Director of Behavioral Health

Position 60001262, Grade MH22 — Juvenile Justice Central Office, Raleigh (Wake County), NC. Anticipated vacancy available 1/1/2027.

About the Role

The Department of Public Safety safeguards and preserves the lives and property of the people of North Carolina through preparation, prevention, and protection with integrity and honor. The agency houses Emergency Management, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Samarcand Training Academy, and the North Carolina National Guard, employing over 3,000 staff and 12,000 National Guard members.

This Director of Behavioral Health position evaluates and provides general oversight of child/adolescent psychological and pro‑social development services delivered by the Juvenile Justice system, including Juvenile Crime Prevention Council‑funded Clinical Evaluation/Psychological Assessment Programs and Clinical Treatment Programs, contracted residential programs, Youth Development Centers, and Juvenile Detention Centers.

Responsibilities

• Consult with managers from other Division sections regarding program development, mental health screening and assessment, program evaluation, service planning and delivery, and related matters to ensure utilization of best‑practice models.
• Provide ongoing technical assistance to JJ Community Program Administrators, Program Consultants, and Juvenile Court Services administrators to ensure adequacy of evidence‑based practice (EBP) training and related support for providers with state‑agency‑level and local‑level program agreements.
• Provide expert consultation for regional psychological program managers responsible for overseeing mental health services and programming at all state‑operated Youth Development Centers and Juvenile Detention Centers.

Requirements

Eligibility for licensure in North Carolina under the NC Psychology Practice Act (G.S. 90‑270) and three years of post‑doctoral psychological experience, one of which must have been in coordinating/supervising a psychological services program that included advanced clinical treatment, consultation, training, and research.

Skills & Preferences

• Thorough knowledge of child/adolescent behavior dynamics and/or the psychological principles applying to intelligence, aptitude, personality development and/or assessment.
• Thorough knowledge of projective and/or objective psychological tests including those of a complex comprehensive nature.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and/or characteristics of effective interventions and programs targeting children, adolescents and/or their families.
• Considerable knowledge of research design, techniques, and/or statistics.
• Experience planning, directing, coordinating, and/or evaluating comprehensive programs of psychological services.

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Paid sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Retirement
• Health insurance

Schedule

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., or as needed to execute duties outside those hours and on weekends and holidays. Full‑time (40 hours per week).

Contact

Ariana Alyse Garcia — ariana.garcia@ncdps.gov