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 in-person, 2 days remote

Position Type: Full-time

Classification: Salaried, Exempt

Compensation: $80,000 to $95,000

About Lifeline Community Services

Lifeline Community Services is a premier nonprofit organization in San Diego County, dedicated to empowering individuals and families to achieve self-reliance and long-term stability. Our diverse service portfolio spans housing, behavioral health, youth development, and anti-human 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 Lifeline's 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 Medi-Cal, or are uninsured or under-insured. The program provides brief, high-impact 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 clinic-based settings.

As the program's lead, the Manager ensures VIVA's clinical quality, regulatory compliance, referral flow, and team performance-all 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, client-centered 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. It's 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 results-driven oversight of VIVA Counseling operations, ensuring clinical excellence and adherence to all Medi-Cal, HIPAA, and County behavioral health standards.
• Ensure program outcomes align with Lifeline's broader mission, emphasizing performance accountability, team productivity, and client engagement.
• Monitor and manage program KPIs, including staff caseloads, session utilization (14-session model), documentation timeliness, and client outcomes.
• Align program goals with VIVA's commitment to delivering wraparound services that address depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideation, substance use, and co-occurring conditions.

2. Clinical Supervision & Service Integration

• Provide ongoing supervision and mentorship to BBS-registered associates and licensed clinicians delivering individual, family, and group therapy, rehabilitation, and psychiatric coordination.
• Ensure clinical staff utilize culturally affirming, trauma-informed 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 VIVA's unique session structure, including allowances for family-based 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 program's goal of reaching low-income 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 Medi-Cal 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 Lifeline's QA and Compliance departments to support successful audits, corrective actions, and ongoing readiness.

Qualifications

Education & Licensure

• Required: Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field.
• Required: Active California licensure as LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC.
• Minimum 2 years of post-licensure experience preferred.

Leadership & Clinical Experience

• 3-5 years of progressive experience delivering or supervising youth-focused outpatient mental health services.
• Strong clinical foundation in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and co-occurring substance use among youth and families.
• Demonstrated success in staff management, productivity oversight, and clinical documentation.
• Familiarity with Medi-Cal 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 skills-written, verbal, and interpersonal-with ability to present clearly to staff, leadership, and community partners.

Values Alignment

• Deep commitment to equitable mental health access, youth voice, and family-centered care.
• Culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and grounded in community partnership.
• Belief in accountability through outcomes, not just intent.

Personal Attributes

• Mission-Driven 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, evidence-based 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 community-facing domains.
• Grounded Strategist: Balances daily operations with long-term vision, adapting with resilience and clarity.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Hybrid schedule: Minimum of 3 days on-site 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 work-life balance.

Professional Growth Opportunities

• Access to training, leadership development, and opportunities for career advancement in a collaborative, mission-driven 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 humanresources@nclifeline.org 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.

Pre-Employment Screening Notice

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being 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
• 10-panel non-DOT 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, mission-aligned work environment.