You’ll need
Licensure
✓Current independent licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or equivalent in Arizona.
Education
✓Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, or a related field.
Qualifications
✓Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health settings, with at least 3 years overseeing inpatient or residential programs.
✓Demonstrated success in program development, budget management, and regulatory compliance.
✓Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to engage effectively with staff, community partners, and regulatory bodies.
✓Must be able to provide or obtain an AZDPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.
✓Non-Discrimination Policy
Benefits
Medical, dental and vision401(k)Paid time offLife and disability insuranceWellness and mental health resourcesContinuing education
19open roles
5administration roles open in AZ
73 miPrescott to Phoenix
Full employer posting
- The Clinical Director of Inpatient and Residential Units provides strategic leadership and oversight for all inpatient, sub-acute, and residential behavioral health services at Polara Health. This role is accountable for ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care across multiple levels of care while maintaining compliance with state, federal, and accreditation standards. The Director leads program development, manages resources, and partners with internal and external stakeholders to deliver innovative, effective, and integrated services. This position actively contributes to organizational strategy and decision-making as a member of the senior leadership team. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide overall leadership, vision, and strategic direction for inpatient, sub-acute, and residential clinical services.
- Oversee day-to-day operations of inpatient and residential programs, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality service delivery.
- Direct program development and expansion, implementing innovative models of care across inpatient and residential settings.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory and accreditation standards, including Joint Commission and Title 36 requirements.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams—including physicians, nurses, behavioral health professionals, and support staff—to coordinate care and improve outcomes.
- Partner with Finance and Operations leadership to develop, manage, and monitor departmental budgets and resource allocation.
- Lead quality improvement initiatives and use data-driven approaches to evaluate and improve clinical outcomes.
- Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing staff; establish succession planning and professional development opportunities.
- Serve as the primary liaison with hospitals, community partners, and regulatory agencies regarding inpatient and residential care.
- Actively participate as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, cross-department collaboration, and decision-making.
- Represent inpatient and residential programs at board, community, and stakeholder meetings as needed. QUALIFICATIONS Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, or a related field. Current independent licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or equivalent in Arizona. Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health settings, with at least 3 years overseeing inpatient or residential programs. Demonstrated success in program development, budget management, and regulatory compliance. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to engage effectively with staff, community partners, and regulatory bodies. Must be able to provide or obtain an AZDPS Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Non-Discrimination Policy Polara Health subscribes to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity. Polara Health’s policy is to provide employment, compensation, and other benefits related to employment based on qualifications, without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Polara Health intends to comply fully with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, and the information requested on this application will be used only for purposes consistent with those laws. Americans With Disabilities Act – Request for Reasonable Accommodations In accordance with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Polara Health’s policy is to provide reasonable accommodation for applicants requesting accommodation(s) during the application process, so the applicant may be given a full and fair opportunity to be considered for employment. If any candidate needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify Polara Health in any of the following ways: by calling 928-445-5211, ext. 4047, U.S. Mail, or hand deliver to Polara Health 3343 N. Windsong Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 Attention: Human Resources Job Applicant Request. Background Checks Employment is contingent on background checks as required by Polara Health’s policies, which may include Fingerprint Clearance, Drug Test, Criminal History, Driving History Record, Sex Offender Registry Search, Department of Child Services, State Central Registry Check, Employment Verification, Education Verification, and Professional References. We Offer the Following Benefits to Full Time Employees: Medical * Dental * Vision * Short and Long Term Disability * Life Insurance * Health Savings Account * Flexible Spending Account * Employee Assistance Program * 401(k) * Up to 3 Weeks of Paid Time Off * 10 Paid Holidays per Year * Shift Pay (for select inpatient and residential positions) *
About the role
The Clinical Director of Inpatient and Residential Units provides strategic leadership and oversight for all inpatient, sub-acute, and residential behavioral health services at Polara Health. This role is accountable for ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care across multiple levels of care while maintaining compliance with state, federal, and accreditation standards.