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How to hire a Clinical Director

Clinical director hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring clinical directors in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a clinical director is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new clinical director to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a clinical director, step by step

To hire a clinical director, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a clinical director, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step clinical director hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a clinical director job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical director
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Clinical Director do?

A clinical director is a managing professional who manages the work of healthcare providers to ensure quality patient care is achieved. Clinical directors are responsible for organizational tasks such as adjusting staff schedules, explaining insurance benefits to the patients, and managing financial reports. They can work either in small clinics with a smaller workforce or larger hospitals with multiple departments. Clinical directors may also assist in the hiring process of healthcare providers and should establish a positive work environment.

Learn more about the specifics of what a clinical director does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The clinical director hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A clinical director's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, clinical directors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of clinical directors.

    Type Of Clinical DirectorDescriptionHourly Rate
    Clinical DirectorMedical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians... Show More$30-69
    Director Of Health ServicesA Director Of Health Services is responsible for evaluating and supervising the overall activities for health maintenance and promotion of a health department. They are also responsible for budgeting, procurement, and requisition of biological supplies and equipment.$25-57
    Director Of Clinical OperationsA director of clinical operations is responsible for monitoring the overall operations of a clinic facility, ensuring the efficiency of staff performance in providing the best quality care services for the patients. Directors of clinical operations enforce safety guidelines and security procedures during operations for everyone's strict compliance to prevent hazards and unforeseen circumstances within the premises... Show More$40-95
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Patients
    • Patient Care
    • Physical Therapy
    • Social Work
    • Rehabilitation
    • Clinical Services
    • Clinical Operations
    • Quality Improvement
    • Autism
    • Group Therapy
    • Clinical Documentation
    • Mental Health
    • Quality Care
    • Substance Abuse
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Develop distinctive ambulatory strategies to achieve and sustain competitive healthcare advantage.
    • Manage and assist with data collection and input for MDS.
    • Manage quality of documentation through education and electronic review of clinical processes utilizing HCHB EMR.
    • Manage front office, marketing, and communication -demonstrated/supervise exercises for patients -Developed instructional packets for home exercise programs
    • Manage projects and ambulatory system initiatives, and collaborate with system leadership teams to ensure EMR alignment with all regulatory requirements.
    • Experience in GCP, FDA audits, and regulatory guidance review and implementation.
    More Clinical Director duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your clinical director job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A clinical director salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, clinical directors' average salary in oklahoma is 43% less than in rhode island.
    • Seniority. Entry-level clinical directors earn 57% less than senior-level clinical directors.
    • Certifications. A clinical director with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a clinical director's salary.

    Average clinical director salary

    $96,497yearly

    $46.39 hourly rate

    Entry-level clinical director salary
    $63,000 yearly salary
    Updated February 16, 2025

    Average clinical director salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1New York$110,134$53
    2District of Columbia$108,166$52
    3Maine$104,244$50
    4Ohio$102,585$49
    5California$101,057$49
    6Maryland$98,682$47
    7Pennsylvania$98,128$47
    8Wisconsin$91,136$44
    9Washington$89,012$43
    10Minnesota$88,457$43
    11Massachusetts$87,754$42
    12Texas$86,547$42
    13Arizona$85,356$41
    14Illinois$84,339$41
    15North Carolina$80,701$39
    16Florida$79,862$38
    17Alaska$79,052$38
    18Indiana$76,510$37
    19Oregon$76,274$37
    20Tennessee$74,488$36

    Average clinical director salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
    1Sutro Biopharma$163,411$78.56
    2Exelixis$160,121$76.9828
    3Huron Consulting Group$153,064$73.594
    4Emergent BioSolutions$151,378$72.78
    5Mayo Clinic$149,242$71.75117
    6Amgen$148,713$71.5028
    7Merck$144,905$69.67125
    8Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital$143,710$69.0937
    9AstraZeneca$139,672$67.1547
    10Bristol-Myers Squibb$139,297$66.9725
    11Gilead Sciences$139,204$66.9242
    12BronxCare Health System$137,984$66.348
    13Children's Hospital Los Angeles$137,237$65.9828
    14Presbyterian$133,205$64.0433
    15American Operations$131,839$63.38
    16Washington Regional Medical Center$131,825$63.3819
    17BD$130,511$62.755
    18Pace University$130,391$62.692
    19Family Tree$128,520$61.79
    20UPMC$127,947$61.5170
  4. Writing a Clinical Director Job Description

    A clinical director job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a clinical director job description:

    Clinical Director job description example

    Our Passion: We are improving the lives we touch. We need passionate, talented people working together who share our desire to provide the best quality care to our patients and lead the fight against the opioid epidemic. We are prepared to treat the entire disease, not just a piece of it. Our Team: Cartersville Comprehensive Treatment Center, located in Cartersvillle, Georgia, is part of Acadia Healthcare's Comprehensive Treatment Centers, the leading provider of medication-assisted treatment in the nation. Our operation team provides daily oversight and management of an outpatient facility for patients seeking recovery from Opioid Use Disorder. Our mission is to provide full-circle care that includes a blend of therapies and the use of safe and effective medications. Our team is the front line of our fight against the opiate epidemic. Our Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance Acadia Healthcare 401(k) plan Eligible for 2022 Clinic Director Bonus Plan Paid vacation and sick time Opportunity for growth that is second to none in the industry Your Job as a Clinic Director: The Clinic Director has day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of their clinic. They develop, implement and achieve the clinic's strategic business plan in conjunction with routine operations. The clinic director is responsible for maintaining the quality of services our patients need to successfully treat their opioid use disorder. The clinic director is responsible for staff development, maintenance of licensure and accreditation, financial performance, profit and loss management, forecasting, business development and continuous performance improvement. We have daily shifts that allow our employees to have stable schedules and enjoy quality time away from the facility. Shift hours are early mornings from 5:00a - 1:30p, allowing you to enjoy a great work/life balance. Your Responsibilities as a Clinic Director: In conjunction with regional leadership, develops an annual operating budget and strategic business plan for the clinic. Manages clinic services and resources to meet operational and financial objectives. Exercises final authority over clinic daily operations and will work with the Medical Director on clinical/medical related issues; Serves as community outreach liaison attending community events to educate and establish contacts within the community to become a needed resource; Responsible for the development and implementation of all clinic policies and procedures including public affairs and community relations. Responsible for the delivery of treatment services and submitting protocols, protocol amendments, and reports to the State and or Federal Departments as required and in full agreement with corporate and regional leadership; Accountable for managing people, setting direction and deploying resources; typically is responsible for performance evaluations, pay reviews and hire/fire decisions; Responsible for providing training and development opportunities for clinic staff. Responsible for maintaining compliance with all Federal and State Laws and Regulations, including the submission of corrective action plans to said agencies i.e. FDA, DEA and State ADP; Responsible for the security of medications, medical records, employee records and any other documentation deemed necessary by corporate leadership, the FDA, DEA and /or State ADP; Responsible for ensuring that the clinic protects the rights and confidentiality of all patients and to provide each with the required medical and clinical care; Responsible for the notification to all persons receiving services of their obligations to safeguard take-home medications; and, Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications Your Skills And Qualifications As A Clinic Director

    Bachelor's degree in social, behavioral, or mental health services field from an accredited college or university.
    Experience with overseeing services in an outpatient environment; preferably in medication-assisted treatment, mental health or addiction
    Profit and Loss (P&L) management experience preferred, including oversight, management, and maintenance of the facility budget.
    Business Development experience highly preferred
    Experience working with multiple payer sources, including Medicare and Medicaid contracts
    Previous management experience preferred
    Excellent written and verbal communication skills
    Must demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in their role with the ability to be coached and solve problems in a dynamic business environment

    LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

    CADCII, MSW, LMSW


    AHCTC Not ready to apply? Connect with us for general consideration.
  5. Post your job

    To find clinical directors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any clinical directors they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level clinical directors with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your clinical director job on Zippia to find and recruit clinical director candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit clinical directors, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new clinical director

    Once you've found the clinical director candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a clinical director?

Recruiting clinical directors involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $96,497 per year for a clinical director, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for clinical directors in the US typically range between $30 and $69 an hour.

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