Director of Behavioral Health

, CA, United States

Click here for more information The Director of Behavioral Health reports to the Director of the Health Care Agency (HCA) and is responsible for the administration of the combined development and management of all County Behavioral Health programs and services which include: Adults, Youth and Family, and Substance Use Services programs. This position is responsible for recognizing and nurturing opportunities for collaboration to address local needs, in particular for vulnerable and underserved populations.  The position is dually appointed as the Director of the Behavioral Health Department and as the Mental Health Director by the Board of Supervisors.

This position is an at-will classification, Deputy Director - HealthCare Agency, which is exempt from the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance.

What We Offer

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes: A general salary increase of3.5% effective December 22, 2024.

New Hire/Retention/Referral Incentive:  New hires may be eligible for a one-time New Hire Incentive up to 10% of the current annual base wage. (Subject to the applicable section of the Management Resolution (Secs. 625 – 627)

Educational Incentive for completion of:   2.5% for an Associate's degree, 3.5% for a Bachelor's degree, or 5% for a Master's degree that is not required for this classification. Received as an additional percentage of base salary.

Executive Administrative Leave: The candidate selected for this position will earn 248 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service, to 328 hours after 10 years of service, and to 368 hours after 15 years of service or other public service. *Credit for prior public service may be considered (Management Resolution, § 1202A)

Annual Leave Redemption :   The ability to “cash in” or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours of annual leave within the previous 12 months (Management Resolution, § 1205).

Flexible Credit Allowance: Biweekly contribution towards medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from authorized health insurance plans.

Flexible Spending Account:   Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.

Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. If you participate in the County sponsored 401(k) plan, the County will match a part of your contribution up to 3% of your salary, on a per pay period basis.  Following five (5) years of continuous County service, an additional 2% non-elective contribution will be made to the 401(k) plan.

Pension Plan:  Participation in the County's defined benefit plan. If you are eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.

Bilingual Incentive: Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).

Professional Membership  - Eligible for County-paid membership in professional organizations related to the position.

The Director of Behavioral Health will be responsible for guiding and promoting the department's mission to address needs within the community that arise from behavioral health and substance use disorders. The ideal candidate will be able to collaboratively develop and employ a department-wide strategic plan that exemplifies a commitment to service excellence, staff development, community support and continuous quality improvement. They will be a highly effective and communicative leader focused on creating a culture in which multidisciplinary teams can work together to pursue effective outcomes that are both client-centered and data-driven.

The Director of Behavioral Health will require broad skills, including business acumen, financial expertise, and significant leadership ability, including strategies serving culturally diverse communities.

The County of Ventura is committed to developing, nurturing, and sustaining an equitable community and workforce where all individuals can thrive.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE

OPENING DATE:  Tuesday, February 6, 2024

CLOSING DATE: Continuous

FIRST REVIEW OF RESUMES: Week of March 4, 2024

PANEL  INTERVIEW:  To Be Determined

SELECTION INTERVIEWS: To Be Determined

Duties may include but are not limited to the following: Directs all Public Mental Health, Substance Use Services and Driving Under the Influence Programs;

Oversees strategic planning, establishes department priorities, goals and policies;

Maintains culturally responsive programs to support the needs of the diverse clientele, including assessing barriers to access;

Oversees the development, implementation and monitoring of operating budget, maximizing the use of federal, state and local mental health and substance use funding to meet department service objectives;

Selects, trains, directs, and evaluates subordinate supervisors and managers and their performance in meeting program and individual goals and objectives ;

Oversees the management of contracts, memoranda of understanding, purchase orders and grants;

Directs quality assurance and performance/process improvement efforts and assures compliance to federal, state, local regulations, including standards set by The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Human Services (DHS);

Assesses the need for mental health services and advises and consults with professional staff in determining standards of service and treatment;

Monitors and ensures the implementation of performance improvement plans for all behavioral health services;

Represents the department in relationship to federal entities, the state of California, other county departments and with public/private entities;

Consults, collaborates and works cooperatively with advisory boards, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies and departments, developing linkages to community resources;

Negotiates contracts or agreements for the purpose of providing behavioral health services in the county; and

Performs related duties as assigned.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:

Any combination of education, training and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Typical combinations would be: An administrator with a Master's degree in hospital, public health or public administration and at least three (3) years of hospital or health care administrative experience which includes two (2) years in behavioral health services. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

A physician and surgeon licensed in the State of California showing evidence of completion of the required course of graduate psychiatric education as defined in Section 623 supplemented by an additional two (2) years of psychiatric training or practice which includes one (1) year of administrative experience.

A psychologist licensed in the State of California with a Doctorate degree in psychology and at least three (3) years of clinical psychology experience which includes two (2) years of administrative experience.

A clinical social worker with at least a Master's degree in social work and a license (LCSW) under the provision of the California Business and Professions Code and at least five (5) years of behavioral health experience which includes two (2) years of administrative experience.

A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist  (LMFT, LPCC) who has received specific instruction in assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and counseling and psychotherapeutic treatment of premarital, marriage, family and child relationship dysfunctions which is equivalent to the instruction required for licensure on January 1981. At least five (5) years of behavioral health experience which includes two (2) years of administrative experience is also required.

A Registered Nurse with a Master's degree in psychiatric or public health nursing and five (5) years of related experience which includes two (2) years of administrative experience. Additional post-baccalaureate experience in behavioral health setting may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

DESIRED:

Previous experience as a mental health director in a California County of a size similar to or larger than Ventura; and/or

Previous experience as a substance use program administrator in a California County with additional experience in mental health financing; and/or

CEO/CFO or other senior executive level manager of a large non-profit or community based organization that delivers behavioral health services - specifically Medi-Cal and/or drug Medi-Cal services.  This should include budgeting, management of diverse funding streams, HR, contracts management, and compliance; and/or

Senior executive level manager of programs that serve people with serious mental illness, SED youth - especially public programs; and/or

Previous experience as a Division Manager in a California County of a size similar or larger to Ventura County.

Five (5) years of professional-level administrative experience, at least two (2) of which must be in Behavioral Health setting.

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Comprehensive knowledge of: mental health and substance use program planning and administration; principles of supervision and personnel management; the interrelationships of services provided by local public and private agencies and organizations; and the principles of the various professional and clinical disciplines; the principles of budgeting and revenue enhancement; managed care and its relationship to services provided by the County and other service providers; and, development of effective marketing and customer service programs.

Comprehensive ability to: Monitor the selection, assignment, and performance of professional and non-clinical personnel; encourage and engage full participation and contribution of all stakeholders in support of the mission of Behavioral Health; coordinate efforts with those in related federal, state, county, and local activities; speak effectively before groups and organizations; provide effective liaison with other County agencies/departments, the community, and employees; critically review actuary recommendations, insurance company statements, statistical and narrative reports, and complex financial statements and contracts; and, makes written and oral presentations with the incumbent's purview.

To apply for this exceptional career opportunity, please complete one of the following found in the job announcement:

Email your cover letter, resume and any additional materials for consideration to [email protected]

OR

Submit an on-line application at www.ventura.org/jobs and attach your current resume, cover letter and any additional materials for consideration.

Resume Evaluation

A first review of resumes will commence the week of March 4, 2024. All relevant work experience, training and education need to be included to determine eligibility.

Interview Process

Following a structured evaluation of the resumes, the most qualified candidates will be invited to a panel interview. The top candidates, as determined by the panel, will then be invited to a second interview with County executive management. The interviews may be consolidated into one process or expanded into multiple interviews contingent upon the size and quantity of the candidate pool. Any final candidate selected will require the concurrence of the Board of Supervisors.

Background Investigation

The selected candidate may be subjected to a thorough background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record. In addition, the successful candidate may be subjected to Live Scan fingerprinting.

For further information about this recruitment please contact Monika Maine at [email protected] or by phone at (805) 654-2419.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

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