Deputy Director Behavioral Health

Position Description

Open Until Filled

Priority Screening Date: June 21, 2026

Exam # 26/60I10/05MN

All application materials must be received by the priority screening date for a guaranteed review. Applications received after this date will be considered on an as needed basis until the position is filled.

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

SUMMARY OF POSITION
The County of Monterey Health Department seeks an experienced behavioral health professional for the position of Deputy Director Behavioral Health to oversee the Behavioral Health Bureau’s Quality Division.

The Deputy Director Behavioral Health reports directly to the Behavioral Health Bureau Chief and provides oversight and management of various services focused on all systems of care. The Behavioral Health Bureau provides a wide range of early intervention, diagnostic, treatment and community-based services for children, youth, adults and older adults with mental illness, substance use disorder, and co-occurring conditions. The Deputy Director will be engaged in a wide range of Bureau priorities and initiatives to include CalAIM, Behavioral Health Transformation, and BHSA. The Deputy Director is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating evaluation and monitoring of county-wide behavioral health services and contracts in accordance with all the laws governing the delivery of behavioral health services in the State of California.

This Deputy Director will oversee the Quality Division for the Behavioral Health Bureau and provide strategic leadership and oversight of quality improvement, quality assurance, and compliance activities across specialty mental health and substance use disorder services. This role is responsible for guiding system-wide efforts to ensure services meet state and federal requirements, including oversight of the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS), privacy and compliance functions, grievance and investigation processes, and audit readiness and response.

This position leads a large, multidisciplinary team and fosters a highly collaborative environment that supports innovation, accountability, and continuous quality improvement. In addition to direct oversight responsibilities, this Deputy Director plays a key role in guiding and aligning activities across divisions and works closely with leadership in Access to Treatment, Administration, Adult, Children and Youth, Community Crisis and Justice Involved Services to ensure coordinated, high-quality care is provided throughout our delivery system.

The role also oversees key operational areas including workforce development and training, ethnic services, and special projects that support equitable, culturally responsive, and high-quality care. The Deputy Director is responsible for interpreting and operationalizing complex policies from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the federal Medicaid program, translating regulatory requirements into effective local procedures and practices.

As a member of the Bureau’s executive leadership team, this position requires a deep understanding of county behavioral health systems and the ability to bring together diverse community stakeholders, including providers, managed care partners, and public agencies, to guide the direction of public behavioral health services. The Deputy Director serves as a trusted advisor to leadership and represents the County during audits, responding to inquiries and defending system practices while driving continuous improvement efforts that enhance outcomes for the community.

The Deputy Director embodies the values of a mission-driven leader that understands the County's role in the delivery of specialty mental health and drug Medi-Cal services to those most in need in our community. The position will require exceptional management and administration skills, emphasizing the importance of developing sustainable programs and services through productivity and generating revenue to expand the ability to provide additional essential services. The ability to work efficiently and effectively both within and across systems is vital.

The ideal candidate will be a licensed practitioner, have held positions of increasing responsibility to include supervisorial and managerial roles, and will have a strong sense of ethics and a commitment to the mission of community wellness and health protection that integrates an emphasis on enhanced service delivery, strategic thinking, productivity and efficiency, and an operational style inclusive of effective communication, collaboration and respect.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.

Examples of Duties

• Plans, implements, organizes, evaluates and directs services through subordinate managers and supervisors in operations and in the service delivery of mental health or drug and alcohol programs.
• Resolves administrative problems and develops joint procedures and policies to ensure that all programs meet State regulations.
• Participates with other agencies and departments in community planning, service monitoring and development of coordinated services.
• Oversees the development and monitoring of the operations budget for assigned area, including recommending staffing levels.
• Acts as liaison to the State Department of Mental Health and other counties and agencies regarding programs for which this position is responsible.
• Directs and evaluates the work of assigned staff.
• Assesses and identifies needed community behavioral health services.
• Develops program funding sources through grants and other sources including legislative processes.
• Coordinates evidence-based behavioral health practices and services while overseeing outcome evaluations for programs and client satisfaction.

To view the complete job description, please visit the Monterey County website: Deputy Director Behavioral Health

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Principles and methods of planning, developing, implementing, evaluating and coordinating large, complex community-based behavioral health treatment programs
• Laws and regulations governing public behavioral health programs
• Interrelationship of services provided by governmental, community and private behavioral health organizations
• Principles and practices of supervision, training and personnel management
• Principles and methods of management, organization, budgeting and staffing applicable to behavioral health programs
• Requirements, methods and techniques used in the execution of comprehensive special projects and program planning development and administration
• Program evaluation techniques, procedures and methods

Working Knowledge of:

• Grant writing and development of funding sources for public behavioral health programs
• Budget development and oversight, fiscal and contract administration

Skill and Ability to:

• Evaluate behavioral health programs and develop or revise policies and procedures
• Work with the State Department of Mental Health to ensure program performance and funding.
• Plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of assigned division through subordinate managers and supervisors
• Develop and maintain an operations budget, including recommending staffing levels
• Develop strategic plans and long-range forecasting; establish goals and performance standards
• Effectively represent the Health Department in contacts with the public, community organizations, and other government agencies
• Manage the development, maintenance, and implementation of a variety of statistics, records and reports
• Analyze a variety of complex problems and recommend sound course(s) of action
• Exercise initiative, sound judgment and problem solving abilities in order to solve difficult challenges regarding programs and staff
• Coordinate activities with a diverse group of individuals
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted during the course of work

Desirable Qualifications:

• Ability to speak, read and write in English and Spanish
  

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

The skills necessary may be acquired through various types of education, training, and/or experience, typically:

Education: Equivalent to a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in program administration, clinical psychology, social work, nursing or related discipline.

and

Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional administrative experience that has included analyzing and recommending solutions for the development of behavioral health program policy and administration of behavioral health services which includes at least three (3) years experience in the public sector at the supervisory and/or management level.

REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency, travel out of County to attend meetings.
• Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
• Pursuant to Title 9 of the California Administrative Code and Section 5751 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the following disciplines are eligible for this classification:
  • Psychiatrist: shall have a license as a physician and surgeon in the State of California and show evidence of having completed three years graduate training in psychiatry in a program approved by the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association, and with at least two years of administrative/management experience.
  • Clinical Psychologist: To be a graduate from an accredited school of psychology and to be licensed as a psychologist in the State of California, and with at least two years of administrative/management experience.
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker: to be a graduate of an accredited graduate school of social work and be licensed as a clinical social worker in the State of California, and with at least two years of administrative/management experience.
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: to be a graduate of an approved graduate school of marriage and family therapist and to be licensed as a marriage and family therapist in the state of California, and with at least two years of administrative/management experience.
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor: To be a graduate of an approved graduate school of professional clinical counseling and to be licensed as a professional clinical counselor in the State of California, to have two years of post-doctoral experience in a mental health setting, and with at least two years of administrative/management experience.

BENEFITS:
The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Bargaining Unit X Benefit Summary Sheet . This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.
• Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
• If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

Additional Information

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCEDURES
Apply on-line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty

OR

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours,

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

Monterey County Health Department

Attn: Human Resources Division

1270 Natividad Road

Salinas, CA 93906.

Phone: (831) 755 - 4519 Fax: (831) 796 - 8682

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

All application materials must be received by the priority screen date for a guaranteed review. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES:
The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses (i.e., surviving spouses of veterans, spouses of totally disabled veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members) and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To obtain a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application, please visit the Human Resources website or click on the following link: Click Here to View the Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application

To apply for veterans’ preference points, veterans or eligible military spouses must complete and email a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application with supporting documentation of their eligibility within 5 business days of submitting your job application to VeteransPreferencePoints@countyofmonterey.gov

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Monique Ng, Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 755 - 4524 or ngmc@countyofmonterey.gov.

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/human-resources/human-resources/benefits/benefit-summary-sheet

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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