Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) – La Mesa, CA

Salary: $95,000.00 - $110,000.00 annually, based on licensure, experience, and qualifications.

Step into a leadership role where your clinical expertise and operational insight make a measurable impact every day. As Program Director for Alvarado Parkway Institute’s La Mesa Outpatient Services, you’ll guide a passionate team dedicated to transforming lives through evidence-based behavioral healthcare. This is a unique opportunity to lead diverse programs—ranging from mood and chemical dependency tracks to senior and evening groups—within a respected organization known for excellence, collaboration, and compassionate care.

About Alvarado Parkway Institute (API):

Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) is a 66-bed free-standing psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, California, home to San Diego’s largest and most comprehensive outpatient program. Our three Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs are designed to help individuals restore stability, independence, and hope. Guided by a patient-centered philosophy, API focuses on symptom management, community integration, and relapse prevention to support long-term wellness. We believe in treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—through evidence-based care, compassionate support, and value-added services that truly enhance each patient’s treatment experience.

About this job:

Alvarado Parkway Institute is seeking an experienced, licensed professional to lead our La Mesa Outpatient Services Program as Program Director. This dynamic program offers specialized tracks including mood disorder, chemical dependency, senior, and evening groups, providing a diverse and rewarding leadership opportunity. We’re looking for a leader with a passion for exceptional patient care, a commitment to fostering a positive team culture, and a proven ability to drive operational excellence. The Program Director will ensure clinical services are evidence-based, appropriate to the populations served, and delivered with the highest standards of quality and integrity. In addition, this role is responsible for overseeing program performance and fiscal health through the development and management of departmental budgets. Our ideal candidate is an accomplished outpatient program leader with strong communication skills and at least three years of relevant leadership experience.

Alvarado Parkway Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees. Benefits include a 401(k) retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, Paid Days Off (PDO), paid sick time, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), life insurance, Long Term Disability, Critical Illness/Hospital Protection/Accident Insurance Plans, and access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.

You must complete an application online at our website to be considered for possible employment: https://apibhs.com/careers

Program Director Responsibilities:

• Ensures that appropriate clinical services are delivered in accordance with all regulatory guidelines.
• Maintains program in a state of “constant survey readiness.”
• Ensures sufficient staffing to provide clinical services.
• Maintains strong working relationships with other departments and the medical staff to facilitate smooth and comprehensive delivery of patient care.
• Provides input and feedback on systems and processes which will improve program functioning including participating in specialty workgroups and providing written input when called upon.
• Establishes systems to ensure accuracy of billing/utilization review/reconciliation of services provided.
• Demonstrates initiative, exercises critical thinking skills, is solution focused and is a data driven decision maker.
• Manages department budget to meet financial goals of the organization.
• Seeks out cutting edge treatment modalities and looks for opportunities to improve patient care via new clinical tracks/programs.
• Demonstrates time management skills.
• Demonstrates teamwork, motivates others, and holds others accountable.
• Promotes an environment of excellent customer service and a positive patient experience.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications:

• Master’s degree in a behavioral health science, or Doctoral Degree in Psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.).
• Licensed by California Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology.
• Experience working with people who suffer from mental illness or substance use disorders.
• Has a minimum of 3 years of experience in supervising a team of employees.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Certifications:

• Certified as a Clinical Supervisor for ASW and AMFT, APPC
• Training as a Clinical Trauma Professional, DBT, CBT, ACT, Individual psychotherapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Fluency in database management; Excel and Access; familiarity with electronic health record systems.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

• Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Use computer keyboard with manual and finger dexterity and wrist-finger speed sufficient to perform repetitive actions efficiently for extended periods of time.
• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
• Vision sees details of objects at close range.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
• Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and come and go from the work area repeatedly throughout the day.
• Walk and/or stand for long periods of time (3/4 of the workday).

Conditions of Employment

In compliance with API’s policies and guidelines, all API employees are required to adhere to the following:

Background/Reference Check & Licensure/Certification

• Completion of a satisfactory background and reference checks.
• Employee signed employment non-compete/confidentiality agreement
• Individuals whose position may require licensure, registration or certification must maintain such as current and valid. It is the employee's responsibility to send updated copies to Human Resources before the expiration date. It is the employee's responsibility to notify Human Resources of any changes or proposed changes in status to licensure, registration, or certification. Failure to do so could result in employee suspension.

Flu Vaccinations; Medical

• Annual Flu vaccination is required as a condition of hire and ongoing employment. Only those who are allergic to the vaccine or meet contraindications as indicated on the current CDC Vaccine Information Statement shall be exempt from this condition of hire and ongoing employment but are required to wear a mask while inside an API owned or operated building or vehicle during influenza season, Employees must provide physician documentation to support any reported allergy or contraindication. Flu season typically runs between November and March.
• Pass drug and alcohol test performed by Concentra.
• Clear TB skin test or Chest X-Ray at Concentra.
• Complete a satisfactory physical examination at Concentra designed solely to determine your ability to perform the duties of the position being offered.

EEO Statement

API provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.