Area Director

Area Director

The Area Director (AD) is a field-based, case management role, accountable for safe, compliant, and high-quality service delivery across assigned programs (e.g., group homes/residential settings, host home, day programs where applicable). This position requires regular travel within the assigned markets to provide on-site leadership and ensure operational excellence. The Area Director owns responsibility for operational execution, staffing performance, client outcomes, plan/incident/authorization management, quality, compliance, and survey readiness in partnership with applicable departments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Comprehensive service delivery oversight: manage day-to-day operations across assigned programs/homes to ensure safe, compliant, person-centered care; intervene early to prevent escalation and service disruption. Monitor data sheets, progress toward goals, and changes in condition; identify regression/progression and recommend plan adjustments and clinical interventions as appropriate.
• Client care & plan execution: partner with appropriate stakeholders to ensure Individual Program Plans/Person-Directed Plans are implemented consistently by Residential Coordinators and DSP teams; ensure health and safety needs are addressed timely.
• Environmental and program assessments: conduct routine site visits (host homes/group homes/day services as applicable) to verify environmental conditions, life safety, and policy adherence; drive corrective actions.
• Onboarding, training, & development: recruit/interview/onboard new hires. Ensure they are properly trained, oriented, and equipped to meet company standards and provide quality care. Validate competency steps are completed, and staff are equipped to meet care and compliance expectations. Monitor and enforce timely completion of all required annual and ad-hoc company training to maintain regulatory and organizational compliance.
• Staffing & workforce management: recruit/interview/onboard, manage schedules/coverage, reduce overtime, and ensure timekeeping and payroll inputs are accurate and timely. Additionally, ensure all employees maintain required credentials for their job duties (e.g., valid driver's license, CPR certification, and other role-specific certifications).
• Cross departmental collaboration: collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive area census growth and retention by ensuring seamless client onboarding and effective case management, fostering alignment across departments to deliver exceptional client experiences and operational excellence.
• Care coordination: facilitate overall care coordination by collaborating with service coordinators, healthcare providers, behavioral health partners, and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure integrated, person-centered support. Monitor and ensure timely updates to personal inventory records in compliance with state regulatory requirements. Support temporary and permanent move processes for individuals (clinical planning, documentation, coordination with stakeholders) to ensure smooth transitions and continuity of services.
• Documentation compliance: ensure completion and quality of required documentation (e.g., shift notes, progress notes, MARs/med logs, vehicle logs, timesheets) in alignment with company standards and state requirements.
• Incident management: ensure incident reports are completed accurately and submitted timely; ensure mandatory reporting and abuse/neglect/exploitation (ANE) processes are followed and documented. Assist in conducting employee investigations in coordination with the regional HR team, gathering relevant information and ensuring adherence to company policies and legal requirements.
• Financial oversight: review/approve client trust fund requests and oversee client funds processes to ensure accuracy, policy adherence, and timely reconciliation; partner with finance/billing to resolve issues.
• Regulatory compliance and surveys: maintain survey/audit readiness; participate in surveys/inspections, respond promptly to deficiencies, and develop/implement plans of correction in collaboration with Quality Assurance.
• Authorizations/utilization: monitor authorizations and service utilization; identify over/under-utilization risk and coordinate timely adjustments applicable clinical, billing, and operations partners.
• Stakeholder communication: maintain effective communication with guardians/families, service coordinators, and healthcare providers as needed; ensure contacts and key updates are documented appropriately.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Healthcare Administration, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, or a related field required (per market requirements); Master's degree in a related field is preferred.
• Minimum 35 years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience required with demonstrated ability to manage staffing/scheduling, performance management, compliance, and stakeholder communication.
• Hands-on experience with person-centered planning, Individual Program Plans, or Person-Directed Plans is preferred.
• Experience supporting or participating in regulatory surveys, audits, or inspections
• Strong leadership and coaching skills with the ability to manage field-based teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Competency using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) or similar platforms