Clinical Director - School-Based Mental Health Services
North Carolina | Full-Time, $85,000-$95,000; Commensurate with Experience | Year-Round | Hybrid with Statewide Travel
About The Stepping Stones Group
The Stepping Stones Group partners with school districts across the country to deliver therapeutic and behavioral health services that transform the lives of children, families, and communities. In North Carolina, our school-based mental health program brings licensed clinicians directly into schools, where students can get support where they already are. We're looking for an experienced clinical leader to guide that program statewide.
Why You'll Love This Role
- Lead leaders, not just caseloads. You'll build and develop a team of Clinical Managers and Lead Clinical Managers who in turn supervise the clinicians in our schools, multiplying your impact across an entire state.
- Shape how the program runs. You'll own the statewide trainings, SOPs, and onboarding that define how our clinicians practice and document.
- Grow beyond clinical leadership. You'll present our clinical program to prospective and current district partners and work alongside our Growth, Quality Assurance, Recruiting, and HR teams, building business development and operations experience that's hard to get in a traditional clinical role.
- Be the clinical voice for North Carolina. You'll serve as the primary clinical point of contact with school districts, state agencies, and accrediting bodies.
- Year-round leadership career. This is a full-time, salaried, year-round position, not tied to the school calendar.
- Hybrid flexibility. Your week blends on-site school and district visits with virtual and phone-based work.
What You'll Do
As Clinical Director, you'll provide statewide clinical and operational leadership for all of our school-based mental health services in North Carolina, reporting to the Director of Client Services.
Clinical Leadership and Compliance
- Provide clinical supervision, consultation, and case guidance to Clinical Managers and Lead Clinical Managers, including final decision-making on high-risk cases such as suicide or self-harm risk, abuse or neglect reports, and safety planning
- Serve as the final point of escalation for complex cases and lead statewide crisis management, including required notifications and post-incident reviews
- Ensure all contracted school sites meet Medicaid, LEA, state health and human services, and accreditation requirements
- Partner with the Quality Assurance Director on audit strategy, Corrective Action Plans, and accreditation readiness (e.g., The Joint Commission)
- Assess clinical skill gaps across the team and target supervision and training to close them
Team Leadership and Development
- Hire, onboard, coach, and evaluate the Clinical Manager and Lead Clinical Manager team in partnership with HR
- Ensure new clinicians are fully supported through onboarding, documentation and EHR training, and their first 90 days
- Monitor turnover trends and partner with HR and Recruiting on retention strategies
- Oversee statewide staffing plans, caseload assignments, supervision coverage, and clinician productivity
- Review compensation, incentive plan performance, and bonus recommendations for your direct reports
District Partnerships and Growth
- Present our clinical program, outcomes, and service model to prospective and current school district partners
- Serve as the primary clinical relationship-holder for existing district contracts, working alongside the state Account Manager
- Provide outcomes data and program details for proposals, renewals, and district presentations
Training, Systems, and Reporting
- Develop and maintain statewide trainings, onboarding curricula, and clinical SOPs
- Lead the rollout of new systems and process changes, including EHR workflows
- Deliver statewide reporting on staffing, compliance, caseloads, and incentive tracking to leadership
- Translate leadership decisions into clear, actionable guidance for clinical teams
What You Bring
Required
- Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related behavioral health field
- Active independent clinical license in (e.g., LCSW, LPC, or licensed psychologist), including eligibility to bill Medicaid
- 5+ years of clinical experience with children and adolescents, including 3+ years in a clinical supervisory role in a behavioral health setting
- Experience leading and developing supervisors and driving program-level outcomes
- Working knowledge of Medicaid and school-based (LEA) billing and compliance requirements
- Comfort presenting to external partners and representing the organization professionally
- Reliable transportation and ability to travel regularly across schools and districts statewide
Preferred
- Prior experience as a Clinical Manager, Clinical Director, or similar multi-site clinical leader
- School-based mental health experience
- Experience with electronic health records
- Experience supporting accreditation or audit readiness
Work Environment
This role combines regular travel to school sites and district offices with virtual and telephonic work. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Ready to Lead?
If you're a licensed clinician ready to shape school-based mental health across North Carolina, apply today.
The Stepping Stones Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.