Clinical Director — Outpatient Substance Abuse Program

Clinical Director — Outpatient Substance Abuse Program Clinical Director — Outpatient Substance Abuse Program

Location: Brooklyn, NY | Employment Type: Full-Time | Salary: $120,000–$175,000 (commensurate with experience)

About Us

We are an outpatient substance use treatment program in Brooklyn, NY, focused on building a strong, sustainable clinical program for the long term. We're looking for a Clinical Director who wants to build something lasting — a well-run program with real room to grow, not just manage what already exists.

This is a rare opportunity for a driven clinical leader to take ownership of a program's direction, build lasting infrastructure, and grow into a senior leadership role as the organization develops.

Position Summary

The Clinical Director will take full clinical and operational ownership of our outpatient program. This role is equal parts clinician, program builder, and operator: responsible for clinical infrastructure and program design, full regulatory compliance, leading and growing a multidisciplinary team, and driving steady, sustainable growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role with a clear path for growth. The Clinical Director will be directly involved in shaping policies, procedures, and workflows, and — as the program develops — will grow into leading a larger clinical and administrative team, with the opportunity to help shape the organization's expansion over time.

Key Responsibilities

Program Building & Growth

Design and build clinical program infrastructure, workflows, and treatment protocols

Develop and execute a growth strategy in partnership with leadership, aimed at building a larger, more established program over time

Design scalable systems (staffing models, documentation workflows, onboarding, intake processes) built to support growth without breaking down

Identify and cultivate referral sources and community/provider partnerships to drive admissions

Support long-term planning as the program grows, including future expansion of services or team structure

Clinical Oversight & Compliance

Conduct chart reviews and clinical audits to ensure documentation meets state regulatory and payer standards

Ensure treatment planning, level-of-care determinations, and discharge planning.

Maintain full compliance with applicable state substance use treatment regulations, Medicaid/insurance requirements, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality regulations

Serve as the program's primary compliance owner: maintain policies and procedures, ensure staff training on compliance requirements, and respond promptly to any compliance concerns

Own preparation for and response to state audits, site visits, licensing/accreditation reviews, and corrective action plans

Conduct utilization review to ensure services are medically necessary, properly authorized, and appropriately documented for payer reimbursement

Medicaid payers on authorizations, concurrent reviews, and appeals as needed

Design, implement, and oversee a formal quality assurance/quality improvement (QA/QI) program, including regular audits, outcome tracking, and corrective action follow-through

Oversee incident reporting and ensure timely investigation and resolution of incidents and grievances

Ensure appropriate coordination with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) providers where applicable

Maintain and oversee staff credentialing, licensure tracking, and payer credentialing requirements

Leadership & Team Management

Recruit, hire, train, and supervise clinical staff, including CASACs, LCSWs, and clinical interns

Provide clinical supervision consistent with licensure/credentialing requirements

Build a culture of accountability, clinical excellence, and client-centered care

Design and scale the clinical team's structure and staffing model to match organizational growth

Establish performance standards and conduct staff evaluations

Client Care & Retention

Provide direct clinical oversight of individual and group treatment services

Monitor client engagement and outcomes; design and implement retention strategies

Serve as an escalation point for complex clinical cases and crisis situations

Ensure culturally competent, client-centered care across a diverse client population

Operational Ownership

Take full ownership of day-to-day program operations, including staffing, scheduling, and workflow management

Manage program budget and resource needs in coordination with leadership and finance

Own key performance indicators related to growth, retention, compliance, and outcomes, and report on them to leadership

Ensure documentation and EHR systems are used consistently and correctly across the team

Evaluate and help implement technology and systems (EHR, telehealth, scheduling) that support growth

Support marketing and community outreach efforts in coordination with leadership

Qualifications

Required:

CASAC (Advanced CASAC strongly preferred) or LCSW, licensed in New York State

Minimum 3–5 years of clinical leadership or program management experience in a substance use treatment setting

Strong working knowledge of applicable state outpatient substance use treatment regulations and ASAM level-of-care criteria

Demonstrated ability to build or significantly grow a clinical program — not just maintain one

Proven leadership experience: hiring, supervising, and developing clinical teams

Strong understanding of clinical documentation, chart auditing, and regulatory compliance

Working knowledge of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality requirements

Experience with utilization review, insurance/Medicaid authorization processes, and quality assurance/QI program development

Excellent organizational and communication skills; comfortable operating with significant autonomy

Ability to pass a background check and pre-employment screening as required by state licensing bodies and applicable law

Preferred:

Experience with EHR/documentation platforms

Experience with accreditation processes 

Track record of scaling a healthcare or behavioral health program (multi-site experience a plus)

Familiarity with state audit and certification processes for outpatient substance use programs

Experience developing or revising clinical policies and procedures manuals

Experience coordinating with MAT providers/prescribers

Familiarity with telehealth service delivery in a substance use treatment setting

Bilingual or multicultural competency relevant to the communities served

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a builder — someone energized by shaping a program's direction and growing it into a well-run, established organization over time. The ideal candidate:

Thinks in terms of systems and sustainable growth, not just day-to-day client management

Is comfortable operating with autonomy while planning ahead

Takes full ownership of outcomes — clinical, operational, and financial — rather than waiting for direction

Has the credibility and clinical judgment to represent the program to regulators, payers, and referral partners

Sees this as a long-term leadership opportunity, not just a job

Work Environment & Expectations

Primarily on-site in Brooklyn, NY, with availability for occasional evening hours or on-call coverage for clinical emergencies as needed

Some local travel may be required for meetings with referral partners, payers, or regulators

Fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment; responsibilities and scope of the role are expected to grow alongside the organization