Behavioral Health Referrals Team Lead

University of Texas; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Texas–Austin seeks a Behavioral Health Referrals Team Lead to supervise referral operations and ensure timely, compliant processing across TCMH programs. You will train staff, monitor workflows, and collaborate with CPAN/PeriPAN and school partners to support patient access to pediatric mental health services.

You will coordinate with interdisciplinary teams, manage EMR communications, and uphold high-quality referral outcomes in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with 4+ years coordinating or administering a program, service operation, or referral workflow.
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Trayt, Slack, Athena or Epic, Calendly.

Responsibilities

• Trains new hires and supports staff development to ensure adherence to referral protocols.
• Reviews referrals for accuracy and compliance with program requirements; improves processes.
• Liaisons with CPAN/PeriPAN and other teams to align referral activities with goals.
• Manages and tracks patient referrals using EMR and maintains accurate records.

Skills

Team Leadership

Workflow Management

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Health Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, or related field

Tools

Google Suite

Trayt

Slack

Athena/Epic

Calendly

Job description

Job Posting Title: Behavioral Health Referrals Team Lead

Hiring Department: Department of Psychiatry

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2027

Location: AUSTIN, TX

Job Summary

This role supports mental health programs and initiatives developed through the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium, with a focus on improving the quality and accessibility of mental health care for children and adolescents across Texas. The Behavioral Health Referrals Team Lead will work as part of an interdisciplinary, team-based program that coordinates referrals for Texas Child Mental Health (TCMH) programs, including the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program, the Perinatal Psychiatry Access Network (PeriPAN), the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN), and similar programs. Reporting to the Supervisor, Behavioral Health Referrals and External Relations, this role serves as a working lead for the referrals team, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant referral processing while supporting staff through training, guidance, and workflow management. This position will have the ability to interact with peers, patients’ families, and other program partners.

Essential Job Functions

• Team Leadership and Workflow Oversight Acts as the primary point of contact for Referrals Associates regarding questions, workflow issues, and escalation needs. Trains new hires and supports ongoing staff development to ensure consistent adherence to referral protocols and standards. Delegates tasks and balances workloads across the team to meet productivity and quality expectations.
• Referral Quality, Compliance, and Process Improvement Reviews referral submissions for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with program and organizational requirements. Identifies workflow bottlenecks and recommends process improvements. Ensures timely resolution of escalated or complex referral issues. Maintains accurate tracking and documentation of referral activity and outcomes.
• Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement Serves as a liaison between the referrals team and other internal teams, such as CPAN/PeriPAN, collaborating with supervisory leadership to ensure referral activities align with organizational goals and priorities. Answers provider inquiries regarding the referral process and provides necessary information and support. Follows up with providers, care coordinators, patients, and families to resolve issues or delays in the referral process and support successful outcomes. Maintains accurate referral records and documentation; conducts community outreach and targeted provider research to expand and maintain referral resources, including providers serving traditionally marginalized populations and identified referral gaps.
• Clinical Collaboration and Referral Management Uses assembled information concerning a patient’s clinical background to determine appropriate referral options. Works on the referrals team using an interprofessional model that includes pediatric psychiatrists, psychologists, other licensed mental health professionals, and administrative staff. Manages and tracks patient referrals, ensuring all records are provided promptly and accurately. Uses the Electronic Medical Record to communicate referral information to team members, patients, families, and school staff, ensuring accuracy of all assigned records.

Marginal or Periodic Functions

• Researches and identifies referral resources for traditionally marginalized or underserved populations. Updates and maintains a list of emerging or unmet referral needs to support program planning.
• Participates in special projects, pilot workflows, or initiatives as assigned. Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure. Performs related duties as required. Other Job Duties may apply as assigned.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Customer Focus Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. Responds promptly and professionally to provider, patient, and family inquiries. Anticipates referral issues and proactively resolves barriers to access. Ensures referral processes support timely, coordinated care. Understands, manages, and improves work processes. Applies standardized referral workflows consistently across the team. Identifies inefficiencies and recommends process or system improvements. Ensures compliance with referral standards and documentation requirements.
• Informing Provides timely, accurate information to others through appropriate communication channels. Communicates referral requirements clearly to providers and internal partners. Documents referral information accurately and completely in the EMR. Shares updates regarding process changes or issues with team members.
• Interpersonal Savvy Relates well to people at all levels and builds effective working relationships. Establishes rapport with clinical, administrative, and community stakeholders. Navigates sensitive conversations with patients and families professionally. Collaborates effectively within an interdisciplinary team environment.
• Peer Leadership Gains support, cooperation, and commitment from others without formal authority. Provides day to day guidance and coaching to referrals staff. Encourages adherence to standards through influence and example. Supports team performance and morale during periods of high workload.
• Organizing Plans, schedules, and organizes work in an efficient and productive manner. Manages multiple referrals, follow ups, and priorities simultaneously. Tracks referral status and deadlines accurately. Maintains focus and accuracy in a fast paced, detail oriented environment.

Education & Experience

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Health Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field with at least 4 year(s) of experience in coordinating or administering a program, service operation, care coordination function, or referral based workflow. Proficiency in electronic systems including, but not limited to, Google Suite, Trayt, Slack, Athena or Epic, Calendly. For classified jobs, include whether relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate: Yes.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: in with at least year(s) of experience in 2 or more years of professional experience in care coordination or case management. Proficient PC skills with emphasis on Excel. Health plan or provider order entry experience. Knowledge of medical and mental health terminology and/or medical coding. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Salary Range $49,000 + depending on qualifications.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED: None

PREFERRED: None

Working Environment/EQUIPMENT

• Standard office equipment
• Repetitive use of a keyboard

May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients, or others.

Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks: A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency: The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification: If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify: The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF].

Compliance: Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.