Manager, Behavioral Health Clinical Operations

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School seeks a Manager, Behavioral Health Clinical Operations to lead planning, development, and execution of pediatric mental health programs such as TCHATT, supervising program support teams and managing complex, high-impact projects.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Clinical Services, you will design policies, workflows, dashboards, and training materials to ensure compliant, scalable clinical operations and strong service delivery across Texas.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Health Administration, Public Health, Business, or related field with 7+ years of program management/coordination experience.
• 2+ years of leading a professional team with direct supervision.
• Knowledge of state and federal pediatric mental health policies, agencies, and resources.

Responsibilities

• Manages high-risk, high-impact projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Develops program strategies and monitors progress to align with goals.
• Oversees development and maintenance of policies, workflows, dashboards, and training materials.
• Represents assigned clinical programs to external partners and supports operational adoption.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Policy development

Project coordination

Communication

Team supervision

Dashboard design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Health Administration, Public Health, Business

Experience: 7+ years in program management/coordination

Job description

Job Posting Title: Manager, Behavioral Health Clinical Operations

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 Details

Dell Medical School is seeking a Manager, Behavioral Health Clinical Operations. This is a state-funded position sponsored by the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC).

This position has an end date of August 31, 2027, renewable based upon availability of funding, work performance, and progress toward program goals.

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 Manager, Behavioral Health Clinical Operations, supports the planning, development, and execution of clinical mental health programs, such as the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) and related initiatives, by leading clinical operations, supervising program support teams, and managing complex, high-impact projects. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Clinical Services, this role designs and implements policies, workflows, dashboards, and training materials to ensure compliant, scalable, and well-coordinated clinical operations. The Manager applies clinical expertise and program management skills to strengthen processes, collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, and support consistent service delivery across assigned programs.

Responsibilities

Clinical Operations Management & Strategy

• Manages high-risk, high-impact projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops program strategies and monitors project progress to ensure alignment with program goals and operational requirements.
• Determines clinical operations priorities and sequences tasks to support effective program execution.
• Develops, champions, and enforces the organization’s program management methodology, tools, and workflows.
• Identifies operational challenges, monitors service demand trends, and adjusts plans to maintain capacity, access, and continuity of care.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Provides direct supervision to program support staff and establishes performance goals and expectations.
• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates employees; develops promotion pathways and professional development plans aligned to program needs.
• Communicates consistently and effectively, including when addressing difficult subjects; shares clinical social work expertise in patient care and case management with supervisees.
• Facilitates team engagement, retention, and professional development initiatives to promote collaboration, accountability, and high performance.

Policy, Process, and Workflow Development

• Oversees the development and maintenance of policies, standard work, workflows, dashboards, training materials, and other assets that enable clinical operational effectiveness.
• Standardizes procedures across sites and teams to improve quality, efficiency, and scaling potential.
• Coordinates with IT and other administrative partners to ensure systems, contracts, and requests support operational needs.
• Conducts periodic audits of workflows and operational tools to ensure compliance, identify gaps, and drive continuous improvement.

Program Evaluation & Needs Assessment

• In collaboration with program leadership, conducts internal and external clinical needs assessments related to processes and service delivery.
• Establishes assessment criteria and metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical operations.
• Recommends sustainable and scalable improvements; may assist with development of program funding proposals.
• Synthesizes evaluation findings into clear recommendations and briefs to inform leadership decision-making and program planning.

Representation, Training & External Engagement

• Represents assigned clinical programs (e.g., TCHATT) and the institution to external stakeholders, including leaders in medical, nonprofit, government, and education sectors.
• Attends conferences and meetings; authors and delivers presentations; conducts trainings to support operational adoption and consistency.
• Serves as an operational subject-matter expert to external partners, guiding best practices for pediatric mental health service coordination and delivery.

Operational & Administrative Management

• Performs administrative functions related to program operations, including payment, purchase, contract, and IT request management in accordance with department policies and procedures.
• Maintains accurate operational documentation and ensures timely completion of reports, approvals, and compliance requirements.
• Coordinates tracking, follow-up, and resolution of outstanding administrative items to support timely operational workflow.

Other duties as identified by department

MARGINAL OR PERIODIC FUNCTIONS:

• Supports implementation of new technologies, platforms, or tools to enhance clinical operations.
• Prepares ad hoc operational reports, briefs, and data summaries for leadership or external partners.
• Coordinates surge and contingency planning for peak demand, staffing gaps, or emergent operational needs.
• Participates in cross-program committees or workgroups to align standards and share best practice for leadership.
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Process Management

• Designs, documents, and improves processes to increase reliability, throughput, and quality.
• Builds standard workflows, SOPs, and dashboards for clinical operations.
• Identifies bottlenecks and implements controls to reduce variability.
• Measures process performance and iterates based on data.

Directing Others

• Provides clear direction, delegates appropriately, and holds people accountable for results.
• Sets performance goals and provides timely, actionable feedback.
• Aligns assignments with skills and development plans.
• Intervenes early to address performance or behavior concerns.

Decision Quality

• Makes timely, evidence based decisions that balance risk, impact, and stakeholder input.
• Triages operational issues and selects pragmatic solutions.
• Uses operational metrics and clinical considerations to guide choices.
• Escalates appropriately for policy, legal, or budget implications.

Planning and Organizing

• Plans work, anticipates resource needs, sequences tasks, and manages risks for on time delivery.
• Builds implementation plans with milestones and owners.
• Coordinates across functions (clinical, IT, contracts) for readiness.
• Maintains contingency plans for staffing, technology, or vendor issues.

Building Effective Teams

• Fosters trust, defines roles, and creates an environment of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Facilitates structured huddles, debriefs, and knowledge sharing.
• Recognizes contributions and supports growth pathways.
• Promotes psychological safety and respectful communication.

Customer Focus

• Understands stakeholder needs and designs operational solutions that improve access and experience.
• Incorporates provider and school feedback into workflow design.
• Ensures referral, intake, and follow up processes are clear and responsive.
• Monitors service levels and addresses pain points proactively.

Organizational Agility

• Understands how to get things done through formal and informal channels to achieve results.
• Navigates policy, contracting, procurement, and IT processes efficiently.
• Builds alliances with enabling functions to accelerate execution.
• Communicates rationales and tradeoffs clearly to stakeholders.

Education & Experience

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Health Administration, Public Health, Business, or a related business or clinical field with at least 7 year(s) of experience in program management or coordination, including at least 2 years in a medical, educational, or non profit setting.

• 2 years leading a professional team with direct supervision of employees.
• Knowledge of state and federal policies, agencies, and/or resources related to pediatric mental health.

According to Executive Order No. GA-48 of the State of Texas: for all positions that research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), Business and Commerce Code, it is required that both candidates for employment and employees have the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in English/Spanish
• Experience in administrative or operational leadership within K-12, medical, or mental health settings.
• Experience developing, scaling, or sustaining technology enabled services, preferably telehealth.
• Knowledge of mental health policy, provider systems, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA and FERPA.
• Knowledge of project management and program improvement methodologies.
• Experience with management or compliance.
• Experience conducting or supporting program evaluation activities.
• Knowledge of telehealth platforms, tools, and best practices for pediatric mental health service delivery.
• Project management or quality improvement credential (e.g., PMP, Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt).
• Telehealth operations or compliance training/certification.

SUPERVISION

TITLE THIS JOB REPORTS TO AND JOB TITLES SUPERVISED:

• Direct Reports: Supervisor, Behavioral Health Support,

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY

N/A

DECISION-MAKING RESPONSIBILITY

Autonomous Decisions

• Establishes operational priorities, assigns staff, and reallocates resources to meet service levels.
• Approves SOP updates, training materials, and dashboard metrics within established guidelines.
• Selects operational tools and processes within approved platforms and budget thresholds.

Decisions Requiring Higher Level Approval

• Changes with policy, legal, compliance, or risk implications.
• Budget commitments beyond thresholds, new contracts/MOUs, or technology purchases outside standard platforms.
• Strategic shifts affecting clinical model, program scope, or external commitments.
• Position creation/reclassification, organizational redesign, or compensation impacts.
• departments.

Salary Range

$71,168 + depending on qualifications

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/EQUIPMENT

• Standard office equipment
• Repetitive use of a keyboard

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility: Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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

• 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.