Director of Behavioral Health

Position Summary

The Director of Behavioral Health provides strategic, clinical, operational, and cultural leadership for NACC's Behavioral Health Division. This position is responsible for developing an integrated model of care that advances individual, family, and community well-being through the combined strengths of Indigenous healing traditions, relational practices, community connection, and evidence-based behavioral health services.

The Director serves as both a clinical and organizational leader, overseeing behavioral health services while strengthening collaboration across departments to ensure behavioral health is fully integrated into NACC's mission, programs, and community impact efforts.

Grounded in NACC's values and Indigenous ways of knowing, the Director fosters a culture of belonging, accountability, healing, and relational responsibility among staff, patients, families, and community partners.

The Director is responsible for strategic planning, program development, workforce development, financial stewardship, quality outcomes, regulatory compliance, community partnerships, and the ongoing advancement of culturally responsive behavioral health services.

Key Leadership Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Provide vision, leadership, and oversight for all behavioral health services and programs.
• Develop and implement a multi-year strategic plan for Behavioral Health aligned with NACC's organizational priorities.
• Lead efforts to strengthen integration between Behavioral Health, Medical, Dental, Traditional Healing, Community Impact, Research, and Operations.
• Participate as a member of the organizational leadership team and contribute to organization-wide planning, decision-making, and culture development.
• Support implementation of organizational redesign efforts and emerging leadership structures.

Indigenous Models of Care & Relational Well-Being

• Advance behavioral health models that honor Indigenous knowledge, cultural identity, belonging, community connection, and traditional healing practices.
• Partner with Traditional Healing leadership to identify opportunities for integrated service delivery.
• Support development of innovative programming including land-based healing, cultural mentorship, youth engagement, family wellness initiatives, and community-based services.
• Ensure services reflect the strengths, traditions, values, and lived experiences of Native communities.
• Promote a relational model of care that views patients as relatives and healing as a collective process.

Clinical Leadership

• Provide clinical oversight and direction for behavioral health services.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, ethical, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care.
• Monitor clinical outcomes, access, utilization, quality measures, and patient experience.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, tribal, payer, accreditation, and licensing requirements.
• Support continuous quality improvement efforts.

Workforce Development & Culture

• Recruit, retain, develop, and support a high-performing and diverse behavioral health workforce.
• Prioritize recruitment and development of Native American behavioral health professionals aligned with the organization mission and commitment to community.
• Steward a healthy workplace culture grounded in respect, humility, honesty, courage, wisdom, truth, and kindness.
• Provide coaching, supervision, mentoring, and leadership development.
• Facilitate constructive dialogue, accountability, and conflict resolution within the department.
• Model emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relational leadership.

Financial & Operational Stewardship

• Develop and manage departmental budgets.
• Monitor productivity/ provider responsibilities, revenue, expenses, grants, contracts, and service utilization.
• Identify opportunities for sustainable growth while maintaining alignment with mission and community need.
• Collaborate with Finance and Development teams to pursue funding opportunities and support grant initiatives.
• Use data and outcomes to inform decision-making and resource allocation.

Community Partnership & Advocacy

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with tribal communities, schools, healthcare organizations, social service agencies, and community partners.
• Serve as an advocate for Native American health equity, behavioral health access, and community wellbeing.
• Represent NACC in community, professional, and policy settings.
• Support outreach efforts that expand access to care for youth, families, and underserved populations.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree or doctoral degree in Social Work, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, Counseling, or related behavioral health field.
• Current independent clinical licensure in Minnesota or ability to obtain licensure.
• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible behavioral health leadership experience.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, grants, and clinical operations.
• Experience working with Native American communities and Indigenous health initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships, lead change, and develop innovative programs.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred

• Indigenous/Native American identity and/or deep lived experience working within Native communities.
• MBA, MPA, MPH, or additional leadership training.
• Experience integrating traditional healing and Western behavioral health approaches.
• Experience in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), tribal health systems, community health centers, or nonprofit healthcare organizations.
• Experience developing youth and family-centered behavioral health programs.
• Experience with grant development and program evaluation.

Indigenous Leadership Competencies

Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate

• Humility in leadership
• Commitment to relational accountability
• Ability to navigate difficult conversations with respect and transparency
• Courage to address complex organizational challenges
• Wisdom in balancing mission, community need, and financial sustainability
• Respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural practices
• Commitment to fostering belonging for staff, patients, and community