OCERS
Behavioral Health Services Deputy Director
OCERS, Santa Ana, California, United States, 92725
Behavioral Health Services Deputy Director
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate’s qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the County's needs are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.
First Round of Consideration will be Monday, October 27, 2025.
HEALTH CARE AGENCY County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five service areas - Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Specialized Medical Services and Public Health Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.
THE DEPARTMENT Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Division consists of the following areas: Adult and Older Adult, Children and Youth Services, Quality Management Services, Mental Health Services Act Office, Data Analytics and Evaluation, Crisis and Acute Care Services, Substance Use Services, and Forensics and Justice Involved. These divisions provide a culturally competent and client-centered system of behavioral health services for all eligible county residents in need of treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse and mental health care.
THE OPPORTUNITY The BHS Deputy Director serves in a key leadership position with responsibilities that include strategic BHS program oversight, operational management, and performance optimization. This role requires a seasoned professional with deep expertise in BHS operations, project execution, and organizational leadership. The BHS Deputy Director will lead the development and implementation of BHS business strategies, oversee complex projects, and ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal accountability. This position plays a critical role in shaping the future of BHS in Orange County by driving innovation, ensuring service excellence, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, this position is responsible for administration and coordination of departmental service, administrative and performance improvement functions, including budget, business systems, state audits and reviews, and administrative policies and procedures. The BHS Deputy Director is responsible for making high-level administrative and operational decisions, coordinating activities including human resources and program support issues, collaborating with the Medical Director, and representing the Agency on BHS issues with State and local officials. In addition, the BHS Deputy Director will supervise other senior staff and act as the Director in their absence.
Additional duties include:
Leads, plans, organizes, directs and evaluates the organization, management and coordination of a comprehensive county-wide, behavioral health service delivery system
Oversees business operations, including budget development, financial forecasting, and contract management
Directs the execution of high-impact projects and initiatives aligned with County and departmental goals
Supervises senior-level staff and cultivating leadership capacity across the organization
Represents the department in high-level meetings with County executives, elected officials, and external partners
Ensures operational alignment with state and federal regulations, audits, and performance standards
Establishes and maintains goals, objectives and plans for carrying out functions of the Department consistent with County goals and community needs
Directs the development and maintenance of policies and procedures and ensures adequate controls and reporting systems are established and maintained for the effective administration and implementation of services
Administers the department in the absence of the Director of BHS
Ensures continuity of care across departmental operational units including program development and system planning
Provides guidance and direction to improve the understanding of program and administrative policies and procedures by staff
Develops and implements systems that promote an organizational culture of learning, quality improvement and accountability
Assists in the determination of budgetary requirements to include forecasting the needs for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies and monitoring divisions to ensure the accomplishments of objectives within the established budget
Researches, prepares and interprets administrative, clinical, financial and technical reports and prepares written responses as necessary
Serves as a liaison with State and Federal agencies, County agencies, boards and commissions
Assumes disaster service worker responsibility as assigned
Performs other work as required
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing behavioral health programs for a public sector agency. The ideal candidate will also possess at least five (5) years of strategic, results-oriented leadership with extensive experience in behavioral health administration, public sector operations, and enterprise-level project management and have a broad and extensive management experience involving the planning, organization, management and coordination of behavioral health, mental health and/or substance use programs.
Professional & Technical Expertise
Principles and practices of administration and management necessary to plan, organize, direct, manage and evaluate administrative policies
Principles and practices of program development and evaluation, including research methodologies and performance improvement approaches, in a comprehensive behavioral health services delivery system
Current developments in behavioral health services, including emerging practices, best practices and evidence-based practices
Federal, State and local laws, regulations, codes and policies governing behavioral health care delivery organizations
Federal and state audits and annual reviews for behavioral health care delivery organizations
Principles of governmental organization, administration, public financing and budgeting
Principles of personnel management, training and supervision
Principles of community organization and consultation
Proven ability to manage large-scale operations, including budget oversight, contract oversight, and regulatory compliance
Expertise in aligning business strategies with organizational goals to drive measurable outcomes
Strong understanding of public sector, behavioral health services funding, regulatory performance metrics, and operational controls
Leading the Organizational Culture | Managing & Facilitating Change
Using appropriate judgment, data, and risk management skills in making business decisions and formulating policy recommendations for achieving positive business outcomes
Collaborating with executive colleagues in the establishment and execution of the department’s goals and objectives, including budget, strategies, policies, and procedures
Maintaining a high level of communication and engagement about the reasons, benefits, opportunities and difficulties of change
Identifying department needs, and the development, design and implementation of program objectives, and policies and procedures
Actively seeking and encouraging identified stakeholders to contribute their points of view, ideas and suggestions... [remaining list items]
Visionary Leadership | Valuing Diversity
Ensuring that the importance and benefits of goals and methods are understood and accepted by those who will carry them out
Sharing knowledge and expertise willingly and supporting others’ career and development plans
Valuing differing backgrounds and points of view in the workplace and leveraging those differences in group process and decision making
Effectively representing the Director of Behavioral Health Services with the CEO, Board of Supervisors, other County agencies, contract community-based organizations and other community partners
To further develop and enhance the Behavioral Health Medi-Cal managed care plan as part of CalAIM Payment Reform and to further improve access to and quality of behavioral health services delivered to Medi-Cal beneficiaries as well as uninsured residents in Orange County
Selecting and supervising professional, technical and support staff and evaluating their performance in meeting program and individual goals and objectives
Building and Maintaining Relationships | Handling and Resolving Conflict
Creating rapport and trust with parties having divergent interests or goals
Dealing with interpersonally or politically challenging situations calmly and diplomatically, while diffusing tension
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, other Agencies/Departments, stakeholders, diverse community members, including mental health and substance use clients/consumers, families, contracted community-based organizations, and other community partners
Communication
Writing succinct, informative, and clear communication
Communicating on sensitive issues, excellent judgment and diplomacy, leading to successful outcomes
Providing persuasive, confidence-inducing and well-organized oral presentations
Effectively communicating orally and in writing with diverse audiences, including departmental staff, Health and Hospital System partners, County agencies, community partners, stakeholder groups, local and state officials, and the public
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Health Services Deputy Director classification as well as the Physical, Mental, and Environmental Conditions.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.
Veterans Employment Preference The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.
Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer) Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.
Application Appraisal | HR Review Rating (Weighted 100%) An Application Appraisal conducted by HRS will thoroughly screen and evaluate all application materials for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above. Only the most qualified applicants will be placed on the eligible list.
Please note: The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. See Resume is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Eligible List Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies. Email Notification Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and ocgov.com. If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Linny Pham at (714) 834-7324 or LiPham@ochca.com.
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the County's needs are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.
First Round of Consideration will be Monday, October 27, 2025.
HEALTH CARE AGENCY County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five service areas - Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Specialized Medical Services and Public Health Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.
THE DEPARTMENT Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Division consists of the following areas: Adult and Older Adult, Children and Youth Services, Quality Management Services, Mental Health Services Act Office, Data Analytics and Evaluation, Crisis and Acute Care Services, Substance Use Services, and Forensics and Justice Involved. These divisions provide a culturally competent and client-centered system of behavioral health services for all eligible county residents in need of treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse and mental health care.
THE OPPORTUNITY The BHS Deputy Director serves in a key leadership position with responsibilities that include strategic BHS program oversight, operational management, and performance optimization. This role requires a seasoned professional with deep expertise in BHS operations, project execution, and organizational leadership. The BHS Deputy Director will lead the development and implementation of BHS business strategies, oversee complex projects, and ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal accountability. This position plays a critical role in shaping the future of BHS in Orange County by driving innovation, ensuring service excellence, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, this position is responsible for administration and coordination of departmental service, administrative and performance improvement functions, including budget, business systems, state audits and reviews, and administrative policies and procedures. The BHS Deputy Director is responsible for making high-level administrative and operational decisions, coordinating activities including human resources and program support issues, collaborating with the Medical Director, and representing the Agency on BHS issues with State and local officials. In addition, the BHS Deputy Director will supervise other senior staff and act as the Director in their absence.
Additional duties include:
Leads, plans, organizes, directs and evaluates the organization, management and coordination of a comprehensive county-wide, behavioral health service delivery system
Oversees business operations, including budget development, financial forecasting, and contract management
Directs the execution of high-impact projects and initiatives aligned with County and departmental goals
Supervises senior-level staff and cultivating leadership capacity across the organization
Represents the department in high-level meetings with County executives, elected officials, and external partners
Ensures operational alignment with state and federal regulations, audits, and performance standards
Establishes and maintains goals, objectives and plans for carrying out functions of the Department consistent with County goals and community needs
Directs the development and maintenance of policies and procedures and ensures adequate controls and reporting systems are established and maintained for the effective administration and implementation of services
Administers the department in the absence of the Director of BHS
Ensures continuity of care across departmental operational units including program development and system planning
Provides guidance and direction to improve the understanding of program and administrative policies and procedures by staff
Develops and implements systems that promote an organizational culture of learning, quality improvement and accountability
Assists in the determination of budgetary requirements to include forecasting the needs for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies and monitoring divisions to ensure the accomplishments of objectives within the established budget
Researches, prepares and interprets administrative, clinical, financial and technical reports and prepares written responses as necessary
Serves as a liaison with State and Federal agencies, County agencies, boards and commissions
Assumes disaster service worker responsibility as assigned
Performs other work as required
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing behavioral health programs for a public sector agency. The ideal candidate will also possess at least five (5) years of strategic, results-oriented leadership with extensive experience in behavioral health administration, public sector operations, and enterprise-level project management and have a broad and extensive management experience involving the planning, organization, management and coordination of behavioral health, mental health and/or substance use programs.
Professional & Technical Expertise
Principles and practices of administration and management necessary to plan, organize, direct, manage and evaluate administrative policies
Principles and practices of program development and evaluation, including research methodologies and performance improvement approaches, in a comprehensive behavioral health services delivery system
Current developments in behavioral health services, including emerging practices, best practices and evidence-based practices
Federal, State and local laws, regulations, codes and policies governing behavioral health care delivery organizations
Federal and state audits and annual reviews for behavioral health care delivery organizations
Principles of governmental organization, administration, public financing and budgeting
Principles of personnel management, training and supervision
Principles of community organization and consultation
Proven ability to manage large-scale operations, including budget oversight, contract oversight, and regulatory compliance
Expertise in aligning business strategies with organizational goals to drive measurable outcomes
Strong understanding of public sector, behavioral health services funding, regulatory performance metrics, and operational controls
Leading the Organizational Culture | Managing & Facilitating Change
Using appropriate judgment, data, and risk management skills in making business decisions and formulating policy recommendations for achieving positive business outcomes
Collaborating with executive colleagues in the establishment and execution of the department’s goals and objectives, including budget, strategies, policies, and procedures
Maintaining a high level of communication and engagement about the reasons, benefits, opportunities and difficulties of change
Identifying department needs, and the development, design and implementation of program objectives, and policies and procedures
Actively seeking and encouraging identified stakeholders to contribute their points of view, ideas and suggestions... [remaining list items]
Visionary Leadership | Valuing Diversity
Ensuring that the importance and benefits of goals and methods are understood and accepted by those who will carry them out
Sharing knowledge and expertise willingly and supporting others’ career and development plans
Valuing differing backgrounds and points of view in the workplace and leveraging those differences in group process and decision making
Effectively representing the Director of Behavioral Health Services with the CEO, Board of Supervisors, other County agencies, contract community-based organizations and other community partners
To further develop and enhance the Behavioral Health Medi-Cal managed care plan as part of CalAIM Payment Reform and to further improve access to and quality of behavioral health services delivered to Medi-Cal beneficiaries as well as uninsured residents in Orange County
Selecting and supervising professional, technical and support staff and evaluating their performance in meeting program and individual goals and objectives
Building and Maintaining Relationships | Handling and Resolving Conflict
Creating rapport and trust with parties having divergent interests or goals
Dealing with interpersonally or politically challenging situations calmly and diplomatically, while diffusing tension
Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff, other Agencies/Departments, stakeholders, diverse community members, including mental health and substance use clients/consumers, families, contracted community-based organizations, and other community partners
Communication
Writing succinct, informative, and clear communication
Communicating on sensitive issues, excellent judgment and diplomacy, leading to successful outcomes
Providing persuasive, confidence-inducing and well-organized oral presentations
Effectively communicating orally and in writing with diverse audiences, including departmental staff, Health and Hospital System partners, County agencies, community partners, stakeholder groups, local and state officials, and the public
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Health Services Deputy Director classification as well as the Physical, Mental, and Environmental Conditions.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.
Veterans Employment Preference The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.
Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer) Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.
Application Appraisal | HR Review Rating (Weighted 100%) An Application Appraisal conducted by HRS will thoroughly screen and evaluate all application materials for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above. Only the most qualified applicants will be placed on the eligible list.
Please note: The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. See Resume is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Eligible List Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies. Email Notification Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and ocgov.com. If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Linny Pham at (714) 834-7324 or LiPham@ochca.com.
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
#J-18808-Ljbffr