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What is an administrative director, behavioral health services and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

As an administrative director, behavioral health services, you will be responsible for managing the day-to-day administrative operations of a facility. They formulate and implement policies and procedures, develop and maintain budgets, hire and train personnel, and ensure overall compliance with legislative requirements. Their ultimate objective is to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of all operations.

An administrative director, behavioral health services work in various settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, community centers, rehabilitation centers, non-profit organizations, and outpatient mental health clinics. To succeed in their role, they should have the relevant technical skills, leadership skills, administrative skills, organizational skills, decision-making skills, problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

An administrative director, behavioral health service, works 40 hours a week Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. Their work schedule largely depends on their organization's hours of operation, but they may be required to work in the late evenings. They are also expected to be on call after hours or during the weekend for emergencies.

ScoreAdministrative Director, Behavioral Health ServicesUS Average
Salary
7.0

Avg. Salary $90,125

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 7.75%

Black or African American 11.31%

Hispanic or Latino 14.83%

Unknown 4.28%

White 61.10%

Gender

female 60.94%

male 39.06%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Administrative director, behavioral health services career paths

Key steps to become an administrative director, behavioral health services

  1. Explore administrative director, behavioral health services education requirements

    Most common administrative director, behavioral health services degrees

    Master's

    40.2 %

    Bachelor's

    39.7 %

    Associate

    9.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific administrative director, behavioral health services skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients17.14%
    Social Work13.42%
    Patient Care11.42%
    Behavioral Health8.00%
    Clinical Supervision3.29%
  3. Complete relevant administrative director, behavioral health services training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New administrative directors, behavioral health services learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an administrative director, behavioral health services based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real administrative director, behavioral health services resumes.
  4. Research administrative director, behavioral health services duties and responsibilities

    • Utilize motivational interviewing tools with staff and patients for engagement to accomplish goals.
    • Initiate sentinel system allowing company to proactively manage reimbursement reductions impose by state Medicaid programs.
    • Well inform in MDS, PPS, and CMS rules and regulations.
    • Maintain program compliance with CMS, DOH and OMH regulatory standards.
  5. Get administrative director, behavioral health services experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become an administrative director, behavioral health services. The most common roles before becoming an administrative director, behavioral health services include staff nurse, nurse manager team lead and clinical director.
  6. Prepare your administrative director, behavioral health services resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your administrative director, behavioral health services resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an administrative director, behavioral health services resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable administrative director, behavioral health services resume templates

    Build a professional administrative director, behavioral health services resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your administrative director, behavioral health services resume.
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
    Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services Resume
  7. Apply for administrative director, behavioral health services jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an administrative director, behavioral health services job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first administrative director, behavioral health services job

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Average administrative director, behavioral health services salary

The average administrative director, behavioral health services salary in the United States is $90,125 per year or $43 per hour. Administrative director, behavioral health services salaries range between $59,000 and $135,000 per year.

Average administrative director, behavioral health services salary
$90,125 Yearly
$43.33 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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