Behavioral Health Program Manager-26410810

County of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Reasonable accommodation

Veterans support

Job summary

County of San Diego is seeking a Behavioral Health Program Manager to provide clinical and operational leadership across adult outpatient clinics, case management, and Next Move programs. Responsibilities include supervising staff, guiding service delivery, and ensuring quality outcomes in a evolving behavioral health system.

Ideal candidates will bring strong clinical leadership, coordination with probation, courts, families, and community partners, and a commitment to staff development and

Qualifications

• License to practice in California for relevant psychology/mental health fields.
• Master's degree from an accredited U.S. college or equivalent.
• Three years of full-time post-master's experience in mental health program work.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical and administrative activities at adult outpatient clinics; supervise staff and ensure service quality.
• Provide clinical consultation, implement policies, and oversee access, productivity, and outcomes.
• Lead Next Move and case management efforts with youth programs and multiagency coordination.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Clinical supervision

Policy implementation

Education

Licensed CA clinician license (LSW/LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist)

Master's degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or related field

Job description

The County of San Diego, Department of Behavioral Health Services (BHS), is currently recruiting for the position of Behavioral Health Program Manager

Interviews will take place the week of November 23, 2026.

Job offers for selected candidates will be made the week of November 30, 2026.

The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate’s qualifications at time of appointment.

Future Salary Increases

June 2027 – 4.7% increase to base pay (3% Across-the- Board + 1.7% Market Adjustment Increase)

3% Behavioral Health Program Manager Classification Premium (applied to time worked)

The County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services (BHS) department is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Behavioral Health Program Manager (BHPM). BHS is seeking to fill multiple BHPM positions with this recruitment, including within Adult Outpatient Mental Health Clinics, Adult Case Management, and Next Move, a County-operated outpatient specialty mental health program serving youth and young adults ages 11 to 21 who are justice-involved or at risk of justice involvement, including those transitioning from juvenile detention to the community. The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill vacancies within other BHS units, including positions within the San Diego Psychiatric Hospital, and Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court team, and Office of Public Conservator Team.

Adult Behavioral Health Clinics

BHPMs provide clinical and operational leadership at one of the County’s three adult outpatient behavioral health clinics. Responsibilities include supervising clinical and administrative staff, providing clinical consultation, implementing policies and practice standards, supporting staff development, and overseeing access, service quality, productivity, and resources. The position collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, County partners, and community providers to support coordinated, person-centered care for adults with serious mental health needs. Ideal candidates bring strong leadership and communication skills, a commitment to quality improvement, and the ability to build supportive teams while guiding services through an evolving behavioral health system.

Adult Case Management Program

BHPMs provide clinical and operational leadership at one of the County’s case management programs serving adults with serious mental illness, including individuals under LPS conservatorship, experiencing homelessness, and/or requiring intensive community-based support. Responsibilities include supervising case management and direct service staff, providing clinical consultation, overseeing crisis response, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and monitoring service quality, productivity, documentation, and outcomes. The position collaborates with County programs, community providers, hospitals, and families to support coordinated, person-centered care. Ideal candidates bring strong leadership and communication skills, experience working with high-acuity populations, a commitment to quality improvement and system coordination, and the ability to build supportive teams while guiding services through an evolving behavioral health system.

Next Move Program

Next Move has Behavioral Health Program Manager openings at the southeastern Live Well Center in San Diego and the North Coastal Live Well Center in Oceanside. Next Move is a County-operated outpatient specialty mental health program serving youth and young adults ages 11 to 21 who are justice-involved or at risk of justice involvement, including those transitioning from juvenile detention to the community. BHPMs provide clinical and operational leadership, including direct supervision, coaching, and development of, multidisciplinary clinical teams, providing clinical consultation, overseeing service delivery, crisis response, and implementation of Functional Family Therapy (FFT), and ensuring compliance with Medi-Cal and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities also include monitoring access to care, productivity, documentation, service quality, and client outcomes. The position works closely with Probation, courts, families, schools, and community partners to coordinate care and support successful transitions. Ideal candidates bring strong clinical leadership and communication skills, experience supervising multidisciplinary teams, the ability to manage competing priorities, and a commitment to staff development, quality improvement, and providing responsive, youth- and family-centered services.

Read additional information for Behavioral Health Program Manager, including required education and experience, essential functions, working conditions, etc.

Interviews and Hiring Process

• Job Offer and Background Process begins: Shortly after the interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Qualifying Education/Experience

1. A current license by the State of California to practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist; AND,
2. A master's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in psychology, counseling, social work, or a closely related field; AND,
3. Three (3) years of full-time post-master's degree experience in a mental health program providing case management and/or counseling, and crisis intervention to a particular group or program under clinical supervision.

Blind Applicant Screening

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all new recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, will hide a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process will help contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation Process

1. The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a three (3) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference Policy

Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool.

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of these values is infused throughout our operations. The County also embraces a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Read more about the Strategic Plan for more information.

Disaster Service Workers

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

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