Program Operations Director Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

The Martin Luther King Jr. Behavioral Health Center (MLK BHC) is a program of HealthRIGHT 360 and is contracted with the Department of Public Health's Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) program. MLK BHC offers residential Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) services for a maximum of 99 adult individuals, comprising 33 beds each for judicially involved men, men, and women. MLK BHC collaborates closely with other Behavioral Health Center programs to ensure a comprehensive range of services for low-income and Medi-Cal-eligible individuals. Situated on the Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital campus in the Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles, the program serves residents of all Los Angeles County. 

The Program Director II at MLK Behavioral Health Center is responsible for overseeing all aspects of program operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective services. This in-person role involves providing hands-on training and leadership development to Managers, Supervisors and Direct Service Staff, while maintaining a strong focus on fiscal responsibility and maximizing contract and revenue opportunities. Program Director II demonstrates strategic thinking, ownership, and leadership, motivating high-performing teams and fostering a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement across all levels of service delivery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

People Management

• Interview, select, hire, and terminate staff in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Monitor staff compliance with agency policies, procedures, performance goals, and contract expectations.
• Provide regular coaching, informal feedback, and support to direct reports; conduct formal performance evaluations.
• Identify staff strengths and development needs, support opportunities for professional growth.
• Coordinate or provide access to training and resources to ensure staff competency.
• Ensure adequate staffing coverage, develop work schedules, and approve time off in line with program needs.
• Communicate organizational updates, quality expectations, and changes in policy to the team.
• Address interpersonal or team conflicts promptly and diplomatically to maintain a positive work environment.
• Lead staff meetings to discuss updates, issues, policies, procedures, etc.

Program Management

• Provide overall leadership, coordination, and management of the program.
• Create, develop, maintain, and implement systems, policies, and procedures for all aspects of service planning, development, and linkages to other resources, in accordance with county contracts, performance requirement, treatment matrix, scope of work or other program requirements as identified by the county.
• Create and develop systems to track performance measures and client outcomes across programs.
• Develop and implement a method of monitoring to ensure contract requirements are being met.
• Keep record of all inspections conducted by the contractor, any corrective action taken, the time problem was first identified, a clear description of the problem, and the time elapsed between identification and completed corrective action, shall be provided to the County upon request.
• Monitor program budget and facilitate response to ensure utilization. Ensure that all projects/programs stay within agreed budgetary limitations.
• Manage risks and issues and take corrective measurements.
• Implement quality improvements in the integration of behavioral health services to improve the quality and continuum of client care.
• Oversee the electronic health records system for the program, including but not limited to running reports, checking for discrepancy, retention, productivity, utilization, and ensuring all discrepancies are corrected in a timely manner.

Treatment Oversight

• Ensure that the program staff provide strength-based, trauma-informed, client-centered approach, and culturally competent services in an ethical and legal manner and in accordance with program requirements, HealthRIGHT 360’s policies and procedures, and all other regulatory requirements.
• Utilize a client-centered approach when making program decisions.
• Ensure that charts, treatment plans, and other documents are accurate and in accordance with program requirements and HealthRIGHT 360’s policies and procedures to satisfy internal and external evaluating requirements by conducting periodic quality reviews of all charts and of staff’s performance and productivity. Frequency of the review is determined by the Managing Director.
• Ensure that documents and records are properly handled and transferred properly.

Administration and Other Duties

• Plan, design, evaluate, and manage community development and training programs.
• Present HealthRIGHT 360’s programs to community and civic groups.
• Work with funding sources to coordinate services.
• Monitor program compliance, quality assurance, and reporting compliance.
• Establish and maintain strong professional relationships with County Agency representatives and county program managers funding HealthRIGHT 360’s programs.
• Represent HealthRIGHT 360 to existing and potential future funding sources.
• Complete assigned training in a timely manner.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Certification, or Licensure

• Option I
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, preferably in Health and Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, or related field.
  • Certification as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor from an accredited California agency (CCAPP, CAADE, CADTP).
• Option II
  • Master’s degree in Social Work or related field.
  • Current registration or licensure with California Board of Behavioral Sciences (AMFT, APCC, ACSW, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW).

• Option III
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Certification as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor from an accredited California agency (CCAPP, CAADE, CADTP).
  • Four years’ equivalent work experience.
• Valid First Aid and CPR certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Valid California Driver’s License and access to registered and insured transportation preferred.

Experience

• At least 7 years of supervisory (people management) experience.
• Program management experience in a residential treatment setting, recovery, or community mental health clinic.
• Experience with performance management including performance improvement plan, formal written warning, terminations, etc.
• Experience managing program budgets.
• Experience working with individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

In an 8-hr workday, employee is required to perform work:

Sitting

4

Hrs

Standing

1

Hr

Walking

3

Hrs

Driving

Occasionally