Clinical Director, Crisis and Grief Services

Clinical Director, Crisis and Grief Services

Location: Walnut Creek, CA — On-site, Full Time

Salary Range: $120,000 – $145,000 annually (commensurate with experience and licensure)

Licensing Requirement: Active, unrestricted California clinical license: LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or Psychologist (PhD/PsyD).

About the Contra Costa Crisis Center

The Contra Costa Crisis Center (CCCC) helps over 80,000 people each year through its 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 211 Information & Referral, Grief Services, and community outreach programs. For more than 60 years, we have provided compassionate, confidential, and culturally responsive support to people in crisis throughout Contra Costa County. We are dedicated to equity, trauma-informed practice, and ensuring that every person in distress is met with dignity, empathy, and expert care.

Summary

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Clinical Director, Crisis and Grief Services provides clinical leadership and oversight for the Contra Costa Crisis Center's suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and grief support programs. As a member of the Center's collaborative leadership team, the Clinical Director partners with the Executive Director, Director of Finance & Operations, Program Manager, and Call Center Manager to ensure that all services are clinically sound, trauma-informed, and aligned with American Association of Suicidology (AAS) standards. The role focuses on clinical supervision, staff training, quality assurance, and risk management—strengthening the organization's capacity to deliver consistent, high-quality care while supporting the wellbeing and professional growth of staff and volunteers.

Summary of Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted California clinical license (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or Psychologist).

• Minimum five (5) years post-licensure clinical experience, including two (2) years of supervision or program leadership.

• Demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed care and suicide prevention.

• Experience with AAS standards, accreditation, or clinical quality improvement.

• Proven ability to mentor, train, and support multidisciplinary teams.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Work under the direction of the Executive Director as part of the agency's collaborative leadership team.

• Provide leadership within the areas of clinical supervision, training, and quality improvement, ensuring consistency with AAS and BBS standards.

• Partner with the Executive Director, DFO, Program Manager, and Call Center Manager to coordinate operations, identify service needs, and support staff performance and wellbeing.

• Offer clinical perspective and consultation to the Executive Director in organizational planning, risk management, and program development.

• Maintain strong, positive working relationships with internal teams and external partners to promote integrated, trauma-informed crisis care.

• Support an organizational culture that values compassion, accountability, and staff resilience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical oversight for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 211-related crisis calls, and Grief Services programs.

• Partner with the 211 program team to ensure alignment of 211 warm transfer and crisis-related protocols, data collection, and staff training with clinical standards.

• Conduct real-time review and feedback on high-risk calls, texts, and chats; facilitate staff debriefings and follow-up coaching.

• Lead quality assurance processes, case consultations, and data-informed performance improvement initiatives.

• Review and interpret QA data, call metrics, and outcome reports in coordination with the Program Manager and Data & Partnerships staff to inform service quality and reporting deliverables.

• Design and manage the training curriculum for staff, volunteers, and interns—covering crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and postvention best practices.

• Ensure consistency in supervision, documentation, and client safety in accordance with AAS and BBS requirements.

• Oversee training for new hires and volunteers, maintaining updated manuals, evaluation rubrics, and continuing education standards.

• Collaborate with community partners—including Contra Costa Health, A3/Miles Hall, law enforcement, and VOAD—to ensure coordinated, equitable crisis response systems.

• Contribute clinical interpretation to outcome evaluation, grant reporting, and accreditation documentation.

• Promote staff wellness through structured check-ins, early identification of compassion fatigue, and access to peer support resources.

Qualifications (Required)

• Active, unrestricted California clinical license: LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or Psychologist (PhD/PsyD).

• Demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed care, including application of trauma-informed supervision, crisis intervention, and staff wellbeing practices.

• Minimum five (5) years of post-licensure clinical experience, including at least two (2) years in supervision or program leadership.

• Proven experience in suicide prevention, crisis intervention, or behavioral health program settings.

• Strong skills in clinical supervision, documentation, and quality assurance consistent with AAS and BBS standards.

• Experience developing and delivering training and continuing education for clinical staff, volunteers, and interns.

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and staff wellbeing in a trauma-informed organizational culture.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams and community systems of care.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in an AAS-accredited crisis or suicide prevention center.

• Familiarity with California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) supervision and documentation requirements.

• Experience designing or evaluating clinical quality improvement systems or accreditation processes.

• Completion of Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk (RRSR): Essential Skills for Clinicians or equivalent AAS-approved training.

• Background in grief services, postvention programming, or disaster mental health response.

AAS Certification & Training Requirements

• American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Crisis Specialist Certification required, or obtained within six (6) months of hire.

• Completion of AAS Crisis Specialist training and exam (minimum 80% passing score).

• Certification renewal required every three (3) years with AAS-approved continuing education.

Work Schedule & Expectations

Full-time, exempt, on-site position based in Walnut Creek. Regular weekday schedule with flexibility for evening or weekend hours as needed to support staff, trainings, and grief groups. On-site presence required to ensure real-time clinical supervision and operational coordination.

Compensation & Benefits

The expected hiring range for this position is typically $125,000–$135,000, depending on experience and qualifications. The full range for the role is $120,000–$145,000. CCCC typically hires near the midpoint of the range, with consideration for licensure level, supervisory experience, and alignment with AAS-accredited clinical standards.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Employer-sponsored 403(b) plan, paid holidays, and generous PTO.

• Professional development opportunities and a supportive, mission-driven workplace culture.

Our Values

Compassion | Integrity | Equity | Collaboration | Excellence

We believe that every person in crisis deserves to be met with dignity, empathy, and skilled support.