State Court Behavioral Health Administrator

Location: 187 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Salary: $160,404

This is a full-time, exempt, at-will position.

About the Role

As a member of the Administrative Office of the Courts’ executive staff, and under the direction of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland and the State Court Administrator, the State Court Behavioral Health Administrator is a senior-level leader responsible for providing strategic direction and overseeing professional staff dedicated to advancing local, state, and national behavioral health and justice initiatives affecting Maryland’s courts and justice-involved individuals. The Administrator leads efforts to identify emerging issues, develop and implement effective solutions, establish best practices, and strengthen the courts’ response to issues at the intersection of behavioral health and the justice system.

The position provides strategic leadership and subject-matter expertise on behavioral health projects, policies, and initiatives and serves as a key advisor to Judiciary leadership on behavioral health matters. The Administrator also develops and maintains partnerships with state and national organizations, government agencies, behavioral health providers, and other stakeholders to advance innovative and effective approaches to behavioral health within the justice system.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Maryland Judiciary on state and national groups convened to address behavioral health issues.
• Act as the primary liaison to state and national behavioral health partners, fostering collaboration and communication among key stakeholders.
• Facilitate state-wide coordination between the justice system and the behavioral health sector stakeholders.
• Work with the Executive Director of the Statewide Steering Committee on Behavioral Health and Justice to further committee, subcommittee, and workgroup initiatives.
• Foster communication between community behavioral health agencies and courts.
• Collaborate with representatives from the executive and legislative branches to advance state and local behavioral health initiatives.
• Maintain intergovernmental and multibranch relationships and establish policies and procedures to affect change management for behavioral health initiatives.
• Analyze, develop, and implement evidence-based strategies to improve the courts’ response at the intersection of behavioral health and justice.
• Prepare analysis and recommendations regarding behavioral health proposals, rules, statutes, or policies.
• Communicate with courts, treatment providers, and community partners regarding evidence-based practices for individuals with behavioral health challenges.
• Identify and secure funding opportunities to further the judiciary’s behavioral health initiatives.
• Support data collection and research activities to document the effectiveness of behavioral health interventions for justice-involved persons.
• Remain current with trends in court management and behavioral health locally and nationally.
• Work with judicial branch staff regarding legislation impacting behavioral health and the courts.
• Provide technical assistance to the Administrative Office of the Courts, justice system stakeholders, and local communities by identifying training and resource needs.
• Collaborate with leadership to implement programmatic and administrative policies and procedures to set department goals, allocate resources, and drive improvement initiatives.
• Serve on Judiciary committees and workgroups.
• Serve as a resource for judges, court administrators, court clerks, Judicial Council committees, other divisions/departments within the AOC, program coordinators, service providers, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and manage a budget, which may include grant funding.
• Provide comprehensive fiscal oversight of operating and grant budgets, including monitoring expenditures, tracking allocations, reviewing financial reports, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support program implementation, maintain accurate documentation, and uphold accountability and transparency in all grant activities.
• Manage and direct state court behavioral health staff.
• Guide, direct, and ensure that staff are performing assigned work within relevant objectives, missions, policies and procedures, federal and state laws, and other parameters.

Requirements

Education: Master's Degree in social work, psychology, public health, or related field required.

Experience: Five (5) years of professional management experience. Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in behavioral health and court operations. A Doctorate in Social Work or Psychology will substitute for five years of general experience.

Preferred: Licensure in Maryland as a Psychologist (PsyD or PhD), Licensed Social Worker (LSW/LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC/LCPC), or equivalent. Law degree or legal experience preferred.

Skills

Knowledge of:

• Delivery of behavioral health interventions according to best practice standards.
• Principles of evidence-based practices in the treatment of justice-involved populations.
• Maryland Code, Health General and other applicable mental health and human services law, federal regulations, and professional code of ethics.
• Grant and financial management and budgeting.
• Supervisory principles and practices.
• The court system and intersection with external stakeholders, which may include but not limited to the Department of Health, Office of the Attorney General, State Prosecutor, Public Defender, community liaisons, and Sheriff’s departments.

Skill in:

• Leadership, including excellent decision-making, problem-solving, analytic, and interpretive skills.
• Communicating effectively, both in writing and orally, with diverse stakeholders.
• Coaching management staff and ensuring their accountability.
• Directing, supervising, and auditing best practices and procedures within the state court behavioral health field.
• Building credible and respected peer recognition in the behavioral health field, including an established network of contacts.
• Designing, developing, managing, or coordinating state court behavioral health programs and activities.
• Interacting with courts around justice system reform and behavioral health initiatives.
• Developing written manuals, procedural instructions and other documents.
• Working with a variety of organizations in planning for the appropriate legal and ethical sharing of information.

Ability to:

• Work with diverse people and organizations.
• Work effectively with individuals at all levels of both the public and private sectors.
• Exercise independent judgment.
• Develop and implement short- and long-term plans, set priorities, and complete multiple tasks simultaneously within deadlines.
• Deal effectively with change.
• Foster collaboration among diverse groups.
• Effectively represent the interests of the department, the AOC, and the Judiciary.
• Demonstrate strategic planning, collaborative management expertise and problem-solving skills.
• Analyze data from multiple databases and identify evidence-based solutions.
• Participate or otherwise guide trainings in collaboration with the Judicial College.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with judges, co-workers, management, and other agency personnel.
• Develop and foster broad, inter-agency collaborations.
• Write clear and concise reports, with recommendations.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Software and Computer Skills

• Microsoft Office – primarily Outlook, Word and Excel for communication, document creation and data tracking and reporting.
• Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and One Note – for completing collaborative work with others inside and outside the AOC.
• Acrobat Pro – for creating, editing, and reviewing PDF documents.
• Online meeting platforms such as Zoom, and Teams.
• Oracle Peoplesoft (GEARS and CONNECT).

Additional Responsibilities

• Travel is required weekly to attend meetings, conferences and visit court and other sites.

Benefits

The Maryland Judiciary offers a generous benefit package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Continuing education programs
• Employee assistance programs
• State Retirement and Pension plans

Telework, up to 2 days per week, may also be available. Telework eligibility is based on job functions and the approval of the Administrative Head.

As a state employee, you may be required to file an annual Financial Disclosure with the State Ethics Commission. If required, you will be notified by the Judiciary Human Resources Division and must file within 30 days of employment and no later than April 30th of each subsequent calendar year.