Program Development Manager Jobs in Columbia, TN

PRN | Independent Contractor (1099) | Project-Based

Organization: HCO Behavioral Health Services

About HCO

HCO Behavioral Health Services is a growing outpatient behavioral health organization committed to providing exceptional, evidence-based mental health services while honoring each client's values, beliefs, and treatment preferences.

As part of our continued growth, we are expanding our Christian Counseling program and are seeking an experienced consultant to help develop a comprehensive, clinically sound, ethically responsible, and insurance-compliant faith-based counseling model.

This is a unique opportunity to help build a program that equips clinicians to integrate Christian faith into counseling when requested by clients while maintaining the highest standards of professional practice, documentation, and clinical excellence.

Position Overview

The Christian Counseling Program Development Consultant will partner with executive leadership to design, develop, and strengthen HCO's Faith-Based Counseling Program.

The consultant will help create a structured framework that enables licensed mental health professionals to appropriately integrate Christian principles into evidence-based behavioral health treatment while remaining compliant with ethical standards, payer requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.

This role is project-based and intended to develop sustainable systems, training, resources, and best practices that can be implemented organization-wide.

Primary Responsibilities

The consultant may assist with:

Program Development

• Design HCO's Christian Counseling program framework
• Develop a structured model for integrating faith into outpatient mental health treatment
• Create clinical guidelines and best practices
• Help define levels of faith integration based on client preference and informed consent
• Develop implementation strategies for clinicians

Clinical Training

Develop and deliver training covering topics such as:

• Foundations of Christian Counseling
• Ethical integration of faith into psychotherapy
• When and how to appropriately discuss faith
• Client choice, informed consent, and autonomy
• Cultural humility and respect for diverse beliefs
• Appropriate use of prayer in counseling
• Scripture within clinical practice
• Faith-based interventions
• Boundaries and ethical considerations
• Maintaining professionalism while incorporating faith

Documentation & Insurance Compliance

Develop documentation standards that address:

• Appropriate documentation of faith-based interventions
• Documentation that supports medical necessity
• Insurance billing considerations
• Evidence-based treatment planning
• Appropriate terminology
• Objective clinical documentation
• What should and should not be documented
• Documentation pitfalls and risk areas
• Clinical language that supports reimbursement while accurately reflecting treatment

Clinical Integration

Assist in developing guidance for:

• Integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, and other evidence-based practices with Christian counseling principles
• Maintaining fidelity to evidence-based interventions while honoring clients' spiritual beliefs
• Appropriate incorporation of faith-based coping skills
• Spiritually integrated treatment planning

Policies & Procedures

Assist with developing:

• Christian Counseling policies
• Client informed consent language
• Faith integration guidelines
• Staff competency standards
• Documentation expectations
• Clinical decision-making guidelines
• Risk management recommendations

Resource Development

Develop resources such as:

• Training curriculum
• Staff manuals
• Clinical reference guides
• Documentation examples
• Case studies
• Best practice recommendations
• Competency assessments
• Ongoing education materials

Desired Qualifications

Candidates should possess experience in:

• Christian Counseling
• Licensed mental health practice
• Clinical supervision, education, or training
• Behavioral health program development
• Evidence-based psychotherapy
• Ethics in behavioral health practice
• Clinical documentation
• Insurance-compliant documentation
• Training adult learners
• Policy and procedure development

Preference will be given to candidates with experience developing faith-based behavioral health programs or teaching Christian counseling at the graduate or professional level.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal consultant demonstrates:

• Strong Christian faith and spiritual maturity
• Deep understanding of evidence-based mental health treatment
• Respect for client autonomy and informed choice
• Knowledge of professional ethics and standards of care
• Excellent teaching and curriculum development skills
• Strong written communication abilities
• Ability to bridge clinical excellence with thoughtful faith integration

Engagement Structure

This is a project-based Independent Contractor (1099) position.

Projects may include:

• Program development
• Training curriculum creation
• Staff education
• Clinical consultation
• Documentation review
• Policy development
• Resource creation
• Ongoing program evaluation

Workload will vary depending on project scope and organizational needs.

Compensation

Competitive compensation based on experience and project scope.

Compensation may be structured as:

• Hourly consulting
• Daily consulting rate
• Fixed project fee
• Training or workshop fee

Our Vision

HCO believes that faith can be an important source of healing for many individuals. Our goal is to develop a Christian Counseling program that is clinically excellent, ethically responsible, evidence-based, and respectful of every client's individual beliefs and treatment preferences.

We are seeking a consultant who shares this vision and is passionate about helping clinicians confidently and appropriately integrate faith into behavioral healthcare while maintaining the highest standards of professional practice.