Sanford Careers

Job Summary

The Clinical Manager for the JOHN First Responders and Veterans program serves as the primary clinical leader and manager for clinical programming across all levels of care. This role provides clinical oversight, staff supervision, and operational leadership to ensure high-quality, evidence-based treatment for veterans, first responders, and individuals experiencing trauma-related and co-occurring behavioral health disorders. 

Clinical Manager is responsible for managing clinical staff, overseeing clinical operations, and collaborating with interdisciplinary partners to promote patient safety, program effectiveness, and continuity of care. This role requires advanced clinical expertise in eating disorders, strong leadership and decision-making skills, and a deep understanding of multidisciplinary treatment models. 

Clinical & Program Leadership 

• Provide leadership and oversight of day-to-day clinical operations across the continuum of care. 
• Ensure adherence to clinical guidelines, patient safety standards, ethical practice, and evidence-based treatment models. 
• Provide oversight of individualized treatment planning and ensure clinical interventions align with best practices in trauma care. 
• Serve as the primary clinical escalation point for complex cases, safety concerns, and clinical decision-making. 
• Support appropriate transitions between levels of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. 

Staff Management & Supervision 

• Directly supervise and manage clinical staff, including therapists and other assigned clinical team members.  
• Conduct regular individual supervision, provide clinical guidance, and support professional development of staff. 
• Review and approve employee timecards, PTO requests, schedules, and attendance records while ensuring appropriate staffing coverage and compliance with organizational policies. 
• Monitor staff productivity, documentation timeliness, attendance, and overall performance expectations. 
• Complete performance evaluations, establish annual goals, and address performance concerns in collaboration with Human Resources. 
• Participate in recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, and retention of clinical staff. 
• Assign primary therapists for new admissions and adjust caseload distribution as needed. 
• Observe clinical groups and individual sessions to support quality assurance, coaching, and skill development. 

Interdisciplinary Collaboration 

• Lead interdisciplinary collaboration with psychiatry, nursing, dietetics, admissions, resident support staff, and other stakeholders. 
• Serve as a liaison between the program and internal leadership, ensuring clear communication and alignment. 
• Coordinate with external providers, including outpatient clinicians and medical providers, to support continuity of care. 
• Facilitate family education and involvement as clinically appropriate. 

Program Development, Quality & Compliance 

• Oversee implementation and ongoing refinement of trauma-specific curricula, protocols, and programming across levels of care. 
• Monitor clinical outcomes and participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance care delivery and program effectiveness. 
• Ensure compliance with documentation standards, HIPAA, insurance requirements, and CARF or other accrediting body standards. 
• Update and maintain related policies and procedures in collaboration with clinical leadership. 

Administrative & Professional Responsibilities 

• Ensure timely and accurate completion of all clinical documentation. 
• Promote a positive, supportive, and accountable work environment aligned with Sanford Behavioral Health’s mission and values. 
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development activities. 
• Maintain active licensure and required continuing education. 

Qualifications and Education Requirements 

• Minimum of a Master’s Degree in counseling, social work, or other related degree.  
• Minimum of five (5) years of direct patient care experience working in a residential treatment setting, preferred.  
• 2+ years of prior supervisorial responsibilities preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience providing clinical services to veterans, first responders, and individuals with trauma-related disorders and substance use disorders required. 

 Knowledge/skills/abilities 

• Comprehensive knowledge of PTSD & substance use and their diagnostic criteria as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).  
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience regarding the clinical treatment of first responders and veterans.  
• Leader in interdisciplinary collaboration with professionals such as psychiatrist, social workers, dieticians, and other support staff 
• Proficient in the delivery of patient centered care that encompasses empathy, advocacy, and clear and supportive communication with patients and families 
• Effective leader amidst psychiatric and medical crises, including suicide risk assessment and management 
• Coordinates transition to higher level of care that is safe, cost effective, and prioritizes patient treatment needs 
• Familiarity of nutritional rehabilitation and meal planning and titration processes 
• Understanding of local and national regulations for residential treatment programs 
• Familiarity and implementation of CARF accrediting body standards 
• Acknowledgement and awareness of trauma’s impact on the patient and their care, and application of trauma informed care principles (Safety, Trust, Peer Support, Mutuality, Empowerment, Cultural/Gender issues) 
• Provides a culture of mutual respect, open communication, and reciprocity as it relates to team engagement and staff development 
• Demonstrates self-awareness through reflection of personal strengths, weaknesses, feedback utilization, and continuous learning 
• Strong organizational, time management, and multi tasking skills.
• Decisive and creative problem solver with adept analytical skills 
• Enthusiastic self-starter who takes initiative and is proactive in anticipating obstacles before they arise to best mitigate risk and negative outcomes 
• Easily adapts to high stress situations 
• Promotes inclusivity among the team through empathy, mutual respect, and cultural awareness. 
• Strong oral and written communication skills who easily and respectfully relates to diverse cultural, gender, and ethnic populations
• Demonstrates professional behavior reflective of Sanford’s Mission Statement, Philosophy, and Values. 

 Physical Requirements 

• Periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. (5+ hours) 
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking may be required (1-3 hours). 
• Must be able to lift 35 lbs. 
• Must be able to adapt to the physical demands of lifting clients, bending, stooping, and stretching with or without assistance. 
• Must be able to perform repetitive tasks such as typing for extended periods of time. 
• Must be able to clearly express and exchange ideas by means of spoken word to impart oral information to employees or others accurately or quickly, engaging in sometimes lengthy conversations or presentations. 
• Must be able to ascend and descend stairs daily.   
• Must be able to seize, hold, grasp, turn or otherwise work with your hand or hands. 
• Must be able to perceive sound by ear to interpret oral information from employees or others accurately or quickly. 

ADA Disclaimer 

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position adequately.  If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. All requests must be made to the Human Resource Department in writing.