General Responsibilities:

The Executive Director provides senior-level clinical and operational leadership across Lantana Recovery's Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs. This role is responsible for the integrity, quality, and growth of all clinical programming — ensuring services are evidence-based, regulatory-compliant, and consistently delivered at the highest standard of care. The Executive Director leads and develops a multidisciplinary team of clinical and operational staff, serves as the primary point of accountability for utilization review and payer relations, and fosters a culture of clinical excellence rooted in compassion and professional integrity. Qualified candidates may also provide direct client care and clinical supervision to licensed-eligible staff.

Core Responsibilities

Clinical Program Oversight & Development

• Provide senior-level oversight of all PHP and IOP clinical programming, ensuring services reflect current evidence-based practices in substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health treatment.
• Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of clinical curriculum, group programming, and individualized treatment protocols.
• Monitor clinical outcomes and key performance indicators; use data to drive continuous program improvement.
• Stay current with developments in addiction medicine, behavioral health best practices, and regulatory requirements, integrating new knowledge into program development.
• Champion a trauma-informed, person-centered approach to care across both programs.

Team Leadership & Management

• Recruit, onboard, supervise, and evaluate a multidisciplinary team of clinical and operational staff, including therapists, recovery managers and support personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and conduct regular performance reviews, providing constructive feedback and development planning.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable team culture that reflects Lantana Recovery's Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Identify staffing needs and partner with HR to address vacancies, workload balance, and succession planning.
• Lead regular team meetings, clinical case consultations, and interdisciplinary treatment team reviews.

Clinical Supervision

• Provide individual and group clinical supervision to associate-level and licensed-eligible clinical staff in accordance with state licensure board requirements (where qualified to do so).
• Maintain accurate supervision documentation and support supervisees in their professional development and licensure progression.
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for the broader treatment team, modeling best practices in assessment, documentation, and therapeutic intervention.

Utilization Review & Payer Relations

• Oversee the utilization review process for both PHP and IOP, ensuring timely and clinically sound documentation to support continued-stay authorizations and appeals.
• Serve as a clinical point of contact for insurance companies and managed care organizations, participating in peer-to-peer reviews as needed.
• Collaborate with the billing and revenue cycle teams to optimize authorization approvals and minimize denials.
• Ensure that clinical staff understand payer expectations and produce documentation that meets medical necessity criteria.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all clinical operations comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, DHEC licensure standards, and JCAHO/CARF accreditation requirements (as applicable).
• Lead preparation for and response to regulatory audits, surveys, and accreditation reviews.
• Develop, implement, and maintain clinical policies and procedures; conduct regular reviews to ensure currency and compliance.
• Oversee quality assurance activities including chart audits, incident review, and outcome tracking.

Crisis Management

• Serve as a senior clinical resource for complex crisis situations, providing guidance and direct support to staff managing client emergencies.
• Ensure crisis intervention protocols are current, staff-trained, and consistently applied across both programs.
• Review critical incidents and adverse events; lead debriefs and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Maintain availability for after-hours clinical consultation in high-acuity situations.

Direct Client Care

• Provide direct clinical services — including individual therapy, group facilitation, assessment, and treatment planning — within the scope of licensure, as caseload and program needs require.
• Maintain a manageable direct-service caseload that supports program capacity while preserving adequate time for leadership responsibilities.

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Partner with executive leadership to set the strategic direction for PHP and IOP services, including program expansion, census growth, and community partnership development.
• Manage program budgets and resources in alignment with organizational financial goals.
• Represent Lantana Recovery in community, professional, and referral partner settings to advance the organization's reputation and mission.
• Prepare and present operational and clinical reports to executive leadership and the board as required.

Qualifications

Required

• Active, unrestricted clinical licensure in Connecticut — LCSW, LPC, LMFT, PMHNP-BC, or equivalent required.
• Master's degree or higher in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, or a related behavioral health field.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in behavioral health and/or substance use disorder treatment, with at least 2–3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based SUD treatment modalities (e.g., CBT, DBT, MI, MAT-informed care, ASAM criteria).
• Working knowledge of utilization review processes, medical necessity criteria, and managed care documentation standards.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements applicable to PHP/IOP settings.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Preferred

• Eligibility and willingness to provide board-approved clinical supervision to associate-level staff.
• Experience in a PHP, IOP, or residential behavioral health setting in a director or program manager role.
• Additional certification in addiction counseling (CAADC, CADC, CARN-AP or equivalent) or co-occurring disorders.
• Experience with JCAHO accreditation processes.
• Proficiency with electronic health record (EHR) systems and clinical documentation platforms.

Physical Requirements

Pay: $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person