Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Director of School Services – Job Description

The Thrive Network ItemDetailReports toExecutive DirectorDirect reportsSchool-based clinical staff and other assigned personnelEmployment statusFull-time, salaried, exemptDirect client-facing hoursMinimum of 18 hours per week, in addition to director responsibilitiesWork locationThrive office 1 to 2 days per week; partner schools the remaining days, based on school service needs

Position Summary

The Director of School Services leads Thrive's school-based behavioral health services. The Director provides direct client care, clinical supervision, and program leadership, ensuring school-based services are clinically sound, well staffed, responsive to school and student needs, and aligned with organizational, contractual, and regulatory requirements.

The Director is accountable for the overall performance of school-based services and serves as Thrive's primary leader and contact for school partners.

Work Location

The Director works from a Thrive office ([Cherry Hill / Clementon]) 1 to 2 days per week and at partner schools on the remaining days. The office-to-school split each week is based on the hours needed at schools, including student sessions, staff supervision, school meetings, and coverage needs, and is reviewed with the Executive Director as school schedules change. During school breaks and summer, the Director may spend more time in the office or supporting summer programming. Required work travel within New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including travel between schools and offices, is covered by salary; travel outside those states is reimbursed under Thrive's travel policy.

Essential Responsibilities

Direct Client Care

• Maintain a minimum of 18 direct client-facing hours per week, in addition to director responsibilities, primarily at partner schools.
• Complete timely, compliant documentation for all direct client services.

Program Leadership

• Lead and oversee school-based behavioral health programs, including individual and group therapy, assessments, and summer programming.
• Set program goals, expectations, and service standards.
• Monitor capacity, staffing, referrals, productivity, and service delivery across schools.
• Identify program needs and growth opportunities, including new school partnerships.
• Ensure programs meet organizational policies and contract and grant requirements.

Clinical Supervision

• Provide clinical supervision to assigned school-based clinicians.
• Review clinical work, documentation, treatment planning, and service delivery.
• Consult on complex cases and monitor clinical competency.
• Address clinical performance concerns and ensure supervisees receive appropriate support.

Staff Management

• Set performance expectations, conduct evaluations, and provide coaching and corrective feedback.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, discipline, and termination recommendations.
• Assign clinicians to schools and maintain coverage as school needs change.
• Develop staff training and professional-development plans.

School Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with school administrators, counselors, and staff.
• Serve as the primary leadership contact for school partners and resolve their concerns.
• Participate in school meetings and collaborative planning.
• Coordinate teacher professional development and parent workshops, including Nurtured Heart Approach and trauma-informed trainings, where contracted.

Quality, Reporting, and Leadership

• Track program KPIs and grant outcome measures, such as pre- and post-assessments, attendance, and incident data.
• Prepare monthly reports for school partners and regular reports for the Executive Director.
• Identify performance gaps and implement improvement strategies.
• Collaborate with the Director of Outpatient Services on quality initiatives and with the Director of Internship Training on intern placements in schools.
• Participate in leadership meetings, develop annual program goals, and recommend staffing, resources, and policies.

Authority and Accountability

The Director of School Services is accountable for direct client care, clinical supervision, staff performance, school relationships, service delivery, and program outcomes. The Director independently resolves routine clinical, staffing, and program issues and escalates matters requiring executive-level action.

Key Performance Indicators

• Direct client-facing hours (minimum 18 per week)
• School-based service productivity and caseload capacity
• Referral conversion
• Documentation compliance
• Clinical supervision and performance-review completion
• Staff retention
• School partner satisfaction
• Grant and contract outcome measures
• Program growth, including new school partnerships
• Incident and concern resolution

Required Competencies

Clinical supervision, direct clinical practice, school-based behavioral health, program leadership, staff management, relationship management, performance management, problem-solving, data interpretation, communication, and strategic planning.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related field.
• Active, unrestricted New Jersey independent clinical license (LCSW, LPC, or LMFT), with credentialing for Medicaid and commercial payers.
• Experience providing and supervising school-based behavioral health services with children and adolescents.
• Ability to meet school clearance requirements, including background checks.
• Reliable transportation to travel between schools and Thrive offices.

Job Tags

Contract work, Summer work, Work at office, 2 days per week, 1 day per week

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