Clinical Director of Outpatient Services in Santa Cruz, California at Janus of Santa Cruz

Janus is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Clinical Director of Outpatient Services to provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across our outpatient substance use disorder treatment programs. This leadership role is responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining high-quality behavioral healthcare services that promote recovery, wellness, and positive client outcomes.Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Clinical Director will partner closely with Behavioral Health Leadership, Program Managers, and other organizational leaders to ensure excellence in clinical care, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, staff development, and program growth.

This position plays a critical role in advancing Janus' strategic initiatives while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and compassionate care.The Clinical Director is expected to dedicate approximately 5% of their time to direct clinical service delivery, including supporting access to care, emergency substance use disorder screenings, behavioral health assessments, and other programmatic needs as required.

Programs and Service Areas Oversight

The Clinical Director oversees the following outpatient and community-based programs:

• Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), including Mobile OTP and Outreach Clinical Services
• Outpatient SUD Programs, including:
  • WRRP
  • RSS
  • Outpatient (OP)
  • Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
  • Day Treatment Services
• Renew Path (P47) Program, including collaboration with Santa Cruz County Probation Success Centers and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services
• Sobering Center Community Support and Justice-Involved Services

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Collaboration

• Serve as a member of the Janus Leadership Team, representing Behavioral Health services and contributing to organizational strategy, initiatives, and priorities.
• Foster collaboration across departments to advance Janus' Strategic Plan and integrated care model.
• Maintain open communication with Behavioral Health staff, ensuring feedback, concerns, and innovative ideas are elevated to organizational leadership.
• Provide leadership for program expansion efforts, new funding opportunities, and emerging service initiatives.
• Serve as Project Director for applicable grants and contracts, partnering with compliance and finance teams to ensure contractual and clinical obligations are met.

Clinical Leadership

• Provide overall clinical direction for outpatient SUD programs and services.
• Ensure delivery of evidence-based, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care.
• Champion the integration of substance use disorder and behavioral health services across all programs and populations.
• Provide clinical supervision, consultation, mentorship, and support to Program Managers and clinical staff.
• Support crisis response efforts and maintain readiness for emergency situations impacting outpatient services.
• Promote student internship opportunities and workforce development initiatives.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Lead quality improvement and quality assurance initiatives across all outpatient programs.
• Monitor clinical outcomes, program performance, patient satisfaction, and compliance metrics.
• Review and address risk management concerns, including incident reporting and corrective action plans.
• Collaborate with leadership and compliance teams to develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures.
• Oversee implementation of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), pilot programs, and change management initiatives using continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, county, CARF, and other regulatory standards.
• Lead program audits, site reviews, accreditation activities, and external monitoring processes.

Program Development & Operations

• Evaluate and enhance existing outpatient SUD treatment services using best practices and emerging treatment approaches.
• Develop innovative service models to meet evolving community needs.
• Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and productivity benchmarks.
• Track Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA) and ensure timely submission of required surveys and documentation.
• Collaborate with leadership teams to improve service integration, operational effectiveness, and client outcomes.
• Work closely with Finance to support budget development and resource allocation.

People Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, retain, and develop high-performing clinical teams.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations for Program Managers and support management development efforts.
• Identify opportunities for staff growth, performance enhancement, and professional development.
• Create an environment that promotes employee engagement, satisfaction, accountability, and retention.
• Review and approve Program Manager timecards and oversee related payroll functions.

Qualifications Required

• Current California licensure as an:
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or
  • Associate-level licensure working toward independent licensure

  OR

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, or a related clinical field with Substance Use Disorder certification.

OR

• Bachelor's degree with a Substance Use Disorder credential and a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in behavioral health or SUD treatment.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical leadership experience in behavioral health, human services, or substance use disorder treatment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based SUD treatment models, regulatory requirements, and integrated care practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to harm reduction, recovery-oriented systems of care, and patient-centered treatment.

Preferred

• Experience working with underserved, under-resourced, and justice-involved populations.
• Experience with outpatient SUD programs, OTP services, and integrated behavioral health models.
• Experience with CARF accreditation and quality improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with Medicaid/Medi-Cal regulations and behavioral health funding systems.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Exceptional clinical judgment and ethical decision-making
• Strategic and systems-level thinking
• Strong relationship-building and team leadership abilities
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed care
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Passion for improving access to high-quality substance use disorder treatment services

Why Join Janus?At Janus, you will have the opportunity to lead innovative, community-based programs that transform lives and strengthen communities. As a member of the leadership team, you will help shape the future of behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment while supporting a dedicated team committed to recovery, wellness, and equitable care for all.

Join us in making a lasting impact through compassionate, evidence-based care and transformational leadership.