Behavioral Health Quality and Program Manager (PMHNP & PA-C)

Ascend Healthcare is committed to providing fully integrated, quality psychiatric and behavioral health services in a compassionate, convenient, and affordable manner. We work with external partners to provide services to patients across the country through integrated psychiatric medication management, substance use disorder treatment, counseling services, peer support and care coordination for seamless patient care. We believe in a “no wrong door” treatment model which finds ways to say “yes” to any patient referral rather than a multitude of exclusionary criteria found elsewhere. This approach reflects our values of improved patient and clinician experience, better outcomes, and lower costs. 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 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 • 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 Clinical Excellence and Education (CEED) Quality & Program Manager serves as the clinical department’s owner of data analysis, visualization, and performance reporting. This role synthesizes clinical, quality, patient-safety, and operational data across all Ascend service lines—including psychiatry, therapy, and case management—to identify trends, define priorities, and translate findings into actionable clinical initiatives and program improvements. In partnership with clinical, operational, and compliance leaders, the manager develops, implements, and evaluates sustainable solutions that strengthen quality, safety, consistency of care, and adherence to organizational standards. The CEED Quality & Program Manager oversees designated programs, including the student precepting program and supervisory programs for Advanced Practice Providers and Associate Therapists. The role establishes meaningful measures of program and clinical performance, analyzes results, and communicates actionable insights to guide departmental priorities, resource allocation, and continuous improvement. In partnership with the Clinical Education & Excellence Manager(s), the manager uses identified clinical practice gaps to shape onboarding additions, targeted education, and clinician support, advancing Ascend’s clinical quality objectives and evolving needs. The position is structured as 50% clinical (direct pt care) and 50% administrative time. Key Areas of Ownership Clinical Initiatives & Practice Improvement • Lead the implementation and evaluation of clinical initiatives, pilots, and practice improvements in collaboration with appropriate clinical and operational leaders. • Identify opportunities to improve clinical quality, patient safety, continuity of care, and adherence to organizational standards using clinical practice trends, peer review/second level peer review findings, regulatory changes, and organizational priorities. • Translate identified clinical needs and organizational priorities into actionable initiatives, implementation plans, and recommendations for practice improvement. • Partner with operational leadership, service-line leaders, Compliance, and CEED team members to support effective implementation, adoption, and sustainability of clinical initiatives. Data-Informed Continuous Improvement • Analyze objective and subjective trends across clinical reviews, competency evaluations, documentation, clinician support requests, onboarding outcomes, and patient-care and operational data to identify systemic gaps and improvement opportunities. • Use findings to prioritize interventions, inform clinical initiatives, and support service-line development and expansion. • Evaluate intervention outcomes and communicate key trends, risks, progress, and recommendations to the CEED Director to inform priorities and decision-making. Program Management • Own the development, management, and continuous improvement of Ascend’s student precepting program, including clinical and operational support for preceptors, coordination with academic partners, and program evaluation. • Develop the precepting program as a strategic workforce-development pathway to support future recruitment and organizational growth. • Monitor talent acquisition activity, clinician onboarding timelines, and new contract needs to anticipate BHMP (Behavioral Health Medical Provider/APP) supervising physician (SP) allocation requirements. Coordinate SP allocations, recruitment, and onboarding. • Coordinate all facets of Ascend’s clinical supervisor program for employed associate therapists, including tracking of supervisory hours, documentation, board compliance by state, and supervisor support. • Oversee program management for various business lines, including Collaborative Care Management (CoCM). Regulatory Alignment & Clinical Standards • Monitor regulatory requirements across current and prospective states of operation and assess their implications for clinical practice, patient safety, and organizational standards. • Partner with the CEED Director and Chief Compliance and Technology Officer to evaluate regulatory changes, develop implementation plans, and coordinate the integration of applicable requirements into clinical practice. • Collaborate with clinical and operational leadership to develop, review, and refine clinical documentation templates, policies, workflows, and related guidance to support regulatory compliance and consistency with organizational standards of care. Clinical Education & Clinician Support Partnership • Identify clinical practice gaps and emerging education needs through peer review findings, competency evaluations, clinical performance trends, CEED AI tool monitoring, support requests, and organizational priorities. • Partner with the Clinical Education & Excellence Manager(s) to prioritize clinician education and support needs and translate identified practice gaps and clinical initiatives into appropriate training, resources, and support. • Provide clinical subject-matter expertise to inform educational content and evaluate clinical practice trends to identify when additional education, targeted support, or broader practice improvement may be needed. Team Leadership • Provide clinical leadership, coaching, and direction to assigned direct reports. • Establish priorities, expectations, and accountability for assigned programs, clinical initiatives, and quality improvement activities. • Oversee progress and execution of assigned work to ensure alignment with CEED priorities and organizational objectives. Qualifications Licensure Requirements • Clinician must maintain an active, unrestricted license (PMHNP-BC or PA-C) appropriate to role requirements in both the state of primary residence and the state(s) in which the clinician provides direct patient care. • Clinician must be willing to obtain additional state licensure as requested by Ascend Healthcare. • Minimum of 2+ years practicing in the specialty of psychiatry required. • Demonstrated experience in clinical education and clinician development, quality and competency review, or clinical leadership and performance improvement. • Experience working in behavioral health, outpatient psychiatry, therapy, integrated care, or Community Health Center/FQHC environments preferred. • Demonstrated proficiency with data visualization platforms such as Power BI, clinical data analysis, Microsoft Office tools, electronic medical records, and virtual communication technologies. • Strong understanding of clinical quality, documentation and regulatory standards, and evidence-based practice within the assigned service line. • Ability to develop practical, clinician-facing tools that promote adoption and consistent care delivery. • Strong collaboration, coaching, organization, communication, and problem-solving skills. 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 Benefits: • 401(k) • 401(k) matching • Dental Insurance • Health insurance • Life insurance • Paid time off • Professional development assistance • Vision insurance Schedules: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (preference to AZ time) Job Type: Full-Time Base Compensation: $160,000-$175,000 + Eligible for yearly performance bonus. Ascend Healthcare is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. Ascend Healthcare participates in conducting comprehensive background checks and drug screenings for all potential employees as a contingency to gaining employment status.