Director of Behavioral Health

About Lifeline Community Services

Founded in 1973, Lifeline Community Services knows that thriving communities begin with people who feel seen, supported, and empowered. Reaching more than 25,000 people across San Diego County each year, our work sits at the intersection of behavioral health and economic empowerment, helping individuals and families face life's challenges and move toward a future filled with possibility. Our strength lies in our integrated approach and deep community connection, today providing services in six key areas: Behavioral Health, Family Strengthening, Housing & Stabilization, Youth Development, Anti-Human Trafficking, and Economic Empowerment.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Behavioral Health provides strategic and operational leadership for Lifeline Community Services' Behavioral Health portfolio and is accountable for the performance, sustainability, growth, and impact of programs within the department. As a member of Lifeline's senior leadership, the Director translates organizational strategy into departmental priorities; oversees program, contract, financial, workforce, and outcome performance; and helps position Lifeline as a strong and trusted partner within San Diego County's behavioral health system.

The Director works in close partnership with the Director of Clinical Services, who establishes Lifeline's organization-wide clinical framework, standards, and direction, to ensure Behavioral Health programs consistently deliver high-quality, evidence-informed, trauma-responsive, culturally responsive, and client-centered services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent in this position will perform the following duties and responsibilities along with other duties that may be assigned:

Strategic & Organizational Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and overall direction for Lifeline's Behavioral Health department, ensuring programs advance the organization's mission, strategic priorities, and commitment to the communities it serves.
• Develop and execute departmental goals, annual objectives, priorities, and operating plans, translating Lifeline's strategic plan into measurable results.
• Assess emerging community needs, policy and funding changes, and shifts within the behavioral health landscape to inform program strategy and organizational decision-making.
• Lead the Behavioral Health department through significant operational, funding, regulatory, and system changes, ensuring program leaders understand the implications of change and have clear plans, systems, and support to implement effectively.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen, expand, redesign, or develop programs and partnerships that increase access, improve outcomes, and support the long-term sustainability of Lifeline's Behavioral Health portfolio.
• Serve as a member of Lifeline's senior leadership, contributing to organization-wide strategy, culture, decision-making, and cross-functional priorities.
• Partner with leaders across Lifeline, including Clinical Services, Youth Development, Anti-Human Trafficking, Finance, Compliance, and other departments, to strengthen coordination where services, populations, funding streams, and systems intersect.

Program, Contract & Financial Performance

• Hold overall accountability for the operational, contractual, financial, and programmatic performance of the Behavioral Health portfolio.
• Establish and oversee management systems that enable program leaders to consistently monitor staffing, productivity, service delivery, contract performance, financial performance, and other key indicators; ensure emerging issues are identified and addressed before they result in significant programmatic, contractual, audit, or financial risk.
• Develop the capacity of program leaders to understand and use operational, financial, workforce, service, and outcome data to manage performance, identify trends, address challenges, and make sound decisions.
• Ensure programs meet contractual requirements, performance measures, service expectations, and deliverables established by funders and government partners.
• Partner with Finance and program leadership to develop and manage departmental budgets, monitor financial performance, assess program sustainability, and align staffing and resources with service and revenue expectations.
• Strengthen operational systems and management practices that support effective service delivery, accountability, efficiency, and responsible growth.
• Lead departmental planning and implementation related to new contracts, grant-funded initiatives, program expansions, funding changes, and significant shifts in service delivery.

Clinical Quality, Compliance & Outcomes

• Promote a culture of clinical excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across the Behavioral Health department, working in close partnership with the Directors of Clinical Services and Compliance to translate organization-wide clinical, quality, and compliance standards into strong program practice and performance.
• Partner closely with the Director of Clinical Services to ensure Behavioral Health programs consistently implement Lifeline's organization-wide clinical standards, quality framework, evidence-informed practices, and clinical supervision expectations.
• Maintain accountability within the Behavioral Health portfolio for adherence to applicable contractual, regulatory, licensing, ethical, payer, accreditation, privacy, and documentation requirements, including requirements established by the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal, HIPAA, and applicable accreditation bodies.
• Partner with the Director of Compliance and program leadership to ensure effective systems for clinical documentation monitoring, quality assurance, incident reporting, risk mitigation, and corrective action.
• Coordinate with the Director of Compliance and other organizational leaders on program audits, monitoring reviews, corrective action plans, accreditation reviews, and other external oversight activities, ensuring Behavioral Health programs maintain ongoing readiness and address identified issues in a timely and sustainable manner.
• Use client outcomes, service data, quality indicators, and other performance measures to identify opportunities to improve access, effectiveness, service quality, and the client experience.

People & Leadership Development

• Recruit, hire, supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Behavioral Health program leaders, establishing clear expectations and accountability for leadership and program performance.
• Build a strong departmental leadership team capable of translating strategy into effective day-to-day operations.
• Provide program leaders with the coaching, tools, and management support needed to effectively oversee staff performance, productivity, service delivery, and contractual expectations, intervening when necessary to strengthen management practices and address persistent performance challenges.
• Partner with Human Resources and program leadership to anticipate workforce needs, strengthen recruitment and retention, and ensure staffing models support program, contractual, clinical, and financial requirements.
• Develop leadership capacity and succession pathways within the department, creating opportunities for staff growth and increasing organizational bench strength.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, inclusion, engagement, and continuous improvement that helps staff understand both the expectations of their roles and their connection to Lifeline's broader mission, while supporting strong performance and retention.

System Leadership, Partnerships & Growth

• Serve as a senior representative of Lifeline within San Diego County's behavioral health system, building strong relationships with County