Job Title:

Director of Admissions Job Summary The Director of Admissions is responsible for leading and overseeing the facility's admissions function for individuals seeking residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The Director ensures that referrals are handled promptly and professionally; admissions are clinically and operationally appropriate; required information and documentation are obtained; payer and authorization requirements are addressed; and prospective clients, families, referral sources, and internal departments receive clear and timely communication. The Director works closely with the clinical, medical, nursing, utilization review, business office, discharge planning, and executive teams to support safe, compliant, efficient admissions and appropriate census management. The position requires substantial hands-on experience in residential SUD treatment and the ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesAdmissions Leadership Lead the day-to-day admissions operation, including referral intake, screening, pre-admission coordination, bed placement, admission scheduling, and handoff to the receiving clinical and operations teams. Establish and maintain standardized admissions workflows, response-time expectations, escalation procedures, and communication protocols. Supervise, coach, schedule, and evaluate admissions staff and ensure adequate coverage based on the facility's operational needs. Maintain a professional, responsive, trauma-informed, and patient-centered admissions experience. Referral & Intake Management Respond to inquiries and referrals from prospective clients, families, hospitals, detoxification programs, treatment providers, behavioral health professionals, care managers, and other referral sources. Gather and review referral information, including presenting concerns, substance use history, treatment history, medical and behavioral health information, medications, safety considerations, and other information necessary for admission review. Coordinate with clinical and medical personnel when additional assessment, clarification, or approval is required prior to admission. Maintain accurate records of referrals, admissions, declined referrals, pending referrals, and referral dispositions. Level-of-Care & Admission Coordination Coordinate admissions in accordance with the facility's licensed services, admission criteria, clinical protocols, and applicable New Jersey requirements. Support appropriate level-of-care determinations and ensure admissions are consistent with applicable ASAM placement criteria and facility capabilities. Identify situations in which a prospective client may require a different level of care, additional medical or psychiatric evaluation, or another disposition, and coordinate the appropriate referral or escalation. Coordinate timely admission handoffs and ensure receiving staff have the information necessary to safely assume care. Insurance, Authorization & Financial Coordination Coordinate with utilization review, billing, and business-office personnel regarding insurance eligibility, benefits, authorizations, concurrent review requirements, and other payer-related matters. Ensure required admission and payer documentation is complete, accurate, timely, and appropriately maintained. Monitor authorization and admission barriers and escalate issues that may delay or prevent an appropriate admission. Support compliant census and revenue-cycle practices without compromising clinical appropriateness or patient safety. Compliance, Documentation & Quality Maintain admissions processes consistent with applicable New Jersey Department of Health and Department of Human Services requirements, facility policies, and applicable federal requirements. Protect the confidentiality of prospective and admitted clients and follow applicable

HIPAA, 42 CFR

Part 2, and facility privacy and security requirements. Ensure admissions documentation is accurate, timely, legible, and maintained within the designated electronic or paper record system. Participate in audits, quality-improvement initiatives, incident reviews, corrective-action activities, and regulatory or payer reviews as requested. Identify process deficiencies and implement practical improvements to reduce delays, errors, unnecessary denials, and avoidable admission barriers. Referral Development & Relationship Management Develop and maintain professional relationships with hospitals, detoxification programs, outpatient providers, case managers, social workers, behavioral health professionals, payers, and other legitimate referral sources. Represent the facility professionally and accurately when communicating with referral sources and prospective clients. Collaborate with leadership and marketing/business-development personnel on lawful and compliant referral-development initiatives. Track referral trends and provide leadership with feedback regarding referral sources, admission barriers, payer trends, and opportunities for improvement. Reporting & Performance Management Monitor admissions performance, including referral volume, response times, conversion and admission rates, admission denials, referral dispositions, cancellations, payer mix, and other facility-defined metrics. Prepare or oversee daily, weekly, and monthly admissions reports and communicate material trends to leadership. Use admissions data to identify bottlenecks and improve admissions throughput, client experience, and census stability. Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned by the Administrator or designee. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Behavioral Health, or a related field. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered at the facility's discretion. Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in substance use disorder treatment , with substantial experience in a residential SUD setting. Demonstrated residential SUD admissions/intake experience is required. Candidates whose experience is limited to outpatient, hospital, or general healthcare admissions without meaningful residential SUD experience should not be considered. Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory, management, or team-lead experience in admissions, intake, utilization management, residential treatment operations, or a closely related SUD function. Working knowledge of residential SUD treatment operations, referral workflows, screening and admission processes, payer authorization requirements, and ASAM level-of-care concepts. Strong knowledge of documentation, confidentiality, and professional communication requirements applicable to behavioral health and SUD treatment. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple referrals and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and professionalism. Proficiency with electronic health records (EHRs), admissions/referral software, Salesforce , Microsoft Office or equivalent productivity tools, data/reporting systems and NJ SAMS. Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and interpersonal skills. Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain appropriate boundaries, protect confidential information, and remain calm and professional during workplace disruptions or high-acuity situations. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, or a related field. Experience directing admissions for an ASAM Level 3.5 and 3.7 residential program . Experience with New Jersey residential SUD programs and familiarity with New Jersey Department of Health/Department of Human Services regulatory expectations. Experience with Medicaid managed care, commercial insurance, utilization review, and prior-authorization processes.

Pay:

$75,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Education:

Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

substance use disorder treatment: 5 years (Preferred)

Location:

Newark, NJ 07114 (Required)

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Newark, NJ 07114