Program Director – Residential Mental Health

The Mindful Lemon, Inc.; California; On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The Mindful Lemon, Inc. seeks an experienced Program Director to own the day-to-day operations of a 6-bed residential behavioral health facility in California.

This facility leadership role requires independence, sound decision-making, and accountability for staffing, compliance, and overall performance.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as Program Director or senior residential leadership role.
• Ability to independently manage a residential behavioral health facility.
• Strong knowledge of Community Care Licensing and Title 17 & Title 22 compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of a 6-bed residential facility.
• Own operational performance and drive improvements; ensure staffing and readiness.
• Oversee admissions, onboarding, discharges, and care coordination from an operations perspective.
• Align clinical and operational functions in partnership with Clinical Director.

Skills

Independent leadership

Operational management

Regulatory compliance

Staff supervision

Decision making

Tools

Regulatory systems

Job description

Program Director – 6-Bed Residential Treatment Center in Castaic, 91384

We are seeking an experienced, highly independent Program Director to take ownership of the day-to-day operations and overall functioning of our 6-bed residential behavioral health treatment center.

This is a facility leadership role for an operationally strong professional who can independently manage the program, make sound decisions, hold staff accountable, and ensure the facility remains compliant, organized, appropriately staffed, and operating at a high standard.

The ideal candidate is someone who does not require significant day-to-day oversight and is comfortable being the primary operational leader of a residential facility. You will work closely with the Clinical Director and organizational leadership, but will be expected to own the operational side of the program.

Key Responsibilities

• Facility & Operations Leadership
• Take primary responsibility for the day-to-day operations and functioning of the 6-bed residential treatment facility
• Serve as the primary operational leader and point of accountability for the facility
• Independently identify operational issues, develop solutions, and implement improvements
• Establish and maintain efficient systems, workflows, and processes across the facility
• Ensure the facility is appropriately staffed, organized safe, and prepared for daily operations
• Manage facility schedules, staffing coverage, shift assignments, and operational needs
• Oversee facility supplies, environment, and general operational readiness

Regulatory Compliance & Quality

• Maintain full compliance with Community Care Licensing requirements, including Title 17 and Title 22, as well as applicable behavioral health regulations
• Maintain readiness for licensing visits, audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews
• Oversee required documentation, records, logs, incident reporting, and quality assurance processes
• Identify compliance gaps and independently take corrective action
• Develop and maintain operational policies, procedures, and systems to support ongoing compliance
• Ensure staff consistently follow facility policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements

Staff Leadership & Accountability

• Directly supervise, lead, and develop BHTs and other facility staff
• Establish clear expectations and hold staff accountable for performance and responsibilities
• Manage hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, performance management, and staff development
• Address performance concerns and operational issues promptly and appropriately
• Build a professional, accountable, and collaborative facility culture
• Ensure adequate staffing coverage and continuity of care

Program & Client Operations

• Oversee admissions, client onboarding, discharges, and coordination of care from an operational perspective
• Ensure the facility is prepared to safely and effectively support each client
• Monitor program operations and identify opportunities to improve client experience and outcomes
• Work closely with the Clinical Director to ensure clinical and operational functions are aligned
• Support coordination between clinical, residential, and administrative functions
• Respond appropriately to urgent facility and client-related operational needs

Leadership & Program Development

• Take ownership of the facility's operational performance and ongoing development
• Build systems that allow the program to operate efficiently and consistently as it grows
• Lead implementation of new processes, initiatives, and operational improvements
• Communicate facility needs, risks, challenges, and successes to organizational leadership
• Represent the facility professionally with licensing bodies, vendors, community partners, and other stakeholders

Non-Negotiable Requirements

• Previous experience as a Program Director, Residential Director, Administrator, or comparable senior residential leadership role
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage the operations of a residential behavioral health facility
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience with Community Care Licensing and Title 17 & Title 22 compliance
• Proven experience with staff supervision, scheduling, performance management, and facility operations
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to identify problems and take action without requiring constant direction or oversight
• Must be comfortable being the primary operational leader and point of accountability for the facility
• Must be able to reliably commute to the facility
• Availability to work Monday–Friday, 40 hours per week, with on-call responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a 6-bed residential behavioral health, detox, or similar licensed facility
• Experience working with dual-diagnosis populations (mental health + substance use)
• Experience opening, building, or scaling residential behavioral health programs
• Experience supervising both BHTs and licensed clinical staff
• Experience developing operational systems, policies, procedures, and workflows
• Strong understanding of residential behavioral health staffing models and facility requirements
• Starting salary: $80,000–$100,000, based on experience and qualifications
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Additional benefits and professional development opportunities

About Us

We are a growing behavioral health organization committed to delivering high-quality, whole-person care across the continuum of behavioral health services. Our residential program is designed to provide a structured, supportive environment where clients can receive comprehensive care while working toward long-term stability and recovery.