The Senior Director of Clinical Education (NSDCE) reports to the Associate Vice President (AVP) of People and plays a critical role in promoting clinical excellence, regulatory compliance, a professional and inclusive culture, and integrated service delivery across Behavioral Health programs. This role provides strategic and field-based education to staff in OMH Part 589 (Crisis Residential), OMH Part 599 (MHOTRS), OMH/OASAS Part 600 (Crisis Stabilization Center), OASAS Part 822 (including MAT and Ancillary Withdrawal Services), CCBHC Services and future offerings.

The NSDCE supports onsite onboarding, clinical fidelity, documentation accuracy, and a unified language across programs. This position promotes continuity of care from the perspective of the service recipient while increasing understanding and clarity related to regulatory and programmatic differences.

Essential Functions (Job Duties):

1. The NSDCE is responsible for the design, delivery, and oversight of a comprehensive clinical education strategy that strengthens practice fidelity, professional competency, and regulatory compliance across the agency. With a focus on curriculum development, train-the-trainer models, and performance evaluation, this role is essential to supporting high-quality care across all service lines.
2. The ideal candidate will bring a strong clinical background in mental health and addiction treatment, paired with a strategic, system-level mindset. This leader will be responsible for managing at least one Clinical Educator, with future growth anticipated, and will ensure clinical education is delivered with clarity, consistency, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities:

Curriculum Development & Training Delivery

• Design, implement, and regularly update structured clinical education programs for all key roles (e.g., licensed clinicians, peers, nurses, case managers), including onboarding, continuing education, and competency refreshers.

• Develop and implement train-the-trainer curricula to build internal training capacity and reduce reliance on external training vendors.

• Create testing-for-understanding frameworks, observation tools, and feedback loops to ensure training is absorbed and applied in practice.

• Design competency matrices and service-line-specific learning tracks (e.g., MAT counselors, Crisis Clinicians, Peer Specialists) that reflect real-world role requirements.

• Deliver training that models sound clinical practice, rooted in evidence-based approaches like trauma-informed care, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, crisis response, and co-occurring treatment models.

Regulatory Expertise & Quality Alignment

• Ensure all education and competency tools align with OMH, OASAS, CCBHC, NYS DOH, and CARF regulations.

• Develop clear educational materials that translate complex regulatory expectations into daily clinical practice.

• Coordinate directly with government regulators and funding sources as needed for training alignment, survey preparation, and program clarification.

• Support internal readiness for licensing, certification, and accreditation surveys, and lead training responses to regulatory shifts.

Operational Coaching & Corrective Support

• Conduct field-based coaching, modeling, and just-in-time education to address skill gaps and reinforce standards.

• Partner with Compliance, Quality Improvement, and Operations leaders to respond to audit trends, incident reports, and documentation issues.

• Provide targeted education and coaching in support of performance improvement or corrective action plans in collaboration with supervisors and HR partners.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting 

• Coordinate with Operations leaders to conduct routine and targeted assessments of clinical practice, observing alignment with expectations across service lines.

• Write clear, actionable reports summarizing strengths, gaps, and areas for growth, and communicate findings in a solution-oriented manner.

• Translate findings into education plans and track improvement over time, reinforcing accountability.

Professionalism & Ethics Education

• In collaboration with the Training & Development team, lead education on professional boundaries, ethical conduct, and dual relationships, especially in high-risk settings.

• Reinforce a culture of professionalism through clinical leadership, field-based modeling, and real-time coaching.

Strategic Collaboration & System Leadership

• Partner with Operations Senior Directors as well as other leaders to assess system-wide clinical training needs and launch high-impact initiatives.

• Contribute to strategic planning, policy refinement, and education alignment across departments.

• Stay informed on evolving evidence-based practices, adult learning theory, and educational tools that drive real-world results.

• Acts as an ambassador for the Network and the AVP of People, building relationships and representing the organization at meetings and events with external stakeholders.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong clinical background in mental health and addiction treatment services, with a passion for education and leadership.
• Deep working knowledge of OMH, OASAS, CCBHC, and other applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Skilled in developing curricula, assessing clinical performance, and leading professional education grounded in adult learning principles.
• Confident leader and coach, capable of supervising others, giving effective feedback, and building training systems at scale.
• Comfortable engaging with regulators, funders, and internal stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience reporting on performance and outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams with an inclusive leadership approach that values and leverages different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervise one Clinical Educator (with potential for additional team members), providing: 

• Ongoing coaching and guidance 
• Performance evaluations 
• Goal setting and development planning 
• Timekeeping and payroll approvals 

• Foster a culture of excellence, clarity, and compassion within the Clinical Education team. 

• Promote professional growth and accountability across all direct reports.

Required Education and Experience:

1. Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Addiction Studies, Registered Nurse, or a related behavioral health discipline.
2. Minimum 5 years of clinical experience in behavioral health.
3. Experience in OMH Part 599 or 589, OASAS Part 822, or CCBHC programs.
4. Demonstrated experience in clinical supervision, training, or mentoring.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

1. Strong communication and coaching skills.
2. Experience with MAT and/or Ancillary Withdrawal Services.
3. Familiarity with OMH/OASAS Part 600 Crisis Stabilization Center services.
4. Knowledge of CCBHC core services and demonstration metrics.
5. Background in adult learning, curriculum design, or e-learning tools.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Type:

Full Time

Hours of Work:

40

Work Week Schedule:

Monday – Friday

Hours of Work:

8:00

a.m. to

5:00

p.m.

Hours and schedules may vary depending on Company need and workload. Employees will be given as much advance notice as possible when such changes occur.

Travel will be as needed across the rural service region to support training, coaching, and system-wide implementation efforts. Travel will be up to 50% of job time.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Employees are required to maintain training, licenses, and certifications per regulatory and agency requirements.

Hours and schedules may vary depending on Company need and workload.  Employees will be given as much advance notice as possible when such changes occur.

Employment at Citizen Advocates is “at will”.  You are free to resign at any time and for any reason sufficient to you, just as Citizen Advocates is free to terminate your employment at any time and for any reason.  We do not guarantee continued or permanent employment.

Citizen Advocates is an Equal Employments Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.