Director of Behavioral Health

Director of Behavioral Health

About CARITAS: CARITAS creates a safe space to heal and time to rebuild. We are a family of five programs working to provide effective, permanent solutions to individuals and families dealing with the crisis of homelessness and/or addiction in the Metro Richmond area: CARITAS Shelter, CARITAS Works, The Healing Place, CARITAS Furniture Bank, and the CARITAS Recovery Residences.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a visionary, licensed leader to serve as our Director of Behavioral Health. This is a high-impact, generative role for someone eager to build, shape, and lead a dynamic behavioral health department from the ground up across our shelter and recovery programs.

The ideal candidate blends strong clinical expertise with a deep, practical understanding of peer-run recovery models (The Healing Place), knowing how to bridge evidence-based clinical practices with peer-led support. This role is perfect for you if you are an innovator, a compassionate supervisor, and a systems builder who thrives on creating efficient processes, supporting multidisciplinary teams, and serving individuals facing complex challenges around substance use and homelessness.

Position Summary

The Director of Behavioral Health will provide strategic and clinical leadership for behavioral health services across all CARITAS programs. This role is responsible for developing a trauma-informed, evidence-based system of care that integrates clinical services with recovery supports.

The Director will ensure participants have access to appropriate behavioral health care while equipping staff with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively support individuals with complex needs. This is a full-time salaried role working onsite at CARITAS. Pay range is $80,000 to $90,000 annually.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Oversight

• Provide clinical oversight across shelter and recovery programs.
• Develop and implement behavioral health policies, protocols, and ethical standards.
• Ensure services align with evidence-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered practices.
• Support program staff with clinical consultation and case guidance.
• Provide strategic oversight and direction for CARITAS Emergency Shelter, Case Management, and Surge Weather Shelter.
• Provide support to peer coordinator and nurse, empowering them to lead with autonomy while upholding program goals and values.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of the annual program budget in collaboration with CARITAS leadership.
• Oversee strategic initiatives specific to Behavioral Health.

Program Development & Integration

• Build and lead the Behavioral Health Department structure.
• Integrate behavioral health services across the full continuum of care.
• Expand access to services beyond current capacity limitations.
• Support the expansion of medication-assisted recovery in partnership with The Healing Place and Recovery Residence staff.
• Create a process for evaluations within 48 hours of participant intakes.

Partnership Development

• Establish and maintain partnerships with community behavioral health providers (e.g., Daily Planet and others).
• Coordinate on-site and off-site clinical services, including therapy and psychiatry.
• Ensure continuity of care through strong referral and follow-up systems.

Crisis Support & Risk Management

• Guide crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies.
• Support staff in responding to participants experiencing acute behavioral health needs.
• Develop protocols for safety, stabilization, and appropriate care transitions.
• Support the intake process for co-occurring disorders and provide consultations as needed.
• Provide screening within 48 hours of participant intakes to connect to appropriate services and providers.

Staff Training & Workforce Development

• Design and deliver training on:

• Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment
• Trauma-informed care
• Mental health disorders
• Crisis response and de-escalation
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) principles
• Best Practices

• Build staff confidence in working with participants with co-occurring disorders.

Data & Quality Improvement

• Oversee implementation of behavioral health data systems.
• Track outcomes such as engagement, retention, and service utilization.
• Use data to inform program improvements and support grant reporting.

Qualifications

Required

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Virginia.
• Ability to Supervise Certified Substance Abuse Counselors and Social Work Students.
• 5–7+ years of experience in behavioral health, preferably with SUD and homelessness.
• Experience in program development, supervision, and systems coordination.
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care.
• Strong understanding of a peer-driven social model of recovery.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams and community partnerships.
• Ability to work hours outside of 9–5 and/or be on call

Preferred

• Certified Addiction Treatment Professional (CATP), Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), or specific coursework in Substance Use Disorders