Director of Behavioral Health

Join St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho—where nationally recognized quality meets small-town heart. We’re proud to be recognized for excellence and patient safety, including an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, inclusion in Becker’s list of “Great Community Hospitals,” and U.S. News & World Report accolades for maternity care. Here, you’ll find a teamwork-first culture, leaders who support you, and coworkers who genuinely have your back. New grads are welcome—we’re committed to training, mentoring, and helping you build confidence as you grow. And because we know great care starts with taking care of our people, we offer competitive benefits and a workplace you can feel good about. If you’re looking for a place to do meaningful work, build a career, and feel proud serving your community—you belong at St. Joe’s.

Job Summary

The Director of Behavioral Health is responsible for providing strategic leadership, clinical oversight, and operational management of behavioral health programs within the organization. This position ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care through interdisciplinary collaboration, staff development, and performance improvement initiatives. The Director leads efforts to meet community needs, support regulatory compliance, and advance mental health and substance use treatment services in alignment with the organization's mission and values.

Essential Functions

• Leads and manages inpatient and/or outpatient behavioral health services and interdisciplinary teams.
• Develops and implements behavioral health programs and interventions that reflect community needs and clinical best practices.
• Collaborates with leadership to assess performance, identify growth opportunities, and enhance quality outcomes.
• Ensures program compliance with federal, state, and accreditation standards (e.g. CMS, TJC).
• Monitors and adjusts services to align with current regulatory guidance and industry trends.
• Oversees staffing models, recruitment, budget management, and resource allocation.
• Engages in strategic planning and business development for behavioral health service lines.
• Coordinates staff training, supervision, and performance evaluations.
• Supports marketing, referral development, and community engagement activities.
• Participates in hospital committees and special projects as assigned.
• Facilitates ongoing performance improvement activities and patient outcome evaluations.
• Ensures consistent communication of hospital values, mission, and behavioral health objectives.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Expectations

• Strong critical thinking, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage complex situations and collaborate across clinical and administrative domains.
• Deep understanding of behavioral health care delivery, evidence-based practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Skilled in financial oversight, program evaluation, and strategic leadership.
• Ability to prioritize, follow through, and manage multiple initiatives.
• Proficient in EMR systems and standard business software.

Education

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, Nursing, or a related field (Required)

Licenses/Certifications

• Other: Current licensure in the state of practice Upon Hire (Required)
• Other: Independent Practice Scope Licensure preferred (e.g., LCSW, LMFT, LPC, APRN) Upon Hire (Preferred)
• BCLS - Basic Life Support through American Heart Assoc Within Facility-Specified time frame (Required)
• NCI -Non-violent Crisis Intervention or current program Within Facility-Specified time frame (Required)

Experience

• 5+ years leadership experience (Required) And
• 7-9 years clinical experience in behavioral health (Preferred) And
• Prior Experience showing demonstrated expertise in program development, regulatory compliance, and team leadership (Preferred)