Clinical Executive Director

Lantana Recovery was founded by individuals in long-term recovery from substance use disorders with a vision to provide an alternative to traditional addiction treatment models. The organization offers customized treatment plans tailored to meet the unique mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, educational, and vocational needs of each client. Lantana Recovery emphasizes innovative and personalized treatment experiences rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The programs are designed to support clients as they work toward meaningful and lasting recovery.

General Responsibilities:

The Executive Director provides senior-level clinical and operational leadership across Lantana Recovery's Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs. This role is responsible for the integrity, quality, and growth of all clinical programming — ensuring services are

evidence-based, regulatory-compliant, and consistently delivered at the highest standard of care. The Executive Director leads and develops a multidisciplinary team of clinical and operational staff, serves as the primary point of accountability for utilization review and payer relations, and fosters a culture of clinical excellence rooted in compassion and professional integrity. Qualified candidates may also provide direct client care and clinical supervision to licensed-eligible staff.

Core Responsibilities:

Clinical Program Oversight & Development:

• Provide senior-level oversight of all PHP and IOP clinical programming, ensuring services reflect current evidence-based practices in substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health treatment.
• Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of clinical curriculum, group programming, and individualized treatment protocols.
• Monitor clinical outcomes and key performance indicators; use data to drive continuous program improvement.
• Stay current with developments in addiction medicine, behavioral health best practices, and regulatory requirements, integrating new knowledge into program development.
• Champion a trauma-informed, person-centered approach to care across both programs.

Team Leadership & Management:

• Recruit, onboard, supervise, and evaluate a multidisciplinary team of clinical and operational staff, including therapists, recovery managers and support personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and conduct regular performance reviews, providing constructive feedback and development planning.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable team culture that reflects Lantana Recovery's Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Identify staffing needs and partner with HR to address vacancies, workload balance, and succession planning.
• Lead regular team meetings, clinical case consultations, and interdisciplinary treatment team reviews.

Clinical Supervision:

• Provide individual and group clinical supervision to associate-level and licensed-eligible clinical staff in accordance with state licensure board requirements (where qualified to do so).
• Maintain accurate supervision documentation and support supervisees in their professional development and licensure progression.
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for the broader treatment team, modeling best practices in assessment, documentation, and therapeutic intervention.

Utilization Review & Payer Relations:

• Oversee the utilization review process for both PHP and IOP , ensuring timely and clinically sound documentation to support continued-stay authorizations and appeals.
• Serve as a clinical point of contact for insurance companies and managed care organizations, participating in peer-to-peer reviews as needed.
• Collaborate with the billing and revenue cycle teams to optimize authorization approvals and minimize denials.
• Ensure that clinical staff understand payer expectations and produce documentation that meets medical necessity criteria.

Compliance & Quality Assurance:

• Ensure all clinical operations comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, DHEC licensure standards, and JCAHO/CARF accreditation requirements (as applicable).
• Lead preparation for and response to regulatory audits, surveys, and accreditation reviews.
• Develop, implement, and maintain clinical policies and procedures; conduct regular reviews to ensure currency and compliance.
• Oversee quality assurance activities including chart audits, incident review, and outcome tracking.

Crisis Management:

• Serve as a senior clinical resource for complex crisis situations, providing guidance and direct support to staff managing client emergencies.
• Ensure crisis intervention protocols are current, staff-trained, and consistently applied across both programs.
• Review critical incidents and adverse events; lead debriefs and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Maintain availability for after-hours clinical consultation in high-acuity situations.

Direct Client Care:

• Provide direct clinical services — including individual therapy, group facilitation assessment, and treatment planning — within the scope of licensure, as caseload and program needs require.
• Maintain a manageable direct-service caseload that supports program capacity while preserving adequate time for leadership responsibilities.

Strategic & Operational Leadership:

• Partner with executive leadership to set the strategic direction for PHP and IOP services, including program expansion, census growth, and community partnership development. 
• Manage program budgets and resources in alignment with organizational financial goals.
• Represent Lantana Recovery in community, professional, and referral partner settings to advance the organization's reputation and mission.
• Prepare and present operational and clinical reports to executive leadership and the board as required.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Active, unrestricted clinical licensure in Connecticut — LCSW, LPC, LMFT, PMHNP-BC, or equivalent required.
• Master's degree or higher in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, or a related behavioral health field.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in behavioral health and/or substance use disorder treatment, with at least 2–3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based SUD treatment modalities (e.g., CBT, DBT, MI, MAT-informed care, ASAM criteria).
• Working knowledge of utilization review processes, medical necessity criteria, and managed care documentation standards.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance requirements applicable to PHP/IOP settings.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Preferred:

• Eligibility and willingness to provide board-approved clinical supervision to associate-level staff.
• Experience in a PHP , IOP , or residential behavioral health setting in a director or program manager role.
• Additional certification in addiction counseling (CAADC, CADC, CARN-AP or equivalent) or co-occurring disorders.
• Experience with JCAHO accreditation processes.
• Proficiency with electronic health record (EHR) systems and clinical documentation platforms.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the role, including occasional lifting, bending, and extended periods of sitting or standing.
• Availability during standard business hours with flexibility to respond to program needs outside of scheduled hours.