Mental Health Programs Manager

MaineGuide; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 63,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Retirement plan

Sick leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Maine Department of Health and Human Services in Augusta seeks a Mental Health Program Manager to develop statewide policies and oversee contracts for services across OBH. You will ensure program compliance with MaineCare policy, monitor performance, and coordinate with contracts and finance teams.

The role requires extensive experience in social services and contract oversight, with travel across the state to site-visit providers and assess program outcomes.

Qualifications

• Eight-year combination of education and/or professional experience in social services to include two years of related program management experience.
• Experience working with adults with serious mental illness and/or overseeing service providers.
• Knowledge of assessments and evidence-based practices for mental health services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement statewide policies, procedures, and plans for effective, client-centered public mental health services.
• Develop, implement, and oversee contracts for services to improve operations and effectiveness of community programs.
• Provide oversight of OBH contracts, draft agreements, and manage required documentation and budgets.
• Analyze OBH contract performance and forecast spending trends with finance and data teams.
• Conduct site visits to ensure compliance with MaineCare policy and grant contracts.
• Analyze service encounter reports to determine eligibility of services.

Skills

Program management

Contracts management

Mental health knowledge

Data analysis

Education

Social services experience

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Department ofHealth and Human Services (DHHS)

Social Services Manager I

Opening Date:September 10, 2026

Closing Date:September 23, 2026

Job Class Code:5065

Grade:27 (Supervisory Svs)

Salary:$62,566.40 - $88,337.60*

*This is inclusive of a 1.00% recruitment and retention stipend

Position Number:03200-1151

Location:This position is located in Augusta and requires significant travel for site visits, mileage is reimbursed.

-ANTICIPATED VACANCY-

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Core Responsibilities:

As Mental Health Program Manager for the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), you will assist in the development and implementation of statewide policies, procedures, and plans in order to ensure effective, quality, client-centered public mental health services, including ensuring the protections for those members with a serious mental illness are meeting the standards as defined in MaineCare policy. You will develop, implement, and oversee new and revised contracts for services in order to improve the operations and effectiveness of community programs and services. Typical duties will include:

• Providing support and oversight of programs within OBH to include working with providers to effectively fund needed mental health services across the state.
• Monitoring and evaluating program efficiency and effectiveness through the development of performance measures and metrics.
• Drafting contractual agreements to include the completion of all required documentation and budgets. This position works closely with the OBH Contracts Team to complete provider agreements.
• Analyzing the performance of OBH contracts and working with contract administrators, finance staff, and the Data Team to forecast spending trends to make informed allocation decisions.
• Conduct site visits on mental health agencies to ensure compliance in grant contracts and MaineCare policy.
• Analyze service encounter reports to determine eligibility of services.

Minimum Qualifications:

In order to qualify, you must have an eight (8) year combination of education and/or professional experience in social services to include two (2) years of related program management experience.

The background of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

• Experience working with adults- with serious mental illness and/or overseeing service providers.
• Experience with contracts management.
• Knowledge of assessments and evidence-based practices for mental health services.

Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) within DHHS is responsible for providing leadership and active partnership in Maine’s comprehensive system of support to communities and individuals with substance use and mental health conditions through a network of community providers.

The OBH takes responsibility for a behavioral health continuum of care that serves the whole person, the whole community. We promote a population health approach that includes a full spectrum of services from early intervention, treatment, crisis care, to recovery. Our role is to ensure Mainers with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders are not just symptom free but living a life of dignity, hope, and meaning. We partner with providers, communities, and citizens to offer support, resources, education, training, technical assistance, and services.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Brianne Masselli at [e-mail]

To request a paper application, please contact [e-mail]

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit– Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance– The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan– The State contributes the equivalent of 14.06% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leaveis one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated foranything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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