Program Director V

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD

Houston (TX)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 160,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Retirement plan with company matching

Paid time off accrual

Cell phone discounts

Headspace subscription

Employee Assistance Program

Student loan forgiveness programs

Job summary

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in Houston, TX, is seeking a Program Director V for our Jail Based Competency Restoration team. You will provide overarching leadership to JBCR and FSPA services, ensure quality, and align operations with state statutes.

Responsibilities include supervising staff, coordinating daily operations, reporting to stakeholders, and working closely with Harris County agencies to maintain timely, compliant service delivery.

Qualifications

Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent.
LPC, LMFT, LCSW required.
At least 7 years’ experience working in mental health, including 5 years’ supervisory experience.
Experience in jail/correctional settings with competency restoration knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise designated unit staff to facilitate optimal supervision in job duties.
Evaluate staff performance and institute disciplinary actions when needed in collaboration with the Director of Court Services.
Coordinate and implement business activities to maintain day-to-day operations per procedures and 46B guidelines.
Monitor State Hospital Waitlist defendants and ensure clinically appropriate referrals and services.
Report information to community stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.
Assist in hiring and disciplinary processes up to termination of staff.
Institute procedures to address incidents/safety issues and liability risks.
Ensure compliance with policies, accrediting bodies, and contractual requirements.
Monitor defendant services for quality and clinical appropriateness for OCR/JBCR.

Skills

Leadership

Supervisory

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication

Legal compliance

Education

Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent

Job description

Brief Description

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD is hiring a Program Director V for our Jail Based Competency Restoration team! The Program Director V provides comprehensive support to the operations of the Jail Based Competency Restoration (JBCR) Program and the Forensic Single Portal Authority (FSPA) Program. This includes monitoring defendant services for quality and clinical appropriateness for Harris County Competency Restoration Programs (OCR/JBCR). In addition, this position provides oversight of staff providing JBCR and FSPA services to mental health defendants in the Harris County Jail. Requires programmatic and fiscal supervision, communication with community stakeholders, collaboration with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, District and County Courts at law, and the submission of documentation to the courts, stakeholders, and state entities such as HHSC in a timely manner and in accordance with the Texas CCP 46B, TAC, and all other applicable statutes

Your Role In Action

Provides supervision to designated unit staff to facilitate optimal supervision in the performance of job duties.

Evaluates work performance of staff supervised and institutes written disciplinary actions for substandard performance when needed in collaboration with the Director of Court Services to ensure productivity standards, documentation and data submission.

Coordinates and implements business activities necessary to maintain day-to-day operations in accordance with organization/departmental procedures and 46B statutory guidelines.

Ensures daily monitoring of State Hospital Waitlist defendants, including those currently in a Harris County competency restoration program, those who have returned from state hospital, and those discharging into the community to ensure defendants receive clinically appropriate referrals and services.

Report information to community stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.

Arranges for coverage to ensure services are being provided for all orders received.

Participates in the hiring and disciplinary process up to and termination of supervised staff.

Institutes procedures/actions of follow up on incidents/safety issues that pose a liability risk for the agency and/or have a significant impact on the quality of consumer care.

Complies with the Harris Center and Harris County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, accrediting/regulatory bodies and contractual requirements.

Performs other related duties as assigned and adapts to a fast-paced and changing work environment.

Monitors defendant services for quality and clinical appropriateness for Harris County Competency Restoration Programs (OCR/JBCR).

Complies reports and distributes according to departmental/organizational procedures, 46B guidelines, and state and county monitoring requirements.

Education

What qualifications you will need:

Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent

LPC, LMFT, LCSW required.

Experience:

At least 7 years’ experience working in mental health to include 5 years’ of previous supervisory experience.

Experience working in a jail or correctional setting with working knowledge of competency restoration and related statutes is preferred.

Requires Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Must have well developed interpersonal, organizational skills, and be able to collaborate as part of a leadership and treatment team.

Must have a desire to provide a high level of customer service with effective time management and organizational skills.

Possess strong verbal and written communication skills and interact effectively at all times both within, and outside of, the agency.

Possess a basic knowledge of statutes related to competency restoration and defendants opined incompetent to stand trial.

Must maintain current licensure/credentials with appropriate state licensure board.

Ability to effectively lead others.

Must be able to identify and offer solutions to resolve problems using sound analytical, creative, and problem-solving skills.

Must possess a working knowledge of the organization and strategic goals as they relate to the unit so as to identify helpful resources.

Able to work independently and willing to work on assigned shifts/days.

About Us

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The Harris Center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.

What Else You Should Know

This posting is associated with position #62083

Location Harris County Jail 1200 Baker St. Houston, TX 77072

Shift Monday -Friday 8am -5pm

What We Have To Offer

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally.

Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long‑term financial well‑being.

Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well‑deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness.

Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well‑being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team.

As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.