Director of Behavioral Health

Director of Behavioral Health – Fort Walton Beach, FL

Employment Type: Full-Time

Schedule: Days

Compensation: $110,000–$130,000/year (based on experience)

Sign-On Bonus: Not offered

Relocation Assistance: Case-by-case

Overview

A Behavioral Health Service Line in the Fort Walton Beach region is seeking an experienced Director to oversee a 48-bed inpatient Behavioral Health Unit with an average daily census of 38. This position provides strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for all behavioral health functions, ensuring safe, evidence-based, high-quality care. The Director will lead approximately 24 FTEs and collaborate closely with nursing leadership, physicians, and interdisciplinary partners to support performance excellence, patient experience, and service line growth.

This role is ideal for a seasoned Behavioral Health Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager seeking advancement to a director-level leadership position.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and clinical oversight for inpatient Behavioral Health operations, ensuring compliance with all regulatory, safety, and accreditation standards.

• Develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, and care standards aligned with evidence-based practices and organizational goals.

• Oversee patient throughput, admission/discharge coordination, and volume forecasting to ensure efficient unit flow and high-quality care delivery.

• Drive quality initiatives, performance improvement programs, and patient safety measures.

• Manage departmental hiring, onboarding, staff performance evaluations, coaching, and retention strategies.

• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and collaboration across clinical teams.

• Evaluate and manage department budgets, resource allocation, and productivity standards.

• Lead strategies that enhance patient satisfaction, patient engagement, and overall experience.

• Collaborate with executive leadership and physicians to enhance current behavioral health services and identify opportunities for new service lines.

• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and assignment of personnel with necessary clinical competencies.

• Maintain effective labor management, supply utilization, and cost-control processes.

Required

• 5 years of recent (within the last year) Behavioral Health leadership experience as a Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager in an acute inpatient setting.

• Bachelor’s Degree.

• Active RN license (Florida or multistate; compact holders must obtain Florida licensure per state timeline).

• BLS certification (within 30 days of hire).

• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention certification (within 90 days of hire).

• Fingerprinting and background requirements per regulatory standards.

Preferred

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams under pressure with compassion and professionalism.

• Experience overseeing inpatient behavioral health units of similar size or complexity.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on years of experience.

• Relocation assistance available case-by-case.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.

• 401(k) with employer match and employee stock purchase plan.

• Tuition assistance, student loan support, and continuing education resources.

• Paid family leave, PTO, disability coverage, and wellness programs.

• Additional benefits including pet insurance, legal/financial resources, and dependent support programs.

Ideal For

Behavioral Health leaders seeking a director-level role, professionals experienced in inpatient psychiatric services, and nurse leaders committed to quality, safety, and service-line development.

Keywords & Hashtags

Behavioral Health Director, Inpatient Psych Director, RN Behavioral Health Leadership, Mental Health Administration, Florida Behavioral Health Jobs

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