POSITION SUMMARY
The Program Director of The Elijah House is the single point of ownership for every aspect of the program — its outreach, its census, its clients, its staff, its compliance, and its outcomes. Above all, this leader is responsible for coordinating outreach and maintaining program census within an 85–100% occupancy margin at all times. This leader also directs the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Life's Journey's 30-day ASAM Level 3.5 clinically managed high-intensity residential treatment program, delivers exceptional clinical care, maintains rigorous regulatory compliance, and produces measurable recovery outcomes — all built on a foundation of consistently strong census. This is not a supervisory role in title only — it requires a hands-on leader who takes personal accountability for outreach, census, every employee, every client, and every result the program produces.
OUTREACH & CENSUS ACCOUNTABILITY
Coordinating outreach and maintaining a program census within an 85–100% occupancy margin is a core performance expectation of this role. The Program Director is personally accountable for driving outreach efforts and ensuring beds are filled so the program consistently operates within this occupancy range. This includes:
- Owning the census number daily — tracking occupancy against the 85–100% target margin, admissions, discharges, and projected bed availability, and proactively managing the pipeline to prevent gaps
- Leading and coordinating all outreach efforts — building and maintaining strong referral relationships with hospitals, courts, managed care organizations, community service boards, and other referral sources throughout Hampton Roads — to sustain a steady admissions pipeline
- Coordinating with the admissions process to ensure timely screening, assessment, and intake of prospective residents
- Identifying and resolving barriers to admission, including insurance authorization, transportation, and documentation readiness
- Reporting census and occupancy status to the Assistant Clinical Director weekly, with a corrective action plan any time occupancy falls below the 85% margin for more than 48 hours
- Analyzing census trends, discharge patterns, and length-of-stay data to forecast and prevent dips before they occur
OWNERSHIP OF ALL EMPLOYEES
The Program Director takes full ownership of every employee assigned to The Elijah House. "Ownership" means you are responsible for their performance, their development, their morale, and their accountability — not just their schedules. This includes:
- Directly supervising all clinical and non-clinical staff, including counselors, case managers, residential aides, and peer recovery specialists
- Ensuring adequate staffing coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including managing the on-call schedule and filling gaps without disruption to client care
- Conducting regular individual supervision (clinical and administrative) and documenting supervision in accordance with DBHDS requirements
- Leading weekly team meetings to review census, client progress, staffing needs, and program operations
- Setting clear performance expectations, providing direct and timely feedback, and holding staff accountable through coaching, corrective action, and performance evaluations
- Onboarding and training all new hires on Life's Journey policies, Elijah House procedures, regulatory requirements, and the culture and standards of the program
- Identifying staff development needs and coordinating ongoing training in areas including crisis prevention, documentation, ethical practice, and evidence-based treatment modalities
- Modeling the work ethic, professionalism, and client-centered values expected of every team member — leading from the front, not the office
OWNERSHIP OF ALL CLIENTS
The Program Director takes full ownership of every client in the program. You are the person ultimately responsible for ensuring that each resident receives the quality of care they were promised. This includes:
- Knowing every resident by name, understanding their treatment goals, and being able to speak to their progress at any time
- Ensuring that individualized service plans (ISPs) are developed within 24 hours of admission, are person-centered, and are reviewed and updated according to regulatory timelines
- Overseeing daily clinical programming — group therapy, individual counseling, psychoeducation, life skills, and recovery support activities — and ensuring sessions are delivered with fidelity and quality
- Monitoring clinical documentation for timeliness, accuracy, and compliance with DMAS, DBHDS, and ASAM standards
- Ensuring that medication management, medical monitoring, and coordination with prescribers are handled safely and in accordance with policy
- Personally reviewing and responding to all critical incidents, grievances, and client concerns — not delegating the follow-through on serious matters
- Overseeing discharge planning from day one, ensuring every resident leaves with a concrete aftercare plan including outpatient therapy, peer support, housing, and community resources
- Championing a culture of dignity, respect, and zero judgment — ensuring that every interaction between staff and residents reflects Life's Journey values
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE & QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
- Ensuring the program operates in full compliance with DBHDS licensing regulations (12VAC35-105), DMAS billing and service requirements (12VAC30-130-5130), and ASAM Level 3.5 criteria
- Maintaining audit-ready documentation and records at all times
- Preparing the program for licensing reviews, audits, and surveys, and serving as the primary point of contact during regulatory visits
- Developing, reviewing, and updating program policies and procedures to reflect current regulations and best practices
- Leading continuous quality improvement initiatives, using data on client outcomes, satisfaction, and operational performance to drive program excellence
- Ensuring all reportable incidents are documented, reported, and resolved according to regulatory requirements and Life's Journey policy
ADMINISTRATIVE & OPERATIONAL DUTIES
- Participating in budgeting and resource allocation for The Elijah House, ensuring responsible use of program resources
- Monitoring billing accuracy and collaborating with the billing department to ensure claims are submitted timely and correctly
- Maintaining facility standards — ensuring the physical environment is safe, clean, therapeutic, and in compliance with all health and safety codes
- Representing The Elijah House in community partnerships, stakeholder meetings, and professional networks
- Providing regular written and verbal reports to the Assistant Clinical Director on program operations, census, staffing, compliance, and client outcomes
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Education: Bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a closely related human services field (Master's degree strongly preferred)
- Licensure: Active Virginia CSAC
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years of direct experience in substance use disorder treatment services, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or program management role in a residential setting
- Certifications: Current CPR and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in a clinical or behavioral health discipline
- Experience managing an ASAM Level 3.5 or higher residential program
- Demonstrated track record of coordinating outreach and sustaining census at 85–100% occupancy in a residential treatment setting
- Experience with DMAS Medicaid billing and managed care authorization processes
- Familiarity with co-occurring disorder treatment and trauma-informed care models
- Experience preparing for and successfully passing DBHDS licensing reviews
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Ownership Mentality — Takes personal responsibility for program outcomes rather than making excuses or passing problems upward
- Outreach & Census Urgency — Understands that empty beds represent both lost revenue and people not getting help, and proactively coordinates outreach to keep occupancy within the 85–100% margin
- Staff Developer — Builds capable teams through coaching, accountability, and genuine investment in people's growth
- Clinical Credibility — Commands the respect of clinicians because of demonstrated knowledge and clinical judgment
- Regulatory Fluency — Knows the rules, follows them, and ensures the team does the same without requiring constant reminders
- Communication — Communicates directly, clearly, and professionally with staff, clients, families, and external partners
- Resilience — Stays steady and solution-focused under pressure, during crises, and through the inevitable hard days of residential treatment work
Join us to lead a compassionate team dedicated to transforming lives through innovative behavioral health services!
Pay: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
License/Certification:
Work Location: In person
