditation compliance

Why This Role Matters

Our Mental Health Technicians and frontline teams spend more time with our youth than almost anyone else in the organization. The leadership, structure, coaching, and support they receive directly influence the quality of the treatment environment.

The Program Director plays a critical role in ensuring staff have clear expectations, youth experience consistency and structure, therapeutic programming remains meaningful, and departments work together toward common treatment goals.

We aren’t simply looking for someone to manage schedules.

We’re looking for someone who can develop people, strengthen programming, build a healthy team culture, and help create an environment where both our youth and our staff can succeed.

About Perimeter Behavioral of the Ozarks

Perimeter Behavioral of the Ozarks provides residential behavioral health treatment to youth who need a structured and supportive environment to address complex emotional and behavioral needs.

Our multidisciplinary teams work together to provide compassionate, individualized care while helping youth build the skills they need to achieve greater stability and successfully transition to their next level of care.

Perimeter Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees.