DSHS Lake Burien Clinical Director

Clinical Director – Lake Burien Transitional Care Facility

Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)

Lake Burien Transitional Care Facility has grown into a therapeutic setting where youth with developmental disabilities and complex needs receive coordinated, evidence-based care. As Clinical Director, you will strengthen clinical services through thoughtful leadership and collaboration across disciplines, helping ensure consistency and teamwork across the campus.

You will guide clinical services at Lake Burien Transitional Care Facility, a therapeutic setting for youth age 13 and older with co-occurring developmental disabilities and complex support needs. Designed with young people in mind, the residential environment includes accessible learning spaces, therapy rooms, and outdoor areas that support comfort, safety, and growth. As part of the executive leadership team, you will help shape a supportive, stable, and healing environment for youth and staff.

You will oversee the clinical department and work closely with medical, nursing, and milieu teams to provide high-quality evaluations, tailored treatment plans, and consistent care. You will collaborate with the campus psychiatrist and Psychiatric ARNPs to support coordinated care and timely consultation. Your leadership will help the facility meet federal and state requirements, uphold ethical standards, and strengthen services across the campus. You will also guide clinicians through coaching, supervision, and clear expectations, while supporting parent communication and overseeing positive behavior support plans.

As a King County employee, you will receive a 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary, plus eligibility for a free ORCA card. Full-time on-site presence is essential to providing timely consultation, clinical guidance, and support across the campus. Work performed onsite may qualify for an additional 5% premium pay.

Some of what you will do

• Lead clinical operations for the facility, ensuring youth receive best-practice evaluations, treatment plans, and therapeutic services.
• Supervise and support psychology staff at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, including coaching, performance feedback, and development of practice standards.
• Guide program development by creating and updating clinical procedures, treatment approaches, and improvement initiatives.
• Review service data to identify trends, refine interventions, and support continuous quality improvement.
• Collaborate with medical and nursing teams to align treatment plans, coordinate care, and ensure timely updates to youth plans.
• Participate in case reviews for youth with urgent or complex needs and help reduce the use of seclusion and restraint through supportive strategies.
• Provide direct therapeutic services as needed, including carrying a small caseload and offering clinical coverage.
• Support regulatory compliance by contributing to audits, quality reviews, and required documentation for federal and state licensing bodies.

Required qualifications

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD, PhD, EdD, DClinPsy, DClinPsych, or ClinPsyD).
• Ability to obtain a Washington license as a psychologist at time of interview.
• Advanced experience providing best-practice or evidence-based treatment to youth, families, or adults in a residential or inpatient setting.
• Intermediate experience leading or supervising clinical staff.
• Knowledge of federal and state licensing requirements and ethical standards for clinical practice.
• Skills in effective de-escalation, problem-solving, documentation, communication, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to use MS Office tools and clinical record systems.

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DSHS partners with people to access support, care, and resources. This role is classified as Medical-Washington Management Services 3 (WMS3). Interested, please click apply and upload current CV/resume. 

Questions? Please contact the Recruiter, Jenny, at bastrjl@dshs.wa.gov or 360-725-5810 and reference #07765. Learn more about DSHS.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here(Download PDF reader). Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position. 

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