Director of Psychiatric Clinical Operations (NP/PA)

The Ascend Story 

Founded to transform mental health care access, Ascend Healthcare delivers integrated psychiatric and behavioral health solutions with a commitment to equity, compassion, and operational excellence. We partner directly with community health centers to build fully integrated, sustainable behavioral health programs—bringing deep clinical expertise, operational support, and long-term stability. 

Our work environment fosters: 

• Collaboration and teamwork 
• Patient-First Mindset 
• Work from home opportunities 
• Career Growth and Professional Development Training 

Why Ascend? 

You’ll be joining a team delivering innovative, compassionate care to communities that need it most. At Ascend, your work drives real impact—and your career grows alongside it. We believe in a “no wrong door” treatment model that finds ways to say “yes” to any patient referral rather than a multitude of exclusionary criteria found elsewhere. 

Position Overview: 

The Director of Clinical Operations provides leadership and oversight of psychiatry and therapy service lines across assigned community health center(s) and partnerships. This role is accountable for operational execution, clinical program oversight, contract performance, and partner engagement while ensuring scalable systems that support organizational growth. As a clinical leader, the Director fosters high-quality care delivery across assigned site(s) and collaborates with the Clinical Education & Excellence Department, CMO, and CCO, to align training, standards, and program development. This role reports to the COO.  

Key Areas of Ownership:  

Clinical & Program Leadership 

• Provide direct leadership and oversight for psychiatry, therapy, and support (MA, BHT etc.) service lines at assigned CHCs. 
• Ensure evidence-based practices and clinical standards are consistently applied. 
• Collaborate with the Clinical Education & Excellence team (including CMO and CCO) to align training, quality improvement, and staff development initiatives. 
• Support clinical managers in handling escalations and building effective leadership capacity. 
• Provide direct patient care within licensure scope (~10-15 hrs per week, as determined by organizational needs). 

Operational Excellence 

• Monitor and drive productivity, slot utilization, and workflow efficiency across assigned CHCs. 
• Standardize processes and deploy best practices to ensure consistency and scalability. 
• Act as the EMR expert for assigned systems, ensuring proper training, utilization, reporting, and data integrity. 
• Establish accountability structures for managers and clinicians to achieve defined performance goals. 
• Report on operational outcomes, productivity metrics, and contract performance to senior leadership. 
• Support CHC compliance requirements, including provider credentialing, onboarding, and regulatory alignment. 

Integration & Strategic Growth 

• Facilitate partner meetings to align expectations, strengthen relationships, and drive contract success. 
• Identify opportunities for program expansion and growth within existing partnerships. 
• Partner with leaders across Ascend to ensure business continuity and support organizational growth. 
• In collaboration with the implementation team, lead the clinical and operational launch of new CHC partnerships as assigned. 
• Support budget planning and contract strategy development. 

Qualifications:  

• Board Certified and Independently Licensed as a:  
  • Physician Assistant (PA-C) or Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
• Must have 2+ years of Psychiatry/ Behavioral Health experience 
• Active, unrestricted clinical license in state of primary residence and state of medical services being provided- Arizona State required
• Must have demonstrated leadership experience overseeing clinical operations and staff management. 
• Experience in EMR systems, data-driven reporting, and workflow optimization. 
• Experience working with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) - preferred 

Physical Requirements: This is a fully remote position but may require in-person attendance as company needs arise. Please be aware the below physical requirements should be considered prior to applying to the position: 

• Prolonged Sitting: Ability to sit for extended periods during working hours. 
• Manual Dexterity: Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for using a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment. 
• Visual Requirements: Adequate vision for reading computer screens and documents. 
• Communication: Clear verbal and written communication skills for virtual meetings and correspondence. 
• Hearing: Sufficient hearing ability for participating in phone calls or virtual meetings. 
• Work Environment: Access to a quiet, dedicated workspace free from distractions with reliable internet connectivity.  

Perks 

• Competitive Salary 
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and LTD benefits 
• PTO + Company Holidays 
• Yearly CEU Stipend 
• Collaborative Environment 
• Remote-first setting 
• Clinician Founded and Operated 
• Incentive Bonus Program

Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm AZ time

Base Comp: $185,000-$195,000

Benefits: 

• 401(k) 
• 401(k) matching 
• Dental Insurance 
• Health insurance 
• Life insurance 
• Paid time off 
• Professional development assistance 
• Vision insurance