Program Director of Behavioral Health

Responsibilities

Program Director of Behavioral Health (LISW or RN) – Kennewick, WA

Horizon Health is seeking a Program Director of Behavioral Health (LISW or RN) to oversee the Long-Term Civil Commitment (LTCC) at Aristo Behavioral Health in Kennewick, WA. We are seeking an accomplished behavioral health operations leader to serve as Director of Behavioral Health for our Long-Term Civil Commitment (LTCC) program. This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for an individual who can combine operational discipline with a strong commitment to recovery-oriented behavioral healthcare. The Director will partner closely with clinical, nursing, medical, quality, and administrative leaders to ensure the LTCC program delivers safe, effective care while maintaining strong operational performance.  Candidate should have a strong understanding and skills required to collaborate and work within the court system.

The Behavioral Health Director provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for behavioral health services across the organization. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health care that is compliant with regulatory standards, financially sustainable, and aligned with organizational goals. The Director is responsible for program development, staff leadership, quality outcomes, and integration of behavioral health services within multidisciplinary care models.

The Behavioral Health Director is responsible for the maintenance of the Horizon Health/Client hospital contractual relationship(s) and in coordination with the client, the overall administration of patient care for the Program.  Included in these responsibilities are: 1) the development and maintenance of a high-quality treatment program; 2) the development and implementation of a comprehensive community relations program; 3) strategic planning, program administration, and development; and 4) He/she contributes to the program nursing and hospital through commitment to nursing goals and the supervision of clinical staff.

Responsibilities:

• Strong knowledge of behavioral health clinical standards and best practices
• In-depth understanding of healthcare regulations, accreditation, and reimbursement models
• Ability to evaluate clinical quality and implement performance improvement initiatives
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Resilient, adaptable, and mission-driven leadership style
• Ability to manage stress appropriately and channels concerns appropriately
• Ability to build effective relationships with physicians, nurses, therapists, executives, and community partners
• Skilled at conflict resolution and staff engagement
• Ability to analyze data, interpret trends, and develop actionable strategies
• Experience using metrics to improve clinical, financial, and operational outcomes
• High ethical standards and commitment to patient-centered care
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Performs other duties as assigned/required by this position.

Clinical & Program Leadership

• Provide clinical oversight for behavioral health programs, ensuring patient safety, quality outcomes, and evidence-based practices
• Develop, implement, and evaluate behavioral health services, programs, and treatment models
• In coordination with the Hospital, Ensures compliance with federal, state, and accrediting agency regulations (e.g., CMS, Joint Commission, state licensing agencies)
• Collaborate with medical, nursing, and ancillary leadership to integrate behavioral health services across care settings
• Directs departmental staff involved in multidisciplinary teams to address process improvements involving patients, employees, other customers or teams appropriately
• Defines the philosophy, goals and objectives of the treatment program under the direction of hospital administration, Horizon’s clinical and operations staff and in conjunction with the Medical Director
• Works with divisional and national support staff to ensure that the client hospital realizes maximum value from Horizon services

Operational & Administrative Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations of behavioral health departments, including inpatient, outpatient, and/or community-based services
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, including staffing models and resource allocation
• Analyze performance metrics, patient outcomes, and utilization data to drive continuous improvement
• Lead initiatives related to access to care, patient flow, and care coordination

Staff Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, mentor, and evaluate behavioral health clinical and support staff
• Promote a culture of professional growth, accountability, and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels, competencies, and licensure requirements are maintained
• Support staff education, training, and competency validation

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Lead quality improvement initiatives focused on patient outcomes, safety, and patient experience
• Respond to regulatory reviews, audits, and corrective action plans
• Ensure compliance with ethical standards, patient rights, and confidentiality requirements

Strategic Planning & Community Engagement

• Participate in organizational strategic planning related to behavioral health services
• Identify opportunities for service expansion, partnerships, and program innovation
• Represent the organization in community, professional, and regulatory settings as appropriate. 

Benefit Highlights:

• Competitive Compensation
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug Plan
• 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
• Long and Short-term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts; Healthcare Savings Account
• Life Insurance
• Career development opportunities within the company
• Tuition Assistance
• Rewarding work environment - Enjoy going to work everyday!

About Universal Health Services:

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance, growing since its inception into a Fortune 500 corporation. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has 99,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates 28 acute care hospitals, 331 behavioral health facilities, 60 outpatient and other facilities in 39 U.S. States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

About Kennewick, WA: 

Kennewick, WA is an attractive place to build a career and enjoy a strong quality of life. As part of the Tri-Cities metro, Kennewick serves as a regional hub with a diverse local economy supported by healthcare, education, food processing, finance, and retail employers. The city also offers a cost of living that is generally more accessible than larger West Coast metros, along with housing that remains more affordable than Seattle or Portland. Beyond work, Kennewick provides a family-friendly community, strong schools, abundant sunshine, outdoor recreation along the Columbia River, and convenient access to major highways and regional airports.

For more information on this position, email Oscar Hernandez, Horizon Health, Senior Executive Recruiter at [email protected]

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) required.
• Active RN license or Licensed Independent Social Worker LISW in the state of Washington. 
• Master’s Degree preferred
• Must have 5 to 8+ years of related work experience
• American Heart Association issued BLS and ACLS required
• CPR Certification

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams

We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information.

At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.

If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.