Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Administrator (HCPM/DBHR)

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Remote; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work and flexible schedules

Medical, dental, vision, and basiclife

Paid vacation, sick leave, and 12 paid

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

Retirement options

Training and professional development

Employee wellness programs

Job summary

The State of Washington seeks a Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Administrator to lead the statewide strategy for SUD treatment within the criminal legal system, overseeing policy and CJTA funding across counties, courts, and agencies.

You will translate legislation into practical, measurable plans, influence policy changes, and drive equity-focused outcomes. This is a full-time remote role with occasional in-person meetings across the state.

Qualifications

• Strategic leadership and experience translating priorities into measurable outcomes.
• Experience translating policy into implementation plans.
• Ability to manage risks, budgets, and contract oversight.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and training to counties and agencies receiving CJTA funding.
• Update CJTA policy, monitor the biennial budget, and lead implementation decisions.
• Plan quarterly Statewide CJTA Panel meetings.
• Lead data improvement efforts with county and regional BH-ASO contractors.
• Facilitate initiatives including medication-assisted treatment expansion in criminal-justice settings.
• Advise on Medicaid waivers and respond to legislative requests.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Policy analysis

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in public health or related field

Job description

Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Administrator

This is a full-time permanent, remote position. Employees may occasionally be asked to attend an in-person meeting or event based on business needs.

All HCA employees are required to be Washington state residents upon their first day of employment.

The Opportunity

Bring your expertise at the intersection of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and the criminal legal system to a role with statewide reach. The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) is seeking a Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Administrator (Health Care Program Manager) to lead strategy and implementation for Washington's statewide approach to SUD treatment for people involved in the criminal legal system, across jails, prisons, courts, and law enforcement. You will oversee policy and administration of the $30 million Criminal Justice Treatment Account (CJTA), influence the state's response to applicable federal and state policy changes affecting individuals with behavioral challenges and criminal legal system involvement, and translate legislation and policy into practical plans with measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide administrative leadership, technical assistance, and training to the counties, regions, and behavioral health agencies that receive CJTA funding.
• Formulate and update statewide CJTA policy and contract language, monitor the biennial budget, and lead programmatic decisions on its implementation.
• Plan and facilitate quarterly meetings of the Statewide Criminal Justice Treatment Account Panel (RCW 71.24.580),
• Lead data improvement efforts with county and regional BH-ASO contractors.
• Facilitate the Criminal Legal Opioid and Overdose Workgroup, and all relative initiatives, as part of statewide efforts to address overdose and substance use for individuals in the criminal legal system under the State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan.
• Advise on the impacts of the Medicaid 1115 reentry waiver, H.R. 1, and other state and national policy, and respond to ad hoc requests from legislators and the Governor's Office
• Facilitate sequential intercept model (SIM) mapping with the Administrative Office of the Courts to identify gaps in services at each intercept.
• Identify and apply for federal grants, submit required reports, and negotiate and manage performance-based contracts tied to each award.
• Lead the adoption of national best practice standards across therapeutic courts, including expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in court and jail settings.
• Provide subject matter expertise on various statewide workgroups, including the Reentry Access Workgroup and the Washington State Tribal Opioid and Fentanyl Task Force's Public Safety and Justice System workgroup.
• Manage cross-agency efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in therapeutic courts.

Why You’ll Love This Role

• You’ll shape how Washington supports people with substance use disorders as they move through the criminal legal system, from first contact through reentry and recovery.
• You’ll lead statewide work at a pivotal time, as the Medicaid 1115 reentry waiver and federal policy changes reshape care for justice-involved individuals.
• You’ll work alongside courts, counties, Tribes, and community partners to build a more compassionate, evidence-based system.
• You’ll work remotely, with occasional travel to connect with partners across the state.

What You Bring

You lead with compassion and respect, putting people first and recognizing the unique needs of those impacted by the criminal legal system, considering overlapping identities. You are a collaborative consensus-builder who can bring partners like law enforcement, courts, treatment providers, advocates, and government together around a shared goal, even when priorities compete. You are proactive in offering strategies and solutions, leveraging data, research, and experience to inform your decision-making. You think strategically, stay steady in a fast-changing policy landscape, and hold yourself accountable for results. You communicate clearly with audiences ranging from county officials to legislators, and you bring an equity lens to every decision.

Required Qualifications

Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and application.

• Demonstrated experience translating organizational priorities, legislative direction, health care policy, and/or emerging program needs into short- and long-term strategies, program objectives, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience establishing performance expectations and assessing program quality, effectiveness, outcomes, risks, and operational performance.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and manage significant programmatic risks, including regulatory, fiscal, contractual, operational, and/or reputational, and establish controls, mitigation strategies, and corrective actions that protect program integrity and support organizational objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and build consensus with cross-system partners, such as criminal legal system staff, advocates, providers, and state and local government officials, toward a shared goal while establishing accountability and resolving competing priorities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of national and local best practices in behavioral health care in criminal legal system settings, including evidence-based and research-based practices.[SM1]
• Demonstrated proficiency in mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity for individuals with behavioral health disorders involved in the criminal legal system.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Washington State drug policy landscape.

Required Competencies

• Equity lens – All HCA employees are required to consider equity in their decisions, processes, and day-to-day work, including how their work may affect the people and communities we serve.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow – You take action to learn and grow by seeking new perspectives, learning from experiences, and using what you’ve learned to continuously improve how you work and serve others.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others – You take action to meet the needs of others by listening, understanding different perspectives, and responding with care, respect, and solutions that support the people of the communities we serve.

Preferred Qualifications

While these are not required, having them may help you stand out as an applicant.

• A bachelor's or master's degree in public health, behavioral health, public administration, business administration, social work, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated consultative or supervisory experience in health services, social services, Medicaid, behavioral health, or other health care programs.
• Experience as a Health Care Program Specialist in State government.
• Demonstrated experience developing, writing, administering, and managing grants, including monitoring requirements, deliverables, and outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience managing contracts, including monitoring performance, deliverables, compliance, and contract requirements.
• Demonstrated experience applying knowledge of the Washington State Medicaid landscape, behavioral health systems, and the needs of individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage program budgets, expenditures, contracts, staffing or other resources; establish priorities; evaluate competing demands; and allocate resources to achieve program objectives while maintaining fiscal and operational accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively through verbal and written communication with diverse internal and external audiences.

About the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR)

The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) provides leadership to improve the health status of vulnerable populations, improve economic stability and self-sufficiency, and improve individual and public safety. DBHR promotes strategies that support healthy lifestyles by preventing the misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and supporting recovery. This position is located in the Criminal Legal Systems & Blake Projects Unit within DBHR's Adult Substance Use Disorder Treatment Section.

About the Washington State Health Care Authority

Better Health. Better Care. A Healthier Washington.

At HCA, we work to ensure people across Washington have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. As the State’s largest health care purchaser and behavioral health authority, HCA serves nearly 3 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs, and behavioral health services. Through this work, HCA purchases and coordinates care coverage, supports behavioral health prevention, treatment, crisis response, and recovery and helps strengthen access to high-quality care across Washington. Learn more about why HCA by visiting the Voices of HCA and the Who we are section of our website.

More than a benefits package:

We want our employees to have the support, flexibility, and benefits they need to do their best work and build a career that works for their life. As a Washington State HCA employee, you’ll have access to a comprehensive benefits package that supports your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Our benefits are designed to support you today while helping you plan for the future. Learn more about why HCA by visiting the Voices of HCA and the Who we are section of our website.

• Remote work and flexible schedules
• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
• Retirement options to plan for the future
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Employee wellness programs
• Learn more about Washington State Employee Benefits

Your total compensation is more than your paycheck

• Remote work and flexible schedules
• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
• Retirement options to plan for the future
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Employee wellness programs
• Learn more about Washington State Employee Benefits

Work Location and Schedule:

This is a full-time 40-hour-per-week remote position. Our standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with alternative work schedules considered based on business needs and supervisor approval. In this role you will regularly collaborate with colleagues, agency leaders, state and federal partners, and other external partners or customers. Occasional travel may be required for meetings, training, or other business needs. All employees are required to report to our Olympia office on their first and final day of employment.

Our commitment to an inclusive workplace:

The Health Care Authority is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a workplace where employees are respected, included, and supported in bringing their experiences, perspectives, and ideas to work. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in how we work together and serve the people of Washington. HCA also supports five voluntary employee led Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which create opportunities for connection, community, learning, and professional growth.

Veterans:

We value the experience and skill veterans bring to the workforce and encourage veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to apply. Eligible veterans may qualify for veterans’ preference in accordance with Washington State Law. If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you must attach your applicable DD-214 documentation to your application. Please redact your social security number, date of birth, and any other sensitive information before uploading and attaching the document.

Union Representation:

This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Once the position(s) is(are) filled, this recruitment announcement may also be used to fill additional position(s) for up to sixty (60) days.

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is an E-Verify employer. All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.