Director of Behavioral Health

Job Summary:

The Director of Behavioral Health provides executive, clinical, administrative, and strategic leadership for the Pueblo of San Felipe Behavioral Health Department and all behavioral health service delivery locations including village-, school-based-, substance use treatment-, prevention-, and equine-assisted psychotherapy services. The Director is responsible for ensuring clinical excellence, patient safety, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, fiscal stewardship, workforce development, grant management and operational effectiveness throughout the entire behavioral health system.

The Director promotes the delivery of evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive behavioral health services and established performance standards that improve access, quality, patient outcomes, and community wellness. Incumbent collaborates with Tribal leadership, Health & Wellness leadership, Indian Health Service, educational institutions, community stakeholders, and funding agencies to advance behavioral health initiatives and long-term strategic priorities.

The Director serves as a member of the Health & Wellness leadership team and participates in on-call rotation, providing leadership and consultation during behavioral health emergencies, suicide-risk situations, critical incidents, and community crises.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Behavioral Health System Leadership and Strategic Direction:

Direct and oversee all Behavioral Health Programs, services, personnel, and operations in accordance with Tribal priorities, Indian Health Service P.L. 93-638 agreements, applicable grant requirements and organizational strategic goals

Provide executive leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of Behavioral Health programs to ensure accessible, culturally responsive, trauma-informed and evidence-based services

Collaborate with Health & Wellness, Medical, Clinical Services, Tribal Administration, community partners and external agencies to advance integrated behavioral health services and improve community health outcomes

Represent the Behavioral Health Department in leadership meetings, interagency collaborations, community partnerships, and stakeholder engagements

Clinical Excellence, Quality and Patient Safety

Provide administrative and clinical oversight of licensed and non-licensed behavioral health professionals, contractors, interns and support staff to ensure delivery of high-quality behavioral health services

Promote a culture of clinical excellence through implementation of evidence-based practices, clinical performance standards, peer review activities, quality improvement initiatives and ongoing workforce development

Establish and monitor systems for clinical documentation, chart audits, utilization review, treatment effectiveness, patient outcomes, risk management and patient safety

Participate in credentialing, privileging, competency assessment and professional practice evaluations of behavioral health providers

Compliance, Regulatory Oversight and Risk Management

Ensure departmental compliance with Tribal, Federal, State and local laws, regulations professional standards, accreditation requirements, grant conditions, HIPAA requirements and Indian Health Service policies

Maintain accountability for legal, regulatory, licensing, certification and audit readiness activities affecting Behavioral Health services

Develop, implement and monitor policies, procedures and internal controls that promote compliance, ethical practice, risk reduction and organizational accountability

Program Development, Grants and Financial Management

Provide leadership and oversight for all grant-funded behavioral health programs, including program implementation, budget development, grant compliance, reporting, performance measures and sustainability planning

Identify funding opportunities, support grant development efforts and coordinate braided funding strategies to maximize resources and expand services

Evaluate community needs and behavioral health trends to develop new programs, services and initiatives that improve access, effectiveness and health outcomes

Monitor departmental budgets, contracts, grants and operational resources to ensure responsible fiscal stewardship and achievement of program objectives

Workforce Leadership and Organizational Development

Direct recruitment, hiring, orientation, supervision, performance management, professional development and corrective action processes for Behavioral Health staff

Foster a positive workplace culture that supports employee engagement, professional growth, accountability and retention

Ensure appropriate staffing models, workload management, clinical supervision structures and succession planning to support operational effectiveness

Community Partnerships and Integrated Care

Serve as the primary Behavioral Health liaison to healthcare providers, schools, Tribal programs, social services, courts, Indian Health Services, treatment facilities and community organizations

Strengthen partnerships that improve continuity of care, care coordination, prevention services, crisis intervention, substance use treatment and recovery support services

Promote integrated care practices and system-wide collaboration between behavioral health, substance use, medical, educational and community service providers

Crisis Response and On-Call Leadership

Participate in executive and clinical on-call coverage and provide leadership during behavioral health emergencies, community crises, suicide-risk situations, critical incidents and other urgent mental health events

Ensure implementation of crisis intervention protocols, emergency behavioral health response procedures, safety planning and coordination with emergency service providers and community partners

Provide consultation and support for complex clinical cases, high-risk situations and incidents requiring administrative or clinical leadership intervention

Performance Measurement and Reporting

Establish and monitor departmental performance indicators, quality measures, patient outcomes, productivity standards and grant performance metrics

Prepare and present operational, clinical, quality improvement, financial and grant-related reports to leadership, governing bodies, funding agencies and regulatory entities

Utilize data and program evaluation findings to guide strategic planning, operational improvements and continuous quality improvement efforts

Qualifications

Education

Master’s or Doctoral degree in a Clinical Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Behavioral Health Administration, Public Health, or closely related field from an accredited institution. Doctoral degree preferred.

Experience/Basic Knowledge: Minimum of seven (7) years progressively responsible behavioral health leadership experience, including at least five (5) years of supervisory or management experience.

Experience managing grant-funded programs, behavioral health operations, budgets, quality improvements initiatives, regulatory compliance, and community-based programs required. Experience in tribal heath, Indian Health Service, FQHC, rural health, or integrated care settings preferred.

Required Licenses/Certification: Current New Mexico License as Mental Health Professional (i. e. Doctorate of Psychology, etc.) LPCC, LISW, LCSW, LMFT, or Licensed Clinical Psychologists. Prefer a valid driver’s license. CPR/First Aide Certification, Mental Health First Aid.

Physical Requirements: Must have manual dexterity to enter and retrieve data from a computer. Ability to sit and stand for long periods. Bends and stoops regularly.

Preferences: San Felipe Preference and Veteran’s Preference.