Medical opportunity
Director of Behavioral Services
Posted: October 6, 2026
Director of Behavioral Services
Location: Ithaca, NY (Finger Lakes Region)
Direct Hire
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Setting: On-site
Compensation: $120,000–$145,000
Excellent Benefits Package
Position Overview:
A leading healthcare organization is seeking an experienced Director of Behavioral Services to provide clinical and administrative leadership for an inpatient behavioral health program.
The Director will oversee treatment services, patient safety, regulatory compliance, staffing, financial management, performance improvement, and day-to-day departmental operations. This leader will collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and other clinical professionals and will play an active role within the organization's behavioral health and substance use disorder service line.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide overall direction, supervision, and evaluation of treatment services within the inpatient behavioral health unit.
Lead the clinical and administrative operations of the department.
Develop, implement, and evaluate departmental policies, procedures, and programs.
Ensure staff and providers understand and comply with departmental policies and procedures.
Develop and manage the departmental budget.
Identify opportunities for cost savings while maintaining high-quality patient care.
Identify opportunities for revenue enhancement.
Ensure appropriate and efficient staffing levels.
Provide administrative and clinical supervision to assigned staff.
Conduct performance evaluations and establish employee goals and objectives.
Monitor and evaluate patient-care outcomes.
Develop and implement strategies for continuous quality improvement.
Ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements.
Implement performance-improvement initiatives using data-driven analysis.
Partner with health-system departments regarding utilization review, corporate compliance, operations, and patient safety.
Collaborate with medical staff, nursing, social work, therapy, and other disciplines to ensure effective treatment programs.
Support the broader behavioral health and substance use disorder service line.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and patient-centered care.
Required Qualifications:
BSN or New York State LMSW.
Strong clinical and administrative leadership capabilities.
Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health conditions.
Ability to effectively manage clinical operations, staff, budgets, and resources.
Preferred Qualifications:
Certification in psychiatry or another applicable behavioral-health field.
Five or more years of leadership experience in an acute mental health setting.
Master's degree, such as MSN, MBA, MHA, or another leadership-focused graduate degree.
Experience leading inpatient behavioral health programs.
Demonstrated success with quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
Opportunity:
This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished behavioral-health leader to assume responsibility for a significant inpatient service line and help shape the future of behavioral health and substance use disorder services within a growing healthcare organization.
Why Ithaca, NY?
• Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College
• Stunning Finger Lakes scenery, waterfalls, and hiking trails
• Vibrant arts, dining, and cultural scene
• Strong sense of community and excellent schools
• Easy access to outdoor recreation year-round
• High quality of life with a balanced pace of living
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their résumé for confidential consideration.
Location: Ithaca, NY (Finger Lakes Region)
Direct Hire
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Setting: On-site
Compensation: $120,000–$145,000
Excellent Benefits Package
Position Overview:
A leading healthcare organization is seeking an experienced Director of Behavioral Services to provide clinical and administrative leadership for an inpatient behavioral health program.
The Director will oversee treatment services, patient safety, regulatory compliance, staffing, financial management, performance improvement, and day-to-day departmental operations. This leader will collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and other clinical professionals and will play an active role within the organization's behavioral health and substance use disorder service line.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide overall direction, supervision, and evaluation of treatment services within the inpatient behavioral health unit.
Lead the clinical and administrative operations of the department.
Develop, implement, and evaluate departmental policies, procedures, and programs.
Ensure staff and providers understand and comply with departmental policies and procedures.
Develop and manage the departmental budget.
Identify opportunities for cost savings while maintaining high-quality patient care.
Identify opportunities for revenue enhancement.
Ensure appropriate and efficient staffing levels.
Provide administrative and clinical supervision to assigned staff.
Conduct performance evaluations and establish employee goals and objectives.
Monitor and evaluate patient-care outcomes.
Develop and implement strategies for continuous quality improvement.
Ensure compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements.
Implement performance-improvement initiatives using data-driven analysis.
Partner with health-system departments regarding utilization review, corporate compliance, operations, and patient safety.
Collaborate with medical staff, nursing, social work, therapy, and other disciplines to ensure effective treatment programs.
Support the broader behavioral health and substance use disorder service line.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and patient-centered care.
Required Qualifications:
BSN or New York State LMSW.
Strong clinical and administrative leadership capabilities.
Experience working with individuals experiencing mental health conditions.
Ability to effectively manage clinical operations, staff, budgets, and resources.
Preferred Qualifications:
Certification in psychiatry or another applicable behavioral-health field.
Five or more years of leadership experience in an acute mental health setting.
Master's degree, such as MSN, MBA, MHA, or another leadership-focused graduate degree.
Experience leading inpatient behavioral health programs.
Demonstrated success with quality improvement and regulatory compliance.
Opportunity:
This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished behavioral-health leader to assume responsibility for a significant inpatient service line and help shape the future of behavioral health and substance use disorder services within a growing healthcare organization.
Why Ithaca, NY?
• Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College
• Stunning Finger Lakes scenery, waterfalls, and hiking trails
• Vibrant arts, dining, and cultural scene
• Strong sense of community and excellent schools
• Easy access to outdoor recreation year-round
• High quality of life with a balanced pace of living
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their résumé for confidential consideration.