Director Clinical Services (5963)

#nowhiring

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is looking for talented Director of Clinical Services who want to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose & Impact:

The Director of Clinical Services provides centralized clinical, operational, and quality leadership for LSF programs serving youth, families, and vulnerable populations across CINS/FINS shelters, group homes, emergency shelters, SNAP programs, Community Counseling and Unaccompanied Children (UAC) refugee programs. The position is responsible for ensuring consistent, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, clinically sound, and contract-compliant service delivery across assigned programs. The director leads clinical practice standards, program performance, continuous quality improvement, staff development, risk mitigation, and cross-program integration to promote service excellence, regulatory readiness, and positive outcomes for clients and families.

Essential Functions:

• Provides comprehensive supervision of assigned staff, ensuring completion of all administrative and operational responsibilities, including but not limited to performance management (e.g., annual evaluations), payroll and personnel transactions, timekeeping and approval of timecards, and adherence to organizational policies and procedures. This position provides direct supervision of the Quality Assurance Support Coordinator.
• Serve as the senior leader responsible for clinical quality, program compliance, regulatory readiness, and continuous quality improvement across assigned Family Focus service lines. Ensures alignment between organizational strategy, quality standards, contractual obligations, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and day-to-day program operations.
• Collaborate with program staff on Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) meetings, ensuring effective utilization of the Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) Manual and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology. Ensure regular review and analysis of data such as psychotropic medication utilization, incident reports, file review results, client and stakeholder survey feedback, incident trends, corrective action plans, and other critical information as identified.
• Implement and operationalize LSF quality standards, performance measures, monitoring protocols, and continuous improvement expectations across all assigned programs to improve community access, client engagement, service coordination, safety, clinical outcomes, and contract performance.
• Develop, monitor, and report enterprise-wide key performance indicators (KPIs), outcome measures, compliance metrics, utilization data, and client performance trends. Utilize data to identify opportunities for quality improvement and operational excellence and communicate to leadership and/or other stakeholders.
• Oversee clinical review and trending of critical incidents, grievances, safety events, and risk indicators as assigned. Collaborate with Legal, Human Resources, Risk Management, executive leadership and program leadership to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and reduce organizational risk.
• Direct internal clinical case file reviews and peer review processes to ensure compliance, quality, and service effectiveness.
• Partner with program leadership to ensure programs maintain readiness for audits, monitoring reviews, licensing visits, funder reviews, and internal quality reviews.
• Co-lead accreditation readiness activities within assigned programs and ensure ongoing compliance with accreditation standards.
• Support residential and shelter operations by providing clinical guidance related to youth and family engagement, behavior management, safety planning, crisis stabilization, trauma-informed care, and coordination with community providers.
• Establish and maintain consistent and uniform clinical practice expectations, service delivery standards, and documentation standards and forms across assigned programs, including intake, assessment, service planning, treatment planning, crisis response, discharge planning, aftercare planning and referral activities.
• Monitor emerging regulations, contract requirements, evidence-based practices, funding opportunities, and industry trends affecting residential, shelter, counseling and youth services and recommend operational changes as appropriate.
• Develop and support implementation of procedures, tools, templates, workflows, and training resources that promote consistent clinical and operational practice across assigned programs.
• Participate in the development, review, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance, operational consistency, and clinical best practice.
• Provide technical assistance, coaching, mentoring, and performance support to program directors, managers, supervisors, clinical staff, and quality staff.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and clinical services to support and maintain enterprise-wide electronic health records, automation of manual processes and adherence to LSF policy for use of AI.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, professional development, supervision structure, and retention strategies for clinical leadership roles.
• Participate in strategic planning, program development, new program implementation, contract transition planning, and service expansion initiatives as assigned.
• Prepare clear, timely, and accurate reports, presentations, summaries, corrective action updates, and recommendations for leadership review.
• Represent LSF in meetings, workgroups, community forums, funder engagements, and statewide or regional initiatives as requested.

Other Functions:

• Travel to program sites, shelters, group homes, community locations, partner meetings, trainings, and monitoring activities across assigned regions. (40% travel, 60% remote).
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions:

The position requires prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, with frequent use of hands and fingers to operate a keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other office equipment. The employee must be able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication, and have sufficient visual acuity to read, analyze, and prepare clinical, operational, and administrative records and reports. The position requires the ability to move throughout office and clinical environments and travel periodically to program sites, meetings, trainings, or other locations. Occasional standing, walking, bending, reaching, and lifting or carrying items weighing up to 15 pounds may be required.

The position is primarily performed in an office and clinical service environment with normal lighting, ventilation, and moderate noise levels. The employee may periodically work in residential, community-based, or other service settings and may encounter individuals experiencing emotional distress or other challenging behaviors. The position may involve exposure to confidential and sensitive information and situations requiring discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism. The position requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions and changing operational or clinical needs. Periodic travel between program locations may be required.

Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities.

Education:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Human Services, Public Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field required.
• Active clinical licensure in the State of Florida as an LCSW, LMHC, LMFT, Psychologist, Registered Nurse, or other applicable clinical license required; with professional licensure specific to contract, program, or regulatory requirements.

Experience:

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in clinical, behavioral health, child and family, residential, shelter, refugee, community-based, or human services programs required.
• Minimum of five years of leadership, supervisory, program management, or multi-site operational experience required.
• Experience with quality assurance, continuous quality improvement, monitoring, corrective action planning, contract compliance, and performance reporting required.
• Experience with youth and family services, residential care, emergency shelter operations, community counseling, refugee/immigrant services, or federally funded programs strongly preferred.
• Experience working with funders, licensing bodies, regulatory agencies, accreditation standards, subcontractors, and community stakeholders preferred.

Skills:

• Strong clinical leadership and judgment, including the ability to support trauma-informed, culturally responsive, evidence-informed, and family-centered services.
• Ability to lead complex programs, provide direction to leaders, manage competing priorities, and drive accountability across multiple service lines.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations, child and family service systems, behavioral health systems, residential/shelter standards, confidentiality expectations, and quality improvement principles.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, assess risk, and recommend practical improvement strategies.
• Excellent verbal communication, facilitation, training, presentation, and business writing skills.
• Ability to build constructive relationships with staff, providers, funders, regulators, community partners, clients, and families while maintaining high standards of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to use data, electronic records, and reporting systems to support program oversight.
• Ability to travel statewide; must have valid driver’s license and insurance.

Other:

• Must demonstrate sensitivity to LSF service populations’ cultural, socioeconomic, linguistic, developmental, and trauma-related characteristics and needs.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality concerning clients, families, staff, program records, and agency information in accordance with LSF policies and applicable legal requirements.
• Must comply with LSF policies, procedures, standards of conduct, training requirements, and all applicable program, contract, licensing, and regulatory requirements.

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Telehealth (24/7 online access to Doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
• Note: Head Start employees paid time off and holiday schedule may differ
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement

LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Lutheran Services Florida is mandated to perform background screenings for employment in accordance with the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse as outlined in Section 435.12, Florida Statutes. Additionally, pursuant to House Bill 531 (2025), Lutheran Services Florida must ensure that all job vacancy postings and advertisements include a clear and conspicuous link to the AHCA Clearinghouse website and its requirements. For more information on background screening requirements please visit: https://info.flclearinghouse.com

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.