Assistant Director of Residential Services

Assistant Director of Residential Services (ASAM 3.1)

Job Description

The Assistant Director of Residential Services reports to the Executive Director – Galax. This position runs day-to-day operations for four DBHDS-licensed ASAM Level 3.1 (Clinically Managed Low-Intensity Residential) substance use treatment programs. The role keeps each site safely staffed, clinically sound, and survey-ready under Virginia DBHDS licensing rules and DMAS ARTS requirements.

The Assistant Director also serves as the Human Rights advocate and investigator for the Galax and Hillsville campus, and works closely with the Director of Compliance and Risk Management on DBHDS compliance and policy across residential services.

Department: Residential Substance Use Treatment Services

Reports to: Executive Director – Galax

Supervises: Direct Support Professionals, BHT

FLSA status: Exempt, full-time

Schedule: Business hours plus rotating on-call

Location: Galax

Duties/Responsibilities

The core of the job is keeping four 3.1 houses running safely every day: staffed, services on track, documented, and inspection ready. Duties include but may not be limited to:

Daily operations across four programs

• Conduct scheduled and unannounced site visits to each program at least weekly, including periodic evening and weekend visits.
• Lead a daily operations huddle (in person or virtual) covering census, staffing gaps, incidents, high-risk individuals, and discharges.
• Ensure each program delivers at least 5 hours per week of professionally directed treatment per individual, plus the services directed by each Individualized Services Plan (ISP).
• Monitor house routines, structure, recovery activities, meals, transportation, and resident rights at each site.

Staff leadership and supervision

• Directly supervise DSPs and BHTs.
• Approve schedules, overtime, call-outs, and float/PRN coverage across sites.
• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, coach, discipline, and, with HR, terminate residential staff.
• Ensure all staff complete required orientation and annual training (e.g., CPR/First Aid, medication administration, de-escalation, naloxone, human rights, infection control).

Safety, incidents, and risk

• Ensure serious incidents are reported to DBHDS through CHRIS within required timelines, and that root cause analyses are completed when required.
• Oversee emergency preparedness, fire and evacuation drills, and building safety at each site.
• Serve on the administrative on-call rotation for crises, staffing emergencies, and incident response.
• Ensure human rights complaints are handled per agency policy and the DBHDS Human Rights regulations.

Compliance, documentation, and quality improvement

• Maintain each site’s readiness for DBHDS Office of Licensing reviews, MCO/DMAS audits, and accreditation surveys; lead corrective action plans (CAPs).
• Run monthly chart and personnel file audits; track findings to closure.
• Track and report outcome and quality measures (census, occupancy, length of stay, completion rate, step-down rate, incidents, staff turnover).
• Support authorization and billing accuracy with utilization management and billing staff.

Budget and facilities

• Monitor program budgets, overtime, supplies, and food costs; recommend staffing and spending adjustments.
• Coordinate maintenance, repairs, vehicle use, and vendor services for all four properties.

Community and system partners

• Build referral relationships with hospitals, detox/withdrawal management programs, CSBs, courts, probation, and recovery community organizations.
• Represent the residential division at MCO, CSB, and community meetings as assigned.

Human Rights advocate and investigator (Galax and Hillsville campus)

• Serve as the campus’s designated Human Rights advocate, informing individuals of their rights under the DBHDS Human Rights regulations (12VAC35-115) and helping them use the complaint process.
• Receive, investigate, and document human rights complaints and allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation at the campus, within the timelines set by 12VAC35-115 and agency policy.
• Interview individuals, staff, and witnesses; gather records; and write investigation findings with recommended corrective actions.
• Report allegations and findings to DBHDS (including the Office of Human Rights and CHRIS) and the agency director as required, and track corrective actions to completion.
• Complete agency-provided training and certification for the Human Rights advocate role, and maintain it through required continuing education.
• Keep investigations independent and confidential; refer cases with a conflict of interest to the Director of Compliance and Risk Management for reassignment.

Compliance and policy collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Compliance and Risk Management to ensure DBHDS regulations are fully implemented in all residential programs.
• Partner with the Director of Compliance and Risk Management to review, update, and implement residential policies and procedures, including after regulatory changes, licensing findings, or incident trends.
• Train residential staff on new and revised policies, and verify through audits and site visits that they are followed.
• Share incident, complaint, and audit trends with the Director of Compliance and Risk Management to guide risk reduction and quality improvement.

ASAM 3.1 Staffing and Regulatory Compliance

The Assistant Director owns each program’s written staffing plan and ensures every site meets Virginia 3.1 staffing standards, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This description lists the main duties of the position and is not exhaustive. Duties may change based on agency needs and regulatory updates. Other duties assigned which are consistent with the philosophy and intent of this position.

Pay: $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $70,000 - $85,000