Program Director
First Responder Psychological Services, California, MO, United States
Program Director – Residential SUD & Trauma Program for First Responders
Job Title: Program Director – Residential SUD & Trauma Program for First Responders
Job Type: Full-Time
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and mission-driven Program Director to lead a specialized residential substance use disorder and trauma treatment program serving first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics, dispatchers, corrections professionals, and other public safety personnel.
This is a leadership role for a professional who understands high-acuity behavioral health operations, residential treatment programming, team oversight, compliance, and quality care delivery. Experience working with the first responder community is highly desirable. Familiarity with workers’ compensation processes and the unique clinical and administrative needs of occupationally injured first responders is a major plus.
The ideal candidate is a strong operational and program leader who can oversee day‑to‑day programming, support staff performance, maintain compliance, and help ensure a high‑quality treatment experience for a specialized population.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee daily operations of the residential SUD, trauma, and detox program
- Provide leadership, direction, and accountability to program staff
- Ensure program services are delivered in accordance with licensing, regulatory, payer, and accreditation requirements
- Support census management, admissions flow, staffing coordination, and program efficiency
- Partner with clinical leadership to ensure quality of care, treatment integrity, and appropriate documentation standards
- Monitor staff performance, workflows, and operational compliance
- Lead and support multidisciplinary team communication and coordination
- Assist with implementation and oversight of policies, procedures, and best practices
- Maintain a safe, structured, and therapeutic treatment environment
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives, audits, and program development
- Help address operational issues, patient concerns, and staff support needs in a timely and professional manner
- Support relationships with referral sources, community partners, and internal stakeholders
- Understanding of workers’ compensation cases, reporting expectations, utilization review sensitivity, and return‑to‑function treatment planning is strongly preferred
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in healthcare, behavioral health, business, or related field preferred
- Minimum 3–5+ years of leadership experience in behavioral health, residential treatment, detox, or SUD programming
- Prior experience as a Program Director, Operations Director, Clinical Operations Leader, or similar role preferred
- Experience in residential SUD and/or trauma‑focused programming required
- Experience working with the first responder population highly desirable
- Understanding of workers’ compensation processes is a huge plus
- Strong knowledge of licensing, documentation standards, staffing oversight, and program operations
- Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced treatment environment
- Experience with EHR systems and behavioral health documentation workflows preferred
Ideal Candidate
- Strong leader with integrity, accountability, and professionalism
- Understands the culture, stressors, and treatment barriers common in first responder populations
- Comfortable balancing clinical sensitivity with operational excellence
- Able to support structure, compliance, team morale, and high standards of care
- Mission‑aligned and passionate about helping first responders recover and return to healthy functioning
Why Join Us
- Opportunity to help lead a highly specialized program for first responders
- Meaningful work with a mission‑driven team
- Collaborative environment focused on trauma‑informed, high‑quality care
- Ability to make a direct impact on program growth, staff development, and patient outcomes