Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships

Weekly outpatient therapy isn't always enough, and a trip to the ER isn't the only answer. Patients and their families rely on Compass Health Center when in crisis – every day, we help people overcome depression, anxiety, suicidality, obsessions/compulsions, trauma, chronic pain, and other obstacles in order for our patients to live freely.

About This Role

Compass Health Center is a leading provider of Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), delivering immediate access to evidence-based mental health care for children, adolescents, young adults, and adults. With established operations in Illinois and expanding programs across Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, Compass bridges the critical gap between outpatient and inpatient care—diverting patients from emergency departments and inpatient hospitalization while achieving measurable clinical outcomes.

As Compass expands in the Mid-Atlantic, we are building a high-performing Strategic Partnerships engine —one that is accountable, market-specific, data-driven, and deeply centered on the patient and referrer experience. Viriginia represents a priority growth region with dense provider networks, complex payer environments, and increasing demand for both in-person and virtual levels of care.

The Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships – Virginia is a clinically informed, relationship-driven business development leader responsible for driving referral growth, building durable partnerships, and expanding Compass’s footprint across Northern Virginia.

This role blends clinical fluency, consultative sales, and regional market strategy . It is not a traditional community liaison role—it is a performance-based partnership sales position , accountable for referral volume, admissions growth, partner satisfaction, and long-term referral behavior across a complex, multi-jurisdictional healthcare market.

Location : Onsite/Hybrid - Virginia market

What You'll Do:

Business Development & Account Management (Northern Virginia Focus)

• Own and grow a portfolio of High-Value Target (HVT) accounts across Northern Virginia, including:

• Hospital systems and EDs
• Academic medical centers
• Large outpatient and group practices
• School districts and university counseling centers
• Employer and EAP partners

• Develop and execute territory-specific account plans informed by:

• Local admissions trends
• State-specific access and payer dynamics
• Referral friction points unique to Virginia

• Build trusted relationships with psychiatrists, therapists, case managers, discharge planners, school counselors, PCPs, and emergency department staff
• Translate relationships into measurable qualified referrals, admissions, and pipeline growth
• Partner closely with Admissions to ensure:

• Warm handoffs
• Clear admission criteria alignment
• Rapid resolution of referral and access barriers

Regional Market Intelligence Strategy

• Serve as the eyes and ears of the Virginia market , monitoring:

• Competitive dynamics across in-person and virtual providers
• State-specific regulatory and referral nuances
• Capacity gaps and unmet clinical needs

• Track referral behavior, volume, and feedback using HubSpot CRM and Sigmund Aura
• Identify trends and translate insights into strategic recommendations for:

• Program development
• Access improvements
• Market prioritization

• Provide regular market intelligence to senior leadership to inform regional growth strategy

Clinically Informed Messaging & Credibility

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of:

• Compass treatment models (PHP, IOP, TMS, specialty programming)
• Admission criteria and payer considerations
• Clinical outcomes and differentiators

• Confidently articulate Compass’s value proposition to:

• Hospital leadership
• Senior clinicians
• Administrative and operational decision makers

• Leverage clinical background to:

• Build credibility and trust
• Translate program offerings into real-world referral solutions
• Ensure alignment between referring providers and Compass clinical teams

Growth Campaigns & Strategic Initiatives

• Execute Virginia-specific growth campaigns tied to:

• New program launches
• Access expansion
• Payer alignment
• Seasonal surges (e.g., back-to-school, winter acuity increases)

• Partner with Marketing on:

• Co-branded outreach
• CE programs and partner webinars
• Digital and virtual engagement strategies

• Support regional initiatives such as:

• Concierge referral pathways
• Expedited admissions processes
• CompassForward discharge and step-down strategies

External Visibility & Community Presence

• Represent Compass across Virginia at:

• Professional associations
• Behavioral health coalitions
• Hospital and provider roundtables

• Facilitate connections between Compass clinical leaders and:

• Speaking engagements
• Panel discussions
• Educational sessions

• Manage a strategic calendar of in-person and virtual engagements aligned with pipeline and growth goals

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