Vice President, Head of Clinical Services

The Vice President, Head of Clinical Services provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for Autism Services, shaping and executing the clinical vision and operational strategy across the enterprise. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care while driving innovation, regulatory compliance, and workforce development. This role collaborates closely with the Chief Clinical Officer, VP, Head of Clinical Operations, and VP, Head of Provider Networks to align clinical excellence with operational efficiency and network expansion. Through cross-functional leadership, this role fosters a culture of service excellence, accountability, and sustainable growth in alignment with ESSC’s mission and long-term strategic goals.

Compensation ranges from $195,000 - $254,000 annually

• Advises Chief Clinical Officer and executive leadership team on all matters related to Autism Services.
• Leads the development and execution of long-range clinical and operational strategies that advance ESSC’s mission and market position.
• Leads enterprise-wide initiatives to optimize network performance, access, and service delivery across cross-functional departments (Finance, IT, PS, etc.) in diverse geographic regions.
• Represents Autism Services in enterprise-wide initiatives, board-level discussions, and external partnerships.
• Oversee clinical programs within Autism Services, ensuring fidelity to evidence-based practices and ESSC standards.
• Leads the development and implementation of quality assurance frameworks, clinical audits, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Monitor industry trends and emerging best practices to inform strategic enhancements and drive continuous improvement in program services.
• Works in tandem with the Vice President, Head of Clinical Operations to align clinical strategy with operational workflows, performance goals, scalability and efficiency.
• Works in tandem with the VP, Head of Provider Networks to expand access to care, build strategic community relationships, and co-lead initiatives that enhance the reach and impact of Autism Services.
• Develops and manages multi-million dollar budgets, driving financial sustainability through strategic contract rate negotiations, cost containment, and revenue optimization.
• Oversees the financial health of Autism Services, by ensuring budgets are strategically developed, closely monitored, and effectively managed. Services should be maximizing revenue streams, controlling costs, and optimizing resource allocation to support long-term financial stability and mission-driven outcomes.
• Establishes and monitors enterprise-level KPIs, clinical benchmarks, and performance dashboards to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identifies and cultivates strategic partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and technology providers to advance clinical innovation and service delivery.
• Leverages health technology platforms and data analytics to enhance clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and participant, associate, and customer engagement.
• Partners with leadership team to define and implement long-term strategic plans, growth initiatives, and service innovations.
• Monitors and evaluate program effectiveness, patient outcomes, and service quality.
• Ensures adherence to legal and ethical standards. This includes industry regulations, ESSC’s policies, and ethical conduct within the workplace. Fosters a culture of Compliance, Ethics, and Integrity within the organization.
• Leads a team of approximately 10 direct reports and a broader clinical organization, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and innovation.
• Collaborates with People Services for recruitment, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration and accountability, empowering teams to achieve excellence through inclusive and inspirational leadership.
• Serves as a liaison to families, payors, providers, associates, and community partners, ensuring a responsive and person-centered approach.
• Resolves high-level participant, staff, vendor, client grievances and service escalations with professionalism and empathy.
• Demonstrates agility in navigating change, adapting strategies and approaches to meet evolving organizational needs and priorities.
• Maintains composure and sound judgment in high-pressure environments, driving results while managing competing demands and complex challenges.
• Promotes a culture of service excellence and continuous feedback across all stakeholder groups.
• Partners with senior leadership to ensure strategic alignment and unified support of organizational priorities.

Education

• Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) preferred.
• Master’s Degree required.
• Licensed Clinician/Psychologist, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), Occupational Therapist (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and/or Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) required.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in clinical operations, healthcare administration, or behavioral health, with a strong track record in strategic planning, team development and service innovation, preferably within autism services.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and collaborate with senior executives across clinical, operational, and network domains.
• Experience with enterprise systems, data-driven decision-making, and multi-site service delivery preferred.
• Experience with payer relations, regulatory compliance, and enterprise-level financial management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Visionary leadership with the ability to translate strategy into operational execution.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders across clinical, operational, and provider network domains to drive unified strategic outcomes.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead change, foster innovation, and implement emergency clinical practices and technologies.
• Deep expertise in autism spectrum disorders, clinical best practices, and service delivery models.
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and engage diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in leveraging data analytics, performance dashboards, and enterprise systems to inform decision-making and improve outcomes.
• Strong business management skills including the ability to make sound and ethical business decisions.
• Experience managing teams and participants who have disabilities.
• Ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team to achieve organizational goals.