Program Manager Behavioral Health VIVA Counseling Program - BBS Licensed

Program Manager Behavioral Health

(VIVA Counseling Program) BBS Licensed

Reports To: Director of Behavioral Health

Location: 200 Michigan Avenue Vista CA 92084

Schedule: Hybrid minimum 3 days inperson 2 days remote

Position Type: Fulltime

Classification: Salaried Exempt

Compensation: $80000 to $95000

About Lifeline Community Services

Lifeline Community Services is a premier nonprofit organization in San Diego County dedicated to empowering individuals and families to achieve selfreliance and longterm stability. Our diverse service portfolio spans housing behavioral health youth development and antihuman trafficking initiatives operating across multiple locations.

Overview

The Program Manager VIVA Counseling Program is a pivotal leadership role responsible for the strategic clinical and operational oversight of one of Lifelines core outpatient mental health programs serving North County youth.

VIVA Counseling is a behavioral health service designed for youth up to their 21st birthday who have MediCal or are uninsured or underinsured. The program provides brief highimpact therapeutic treatment focused on the concerns that matter most to youth and their families. Services include individual group and family therapy rehabilitation psychiatric evaluations and case management. Youth may be seen in Vista and Oceanside schools or in clinicbased settings.

As the programs lead the Manager ensures VIVAs clinical quality regulatory compliance referral flow and team performanceall while fostering an inclusive culturally responsive environment. This leader plays a critical role in maintaining service excellence and ensuring the program meets its goals: to deliver comprehensive clientcentered care strengthen families and improve behavioral health outcomes for some of the most underserved youth in our region.

Reporting to the Director of Behavioral Health this role combines clinical supervision team development operational management and performance oversight. Its ideal for a licensed behavioral health professional ready to drive impact through data culture and community partnership.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Performance

• Provide visionary and resultsdriven oversight of VIVA Counseling operations ensuring clinical excellence and adherence to all MediCal HIPAA and County behavioral health standards.
• Ensure program outcomes align with Lifelines broader mission emphasizing performance accountability team productivity and client engagement.
• Monitor and manage program KPIs including staff caseloads session utilization 14session model) documentation timeliness and client outcomes.
• Align program goals with VIVAs commitment to delivering wraparound services that address depression anxiety trauma suicidal ideation substance use and cooccurring conditions.

2. Clinical Supervision & Service Integration

• Provide ongoing supervision and mentorship to BBSregistered associates and licensed clinicians delivering individual family and group therapy rehabilitation and psychiatric coordination.
• Ensure clinical staff utilize culturally affirming traumainformed practices and engage families in collaborative treatment planning that honors youth voice and goals.
• Support implementation of comprehensive services including psychiatric evaluations medication monitoring case management and integrated substance use treatment.
• Maintain clinical fidelity to VIVAs unique session structure including allowances for familybased care and additional session flexibility.

3. Administrative & Operational Management

• Oversee recruitment onboarding scheduling and supervision of clinicians peer support partners and administrative staff.
• Track and optimize staff performance in accordance with contract deliverables and internal productivity targets.
• Lead internal communication staff meetings supervision documentation and adherence to workflow protocols.
• Ensure accurate timely entry of service notes billing data and client tracking in the EHR system.

4. Community Engagement & Referral Pathways

• Serve as the primary liaison with school partners community organizations and referral sources in Vista Oceanside and surrounding North County areas.
• Conduct outreach to ensure a consistent referral pipeline aligned with the programs goal of reaching lowincome youth with unmet mental health needs.
• Represent Lifeline and VIVA Counseling in interagency collaboratives public events and behavioral health networks.
• Promote program accessibility family engagement and coordination with schools and other systems of care.

5. Compliance Quality Assurance & Reporting

• Maintain program fidelity with all legal ethical and contractual obligations including MediCal documentation chart audits and informed consent processes.
• Lead internal quality assurance efforts including peer review file audits and satisfaction surveys to ensure service delivery excellence.
• Track clinical outcomes and ensure timely submission of funder and internal performance reports.
• Collaborate with Lifelines QA and Compliance departments to support successful audits corrective actions and ongoing readiness.

Qualifications

Education & Licensure

• Required: Masters degree in Social Work Counseling Psychology or a related field.
• Required: Active California licensure as LMFT LCSW or LPCC.
• Minimum 2 years of postlicensure experience preferred.

Leadership & Clinical Experience

• 35 years of progressive experience delivering or supervising youthfocused outpatient mental health services.
• Strong clinical foundation in treating depression anxiety trauma and cooccurring substance use among youth and families.
• Demonstrated success in staff management productivity oversight and clinical documentation.
• Familiarity with MediCal billing HIPAA compliance and behavioral health regulatory frameworks.

Administrative & Performance Oversight

• Proven ability to monitor and improve team productivity contract metrics and program KPIs.
• Skilled in managing EHR systems reports and client data dashboards.
• Strong communication skillswritten verbal and interpersonalwith ability to present clearly to staff leadership and community partners.

Values Alignment

• Deep commitment to equitable mental health access youth voice and familycentered care.
• Culturally responsive traumainformed and grounded in community partnership.
• Belief in accountability through outcomes not just intent.

Personal Attributes

• MissionDriven Leader: Energized by advancing mental health equity and youth empowerment.
• Performance Manager: Able to track analyze and elevate program KPIs and staff outcomes.
• Ethical Clinician: Grounded in integrity evidencebased practice and respect for youth and family agency.
• Bridge Builder: Skilled in cultivating collaborative school and community partnerships.
• Clear Communicator: Brings clarity and cohesion across clinical administrative and communityfacing domains.
• Grounded Strategist: Balances daily operations with longterm vision adapting with resilience and clarity.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Hybrid schedule: Minimum of 3 days onsite and 2 days remote weekly with flexibility based on organizational needs.
• Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods lift up to 25 pounds and travel within San Diego County using a personal vehicle (mileage reimbursed).

Why Join Lifeline

Comprehensive Benefits

• Competitive compensation with a robust benefits package including medical dental and vision coverage.
• Paid family and reproductive loss bereavement leave for qualifying events.
• Generous paid time off including two floating holidays for annual use and hybrid work flexibility to support worklife balance.

Professional Growth Opportunities

• Access to training leadership development and opportunities for career advancement in a collaborative missiondriven environment.

Special Conditions

• Employment contingent on successful completion of a background check DMV record check TB test and drug screening.
• Flexibility to occasionally work evenings or weekends to support events or organizational priorities.

Accommodations and Accessibility Statement

Lifeline Community Services is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals including those with disabilities. In compliance with all applicable laws Lifeline will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship for the organization. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please contact as soon as possible.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

North County Lifeline DBA Lifeline Community Services (Lifeline) is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated and discrimination is not tolerated. We adhere to all federal state and local laws concerning employment discrimination and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including pregnancy gender identity and sexual orientation) national origin age disability genetic information marital status amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal state and local laws.

PreEmployment Screening Notice

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our clients and maintaining the integrity of our workplace North County Lifeline conducts comprehensive background and drug screening processes for all prospective employees. This includes:

• Driving record verification
• Employment history and reference checks
• TB screening
• 10panel nonDOT drug screening
• DOJ/FBI/Child Abuse Index background checks

These screenings are conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and reflect our dedication to building a safe missionaligned work environment.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our clients and maintaining the integrity of our workplace North County Lifeline conducts comprehensive background and drug screening processes for all prospective employees. This includes but is not limited to:

• Driving Record Check: Verification through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to ensure a good standing driving record.


• Employment Verification: Confirmation of your employment history to verify your experiences and qualifications.


• Reference Checks: Contacting provided references to gain insights into your work ethic professionalism and suitability for the role.


• Tuberculosis (TB) Screening: A TB test to ensure the health and safety of our clients and staff in line with public health recommendations.


• Drug Screening: A 10panel nonDOT drug test to screen for the presence of common illicit substances ensuring a drugfree workplace.


• Criminal Background Checks: Comprehensive checks through the Department of Justice (DOJ) FBI and Child Abuse Index to identify any history that may impact your suitability for employment particularly in roles involving vulnerable populations.

These screenings are a vital part of our hiring process and must be successfully completed for employment eligibility. North County Lifeline is dedicated to fair and responsible hiring practices and ensures that all screenings are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations respecting the privacy and rights of all candidates. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this process aimed at creating a safe and productive work environment for everyone.

Required Experience:

Manager