Director of Compliance and Quality

Ascend Healthcare is committed to providing fully integrated, quality psychiatric and behavioral health services in a compassionate, convenient, and affordable manner.  We work with external partners to provide services to patients across the country through integrated psychiatric medication management, substance use disorder treatment, counseling services, peer support and care coordination for seamless patient care. We believe in a “no wrong door” treatment model which finds ways to say “yes” to any patient referral rather than a multitude of exclusionary criteria found elsewhere. This approach reflects our values of improved patient and clinician experience, better outcomes, and lower costs.

The Ascend Story 

Founded to transform mental health care access, Ascend Healthcare delivers integrated psychiatric and behavioral health solutions with a commitment to equity, compassion, and operational excellence. We partner directly with health centers to build fully integrated, sustainable behavioral health programs—bringing deep clinical expertise, operational support, and long-term stability. 

Our work environment fosters: 

• Collaboration and teamwork 
• Patient-First Mindset 
• Work from home opportunities 
• Career Growth and Professional Development Training 

Why Ascend? 

You’ll be joining a team delivering innovative, compassionate care to communities that need it most. At Ascend, your work drives real impact—and your career grows alongside it. We believe in a “no wrong door” treatment model that finds ways to say “yes” to any patient referral rather than a multitude of exclusionary criteria found elsewhere. 

Position Summary

The Director of Compliance, in coordination with, and at the direction of the President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Development Officer, and/or Director of Human Resources, is responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing regulatory compliance, risk management programs, and assisting or overseeing quality improvement initiatives. This role ensures that the organization maintains alignment with HRSA, CMS, Joint Commission, and other federal and state regulatory standards applicable to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

The Director promotes a culture of patient safety and continuous improvement and ensures compliance with clinical, operational, and organizational standards.  The Director will also lead or assist with the development of evidence-based quality initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure Ascend’s compliance with all HRSA program requirements in coordination with the FQHC’s, while partnering with all operational and clinical procedures, and compliance with partner grant conditions.
• Ensure Ascend’s compliance with State and Federal regulations and/or requirements.
• Oversee compliance readiness for audits, site visits, and accreditation reviews.
• Maintain a comprehensive compliance plan that prevents, detects, and corrects potential areas of noncompliance.
• Conduct regular compliance risk assessments and internal audits; provide corrective action recommendations.
• Serve as the organization's Privacy Officer and/or Compliance Officer, ensuring adherence to HIPAA standards.
• Manage the development and review of the Organization’s risk plan, risk assessment, and all policies and procedures.

Risk Management

• Develop and oversee risk management strategies that minimize organizational liability and enhance patient safety.
• Investigate compliance and incident reports, maintaining confidentiality and ensuring appropriate resolution.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop and implement staff training on quality, compliance, and ethics.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Present quality and compliance performance metrics to the Executive Team and Quality / Compliance Committees.
• Partner with clinical operations teams to sustain continuous improvement efforts.
• Leads the internal compliance and quality committee meetings.

Quality Improvement

• Monitor and report on the Organization’s Quality Improvement (QI) program in accordance with HRSA guidelines and UDS quality measures.
• Lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of clinical performance data
• Partner with clinical and operations leadership to identify improvement opportunities and facilitate root cause analyses.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards, tracking trends in patient outcomes, access, and satisfaction where available

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, Health Administration, Public Health, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in healthcare compliance and quality improvement.
• Demonstrated experience working within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or similar safety-net organization.
• Strong understanding of HRSA, CMS, HIPAA, FTCA, and PCMH standards.
• Proven analytical and data interpretation skills, with proficiency in quality metrics, UDS reporting, and healthcare performance tools.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, as well as critical thinking and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, or Public Health (MPH, MHA, MSN preferred).
• Certification in Healthcare Quality, Compliance, or Risk Management (e.g., CPHQ, CHC, CHCQM).
• Experience with Electronic Health Record (EHR) optimization for quality reporting.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm Flexible timezone. 

Compensation: $110,000-$120,000

Ascend Healthcare is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

Ascend Healthcare participates in conducting comprehensive background checks and drug screenings for all potential employees as a contingency to gaining employment status.