Director of Community Services, Program Manager VIII

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking an accomplished and dynamic leader for the Director of Community Services position within the Adult Mental Health Community Services division in the Northeast Area. This role offers the opportunity to lead the strategic design, implementation, and management of vital mental health services while ensuring the delivery of culturally responsive, client-centered care. The ideal candidate will bring extensive expertise in contract management, budgeting, and procurement, alongside a deep understanding of clinical practices for risk mitigation and mental health assessment. In this key position, you will collaborate closely with the DMH leadership team, provider agencies, and community stakeholders to foster growth and positive change across the region.

As the Director of Community Services, you will oversee six DMH Site Offices and a diverse team, including Site Directors and clinical staff, to ensure efficient service delivery and the best possible outcomes for individuals in the community. Your leadership will extend to budget oversight, service authorization, and program development, ensuring the Northeast Area delivers integrated and effective mental health services. This role will also involve making critical decisions in care transitions, clinical risk management, and collaboration with hospitals and behavioral health centers, all while championing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the community. If you are ready to make a significant impact in mental health services and lead a committed team through a period of transformation, this opportunity is for you.

Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Develops Mental Health Community Service program design based on assessment of client and community needs and utilization management processes, incorporating state of the art best practices in the field.
• Provides budget oversight, allocations, and monitoring for community services of the Northeast Area.
• Provides leadership in statewide management and mental health program development activities with statewide Directors of Community Services and other DMH Leadership staff.
• Leads contract monitoring oversight and engages in significant collaboration with DMH providers to ensure services meet the needs of persons served.
• Provides clinical oversight and leadership with persons served, their families, and communities in collaboration with the Area Medical Director, Site Office staff, and clinical providers that ensures comprehensive assessment and risk mitigation.
• Leads Clinical decision-making processes regarding transitions in care and service delivery to individuals, specifically regarding DMH service authorization, transitions from DMH Continuing Care and acute care hospitals, and individualized and specialty placements.
• Provides Area leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion activities in the Northeast Area ensuring equitable and culturally competent services and workplace.
• Collaborates with the Director of Children Youth and Families, Transition Age Program Manager, Area Medical Director, and other clinical and administrative leaders to ensure transition age service delivery system meets the clinical and developmental needs of youth and young adults.
• Collaborates with clinical and administrative leadership of acute and continuing care hospitals, emergency departments, community behavioral health centers, coordinating care entities, and other behavioral health community providers to ensure a highly responsive and efficient community system of care is developed and maintained.
• Participates in Area Leadership and specialty assignments and projects as assigned by the Area Director.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to perform advanced level of clinical diagnostic assessment and clinical formulation.
• Ability to review clinical information and presentation and make decisions regarding clinical risk mitigation and service needs.
• Ability to provide guidance and technical support to Area and Site managers in the use and interpretation of data.
• Ability to analyze and determine applicability of data, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures across multiple sites and levels of staff.
• Ability to design, develop and implement new/revised program service initiatives.
• Ability to promote and support program improvement and innovation.
• Ability to determine program priorities by evaluating clients and families.
• Ability to facilitate and support team building activities.
• Ability to design and implement program management, service provision, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability processes.
• Ability to analyze and apply DMH Regulation and policy.
• Ability to communicate DMH mission, vision, and service policy positions.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both writing and oral presentation.
• Skilled in problem solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and team building.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Given the population we serve, bilingual or multilingual fluency
• High level of clinical skills in mental health and/or license (MSW, LICSW, LMHC)

DMH Mission Statement:

The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and support to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights and supports mental health training and research.

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on "Information for Job Applicants."

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form

For questions about this requisition, please contact Employment and Staffing Customer Service at 1-800-510-4122, option 4.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.