Neurodevelopmental Program Director at Nexus Health… · Dallas

Neurodevelopmental Program Director

Full Time · Location: Dallas, TX, US

• Implement the New Directions program’s goals, priorities, and model of care in alignment with hospital and Nexus Health Systems standards.

• Refine program structure, service offerings, treatment pathways, and standards to meet the needs of patients with neurodevelopmental conditions and co-occurring behavioral and medical needs.

• Translate evidence-based practices into consistent program processes, staff expectations, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with hospital leadership to assess program capacity, staffing needs, resources, and opportunities for service development.

• Develop, review, and maintain program policies and procedures in collaboration with the appropriate clinical and operational leaders, and in alignment with system governance.

• Represent the program in hospital leadership meetings and organizational initiatives, communicating progress, barriers, and improvement priorities.

• Establish processes that support coordinated treatment planning and communication among medical providers, nursing, behavioral therapy, rehabilitation, case management, and other involved disciplines.
• Promote an integrated approach to behavioral support, communication, daily living skills, medical care, and therapeutic engagement throughout the patient’s stay.
• Participate in interdisciplinary program reviews and complex case discussions to address barriers to treatment progress and discharge readiness.

• Partner with admissions and clinical leadership to ensure adherence to program admission criteria, evaluate service capabilities, and support appropriate patient placement.

• Work with case management and treatment teams to identify discharge barriers early and strengthen transitions to home, school, residential, or community settings.
• Provide program-level consultation within professional qualifications and scope, while preserving each discipline’s responsibility for clinical assessment and treatment decisions.

• Provide supervision, performance management, and leadership development for the Manager of Behavioral Therapy Services, Psychotherapists and other assigned personnel.
• Establish clear responsibilities and accountability across program leadership, including expectations for service delivery, communication, documentation, and follow-through.
• Hold the Behavioral Therapy Manager accountable for effective ABA operations, staff competency, clinical quality, and appropriate credential-specific supervision.
• Hold the Psychotherapy team accountable for effective treatment interventions and high-quality documentation.
• Collaborate with department leaders to develop program orientation and ongoing education related to neurodevelopmental care, therapeutic engagement, communication, de-escalation skills and behavioral support.
• Support recruitment, retention, succession planning, and staff engagement for assigned program positions.
• Build a collaborative environment that promotes professional accountability, ethical practice, and timely resolution of concerns.

• Ensure program practices support patient dignity, individual communication needs, developmental abilities, cultural preferences, and trauma-informed care.
• Establish consistent expectations for family involvement, caregiver education, and discharge preparation throughout the treatment process.
• Incorporate patient and caregiver feedback into program evaluation and improvement.
• Partner with clinical leaders to promote proactive therapeutic/behavioral supports and reduce preventable crises and the need for restrictive interventions.

• Monitor program performance measures, including treatment progress, patient and staff safety, caregiver participation, discharge readiness, and other agreed-upon outcomes.

• Review program data to identify trends, gaps in care, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead program improvement initiatives with defined goals, assigned responsibilities, and ongoing evaluation of results.
• Collaborate with Quality, Risk Management, nursing, medical staff, and behavioral therapy leadership on significant event reviews and corrective actions.
• Ensure program processes align with applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements, organizational policies, and professional standards.
• Present program performance and recommendations to hospital leadership.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of patient and organizational information.

• Partner with hospital leadership to develop and monitor program budgets, staffing plans, and resource priorities.
• Evaluate staffing and service needs in relation to patient acuity, census, treatment requirements, and program capacity.
• Identify opportunities to improve coordination, resource utilization, and operational efficiency while supporting quality care.
• Collaborate with Admissions and Business Development to accurately communicate program capabilities and support appropriate referrals.
• Evaluate proposed program expansions based on patient needs, clinical readiness, staffing capacity, and financial feasibility.

• Support and communicate the Mission, Vision, and Values of Nexus Health Systems.
• Maintain required credentials, education, and professional competencies.
• Stay current with developments in neurodevelopmental care, interdisciplinary treatment models, and program leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or a related behavioral health field from an accredited institution required.
• Doctoral degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or a related behavioral health field from an accredited institution preferred.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive clinical experience providing behavioral health, psychological, psychotherapy, or applied behavior analysis services as an LPC, LCSW, BCBA, or equivalent qualified professional, including a minimum of two (2) years of leadership experience overseeing clinical staff, program operations, quality outcomes, and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical program development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and staff supervision.
• Experience working with diverse populations and across multiple service settings.
• Experience working with pediatric, adolescent, or neurodevelopmental populations is preferred.

• Strong understanding of neurodevelopmental conditions and evidence-based approaches to behavioral, developmental, and interdisciplinary care.
• Ability to translate clinical priorities into program standards, operational plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to build effective partnerships with medical staff, clinical departments, hospital leadership, and families.
• Proficiency in program evaluation, data interpretation, clinical documentation systems, and performance reporting.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and guide program change.
• Knowledge of staffing, budgeting, and resource management in a clinical setting.

• Current Texas licensure is preferred or obtained within the first 6 months of employment.
• Maintain any professional license or certification required for assigned clinical activities.
• Current AHA BLS/CPR certification required.
• Complete and maintain facility-required behavioral management and de-escalation training.