Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Services

About the role

The Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Services is a single-position executive management class responsible for the administration and coordination of departmental service, administrative, and performance improvement functions. This role reports directly to the Director of Behavioral Health Services, supervises senior staff, and acts for the Director in their absence.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the organization, management, and coordination of a comprehensive county-wide behavioral health service delivery system.
• Establishes and maintains goals, objectives, and plans for carrying out departmental functions consistent with County and Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System goals and community needs.
• Directs the development and maintenance of policies and procedures, ensuring adequate controls and reporting systems are established for effective administration and implementation of services.
• Administers the department in the absence of the Director of Behavioral Health Services.
• Ensures continuity of care across departmental operational units, including program development and system planning.
• Selects, supervises, and evaluates subordinate managerial, clinical, and technical staff; conducts performance reviews to ensure alignment with program and individual goals.
• Provides guidance to improve staff understanding of program and administrative policies and procedures.
• Develops and implements systems promoting an organizational culture of learning, quality improvement, and accountability.
• Assists in determining budgetary requirements, forecasting staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies, and monitors divisions to ensure objectives are met within the established budget.
• Researches, prepares, and interprets administrative, clinical, financial, and technical reports; prepares written responses as necessary.
• Serves as liaison with State and Federal agencies, County agencies, boards, and commissions.
• Establishes effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including clients, families, contracted community-based organizations, and other community partners.
• Maintains effective communication and working relationships in a diverse workforce and community.
• Assumes disaster service worker responsibility as assigned.
• Performs other related work as required.

Requirements

A qualified candidate typically possesses education and experience equivalent to:

• A Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Psychology, Social Work, Behavioral Health, Nursing, Public Administration, or a related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of broad and extensive management experience involving the planning, organization, management, and coordination of behavioral health, mental health, and/or substance use programs.

Knowledge

• Principles and practices of administration and management necessary to plan, organize, direct, manage, and evaluate administrative policies.
• Principles and practices of program development, management, and evaluation, including research methodologies and performance improvement approaches in behavioral health services.
• Current developments in behavioral health services, including emerging practices, best practices, and evidence-based practices.
• Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and policies governing behavioral health care delivery organizations.
• Federal and state audits and annual reviews for behavioral health care delivery organizations.
• Principles of governmental organization, administration, public financing, and budgeting.
• Principles and practices of personnel management, training, and supervision.
• Principles of community organization and consultation.

Skills

• Assists in planning, organizing, and coordinating comprehensive behavioral health services.
• Evaluates, develops, implements, interprets, and ensures compliance with objectives, goals, policies, and procedures to meet quality standards and satisfy applicable laws and regulations.
• Analyzes, organizes, and utilizes data for decision-making, system design, and program development, design, and evaluation.
• Selects, supervises, and evaluates professional, technical, and support staff to meet program and individual goals.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with staff, the behavioral health community, consumers, families, community groups, partners, and stakeholders.
• Communicates effectively orally and in writing with diverse audiences, including departmental staff, Health and Hospital System partners, County agencies, community partners, local and state officials, and the public.
• Negotiates and monitors working agreements and contracts.
• Assists in preparing, implementing, and tracking a comprehensive departmental budget and monitors expenditures.
• Represents the Director of Behavioral Health Services with the CEO, Board of Supervisors, County agencies, contract community-based organizations, and other community partners.