Director of School-Based Services & Operations

Backpack Healthcare | Hybrid

About Backpack Healthcare

Backpack Healthcare is a clinician-led, Medicaid-first behavioral health organization dedicated to making high-quality mental health services accessible to children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Through innovative telehealth and community-based programming, we are committed to meeting individuals where they are and helping lighten the emotional load they carry.

We are seeking a strategic, highly organized, and results-driven Director of School-Based Services & Operations to lead the day-to-day operations and continued growth of our school-based behavioral health programs.

Position Overview

The Director of School-Based Services & Operations will oversee the end-to-end operations of Backpack Healthcare's school-based behavioral health programming. This individual will ensure school partnerships are appropriately staffed, programs operate efficiently, grant-funded initiatives meet all reporting and compliance obligations, and program outcomes are effectively measured and evaluated.

Reporting to the VP of Clinical Operations, this position will serve as the primary operational leader for all school-based service sites, working closely with internal leadership, school district partners, grant funders, and cross-functional teams to ensure program effectiveness, sustainability, and impact.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in behavioral health operations, school-based programming, grant management, workforce planning, and data-driven program evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

Program Operations & Strategic Oversight

• Oversee the daily operations of all school-based behavioral health programs, ensuring consistent service delivery and operational effectiveness across locations.

• Develop, implement, and monitor operational procedures, performance metrics, and KPIs related to staffing coverage, service utilization, and program deliverables.

• Manage school-based program budgets in partnership with Finance, ensuring resources are allocated effectively.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with school district partners, ensuring contractual obligations and operational needs are consistently met.

• Identify opportunities to improve program efficiency, service delivery, and long-term sustainability.

Staffing & Workforce Management

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and workforce planning for clinicians and support staff assigned to school-based programs.

• Monitor caseloads, staffing ratios, and coverage across school partnerships to maintain appropriate service capacity.

• Partner with Human Resources to proactively address staffing shortages, turnover, leaves of absence, and other workforce needs.

• Develop and maintain staffing models and projections aligned with school contracts, program needs, and grant requirements.

Grant Management, Reporting & Compliance

• Serve as the primary operational contact for grant funders, ensuring timely and accurate submission of programmatic and outcome reports.

• Track grant deliverables, milestones, reporting deadlines, and compliance requirements across active funding sources.

• Collaborate with Finance and Grants/Development teams on renewal applications, budget reporting, and funder audits.

• Establish and maintain documentation and reporting systems that support grant compliance, funder requirements, and program site visits.

• Ensure adherence to applicable HIPAA, FERPA, state regulatory requirements, and organizational policies.

Program Research, Evaluation & Outcomes

• Lead and coordinate research and evaluation efforts to assess the effectiveness and impact of school-based behavioral health services.

• Partner with clinical leadership to establish, monitor, and analyze program outcome measures.

• Translate program data into meaningful reports, presentations, and recommendations for leadership, funders, and school partners.

• Stay informed on current research, industry trends, and evidence-based practices in school-based behavioral health to support ongoing program development.

Team & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Provide direct leadership, guidance, and operational oversight to school-based program staff and coordinators.

• Collaborate with Clinical Operations, HR, Finance, Compliance, and other departments to ensure alignment with organizational goals and standards.

• Represent school-based services in executive leadership discussions, strategic planning, and organizational initiatives.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high-quality service delivery.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Health, or a related field preferred.

• Active clinical licensure (LCSW, LPC, LMHC, or equivalent) preferred.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in behavioral health program operations, with at least 3 years in school-based services or comparable community-based programming preferred.

• Demonstrated experience managing grant-funded programs, including funder reporting, deliverables, and compliance requirements.

• Experience overseeing staffing, workforce planning, and operational functions across multiple sites.

• Working knowledge of HIPAA, FERPA, and state regulations governing school-based behavioral health services.

• Familiarity with grant reporting platforms, outcome measurement tools, and workforce scheduling systems.

• Strong financial and budget management skills, including the ability to monitor program expenses and resource allocation.

• Ability to interpret program data, establish measurable outcomes, and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders.

• Excellent relationship management, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational execution in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Experience:

• Previous leadership experience within a school-based mental health program, grant-funded nonprofit organization, or multi-site behavioral health operation.

• Experience working directly with school districts, community partners, and external funding organizations.

Work Environment & Travel Requirements

This is a hybrid position requiring regular travel to school partner locations to provide operational oversight, support staffing needs, and maintain relationships with school district partners.

• Regular local travel to school-based program sites is expected.

• Occasional travel for funder meetings, site visits, conferences, or organizational initiatives may be required.

• Work will take place across office, school-based, and remote environments.

• Standard business hours are generally expected, with occasional flexibility to accommodate school schedules, program needs, and funder deadlines.

• Must be comfortable using standard office technology and communicating effectively through in-person meetings, video conferencing, phone, and written correspondence.

• Must be able to remain stationary for extended periods and perform standard computer-based responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Why Join Backpack Healthcare?

At Backpack Healthcare, we believe every child, adolescent, and family deserves access to meaningful, compassionate behavioral healthcare. Our work extends beyond the therapy room, and our school-based programs play an important role in bringing services directly into the communities where they are needed most.

As our Director of School-Based Services & Operations, you will have the opportunity to shape and strengthen programs that create measurable community impact, build meaningful school partnerships, and expand access to behavioral healthcare.

If you are a collaborative and strategic leader who is passionate about operational excellence and improving access to mental health services, we would love to hear from you.

Backpack Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that the strength of our care depends on the diversity and wellbeing of our team. We celebrate differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical and mental ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and other traits that make each person unique. We welcome and encourage diverse candidates to apply for any position for which they are qualified and to bring their unique perspectives, experiences, and talents to our team.