COMPETENCY ORIENTED POSITION DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Program Director
Location: Department of Corrections
Reports To: Statewide Director of SUD Programs / Senior Contract Manager (SCM)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Department: Behavioral Health / Substance Use Services
Location: Southwood, Correctional Facility, Bridgeton, NJ
Monday to Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Basic functions
The SUD Program Director provides on site leadership, oversight, and clinical supervision for all substance use disorder treatment services delivered within the contracted facility. This position is responsible for managing daily program operations, ensuring adherence to the SUD program model, supervising counseling staff, coordinating with institutional leadership, overseeing quality assurance, and maintaining compliance with all DOC requirements, Core Program Standards, and reporting obligations.
Essential functions
Program leadership and clinical oversight
- Oversee daily operations of the SUD program including assessments, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, relapse prevention, discharge planning, and coordination of services.
- Ensure adherence to the SUD program model including treatment phase requirements, documentation standards, group ratios, curriculum delivery, and use of TCU assessments.
- Provide clinical supervision, case consultation, and guidance to counselors to support consistent, high quality service delivery.
- Monitor treatment fidelity and address operational issues or deviations that may impact service quality or participant outcomes.
- Support the integration of psycho educational and Restorative Housing sessions when applicable to the facility.
Staff supervision and workforce management
- Provide daily supervision, guidance, and performance evaluation for counselors and assigned staff.
- Ensure staff maintain required caseloads, documentation timeliness, and group facilitation schedules.
- Support staff in meeting licensure and certification requirements and ensure completion of DOC mandated trainings including PREA, NUST, and documentation training.
- Assist with recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and retention efforts to maintain stable program staffing.
- Maintain bilingual staffing requirements when applicable.
Compliance, documentation, and reporting
- Ensure all clinical documentation is accurate, timely, and compliant with HIPAA, 42 C.F.R. Part 2, DOC policies, and Core Program Standards.
- Review and approve assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries for completeness and quality.
- Submit all required operational reports including population data, program summaries, staffing updates, discharge information, and narrative reports within required timeframes.
- Support DOC audits, compliance reviews, clinical file audits, and institutional monitoring activities.
- Coordinate corrective action plans and quality improvements with the Statewide Program Director when required.
Interagency coordination and institutional collaboration
- Maintain effective working relationships with institutional administrators, custody staff, OSAPAS personnel, medical and mental health providers, and other stakeholders.
- Participate in required meetings including staffing reviews, multidisciplinary meetings, operational briefings, and institutional planning sessions.
- Communicate program needs, operational concerns, and systemic issues to the Statewide Program Director and the SCM.
- Support conflict resolution, participant grievance responses, and coordination with custody and administrative staff to ensure safe and efficient program operations.
Quality assurance and program improvement
- Conduct facility based quality improvement activities including chart reviews, group observations, documentation audits, and performance monitoring.
- Identify trends, service gaps, and barriers affecting program engagement or outcomes and recommend or implement improvement strategies.
- Ensure fidelity to evidence based practices including relapse prevention, structured group interventions, and use of the Living in Balance curriculum where applicable.
- Participate in statewide training, program enhancements, and implementation of new initiatives as directed by the Statewide Program Director or SCM.
Qualifications
Education and experience
1. Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related behavioral health field.
2. Minimum of five years of experience in addiction services and at least two years of supervisory clinical experience.
3. At least one year of documented experience working with a criminal justice population as required by Appendix A.
4. Experience overseeing evidence based SUD treatment models, group facilitation, assessment protocols, and relapse prevention practices.
5. Experience working with justice involved individuals and familiarity with correctional institutional operations.
Sobriety requirement
1. Maryville requires employees in recovery to maintain a minimum of two years of continuous sobriety.
Licensure and certification
1. Current New Jersey licensure as a psychologist, LCSW, LPC, LCADC, physician specializing in addiction services, or advanced practice nurse with required addiction and supervisory experience.
2. Certification in substance use disorder treatment or equivalent experience is strongly preferred.
3. Ability to maintain all credentials in good standing.
4. Successful completion and maintenance of DOC security clearance and identification requirements.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
1. Knowledge of SUD treatment models, relapse prevention strategies, group facilitation techniques, and motivational approaches.
2. Understanding of correctional environments, custody operations, DOC directives, and security protocols.
3. Knowledge of confidentiality requirements including HIPAA, 42 C.F.R. Part 2, and PREA.
4. Skill in supervising clinical staff, providing structured feedback, and managing complex workflows.
5. Ability to evaluate documentation quality, performance measures, and program data.
6. Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage competing demands in a secure environment.
7. Ability to collaborate effectively with medical, mental health, custody, administrative, and OSAPAS staff.
Physical requirements
8. Ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods during a shift, including movement through secure areas of the facility.
9. Ability to travel within the facility and attend required meetings on site.
10. Ability to lift, carry, and transport office supplies, manuals, and files up to 20 pounds occasionally.
11. Dexterity to operate computers, copiers, scanners, and other office equipment required for documentation and reporting.
12. Adequate visual and auditory capacity to read documents, use electronic systems, respond to phones, and participate in meetings.
13. Ability to comply with institutional movement procedures, escort requirements, and security protocols.
14. Ability to meet DOC medical and security clearance standards required for facility access.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job functions either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case by case basis.
Pay: $105,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
