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PROGRAM MANAGER SENIOR IV

Director of Behavioral Health and Mental Wellness

Recruitment #23-005485-0028

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Introduction

This Management Service position serves at the Appointing Authority's pleasure.

A resume must accompany your application.

MISSION: To transform young people’s lives, create safer communities, and forge more equitable systems through community-based partnerships that hold youth accountable while building on their strengths and support systems.

VISION: Providing pathways to success for youth and families through partnerships across Maryland.

GRADE

26

LOCATION OF POSITION

217 E. Redwood Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

Main Purpose of Job

The Director of Behavioral Health and Mental Wellness position plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety within the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) by providing leadership in best-practice mental health and substance abuse services for youth in custody. With oversight of an $8.8 million budget for detention and placement services, including private vendors, totaling approximately $51.5 million annually, the Director administers an additional $860,000 budget for court-ordered assessments. These assessments guide commitment decisions, prevent at-risk youth from entering the juvenile justice system, and implement intervention strategies for first-time and non-serious offenders. The Director also provides crucial oversight to Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Transformational Model (CTM), and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programs, including training and curriculum implementation.

This position is eligible to work a hybrid telework schedule.

POSITION DUTIES

As the Director of Behavioral Health and Mental Wellness, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing public safety by providing visionary leadership to ensure the implementation of best-practice mental health and substance abuse services.

This position's key responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Leadership and Oversight: 
  • Directs the operations of the behavioral health and substance use assessments unit 
  • Establishes and leads the assessment team for comprehensive evaluations of youth in residential care 
  • Develops unit operating procedures, ensuring compliance with established protocols 
  • Utilizes appropriate assessment tools, maintaining fidelity to the highest standards in assessment report quality 
  • Establishes and oversees interdisciplinary staffing/placement teams for comprehensive identification of youth needs, including pending placement 
  • Reviews and approves services and programs, providing crucial guidance to ensure that youth needs are appropriately addressed by providers and facility staff 

Ensuring Compliance with Standards and Accrediting Bodies: 
  • Oversee the provision of behavioral health and substance abuse services in the facilities by monitoring the performance of psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed counselors, psychiatrists, and interns 
  • Monitor staffing to ensure the efficient and appropriate allocation of resources to serve the needs of the populations 
  • Develop and implement a quality assurance program for the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services 
  • Develop and coordinate training and monitors to ensure that professional staff maintains appropriate licensure and certification 
  • Meet routinely with providers to instruct, train, and evaluate the provision of services in keeping with industry standards and best practices 

Ensures Fidelity of Evidence-Based Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: 
  • Monitor utilization and outcome reports, research, and training 
  • Oversee providers through weekly utilization reports, monthly meetings, and monthly collaborative calls 
  • Collaborate with staff to monitor developments in vendor fidelity, outcomes, and new advances in evidence-based practices 

Overseeing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: 
  • Assess needs and approve contracts with private vendors and intergovernmental agreements (IAAs) for mental health and addiction services 
  • Develop policies and best practice procedures for mental health and substance abuse programs and services, monitoring their quality implementation 
  • Ensure coordinated and quality services are provided to youth in the care of DJS 

Leading Champion and Expert in Youth Mental Health and Substance Abuse Matters: 
  • Consults with mental health, substance abuse, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who offer care and consultation services to DJS 
  • Consults and testifies as appropriate at the juvenile court on behalf of Department matters related to DJS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in the social or behavioral sciences or criminal justice from an accredited four-year college or university.

Experience: Five (5) years of experience in workforce and program development initiatives, youth programming, staff supervision and leadership role with a demonstrated progression of responsibilities.

Note: Candidates may substitute possession of a bachelor's degree with at least ten (10) years of managerial experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in conflict resolution, crisis response and management, and fostering positive employee/management relations

Experience reviewing and/or approving services and programs and providing crucial guidance to ensure that youth needs are appropriately addressed by providers and facility staff

Experience developing and implementing quality assurance programs for the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services

Experience supervising the performance of psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed counselors, psychiatrists, etc. in an institution that provides behavioral health and substance abuse services

Experience developing policies and best practices for mental health and substance abuse programs and services, as well as monitoring their quality implementation

SELECTION PROCESS

Please ensure you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date; we will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates may be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the eligible (employment) list for at least one year.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

The assessment will be a rating of your application based on your education, training, and experience related to the position’s requirements. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all related experience and education. For education obtained outside the U.S., you must provide proof of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service.

BENEFITS

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application is preferred. However, if you are unable to apply online, you may email or mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to the address below or fax a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to the fax number below. If you choose to fax or use regular mail, you must include on each page of the attachment your First and Last Name, the Recruitment Number located at the top of the bulletin, and the last 4 digits of your SS#. Paper application materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date for this recruitment. No postmarks will be accepted. Incomplete application forms will not be accepted.

Maryland Department of Juvenile Services   
OHR-Recruitment & Examination Unit   
Attn: Laurita Lesperance  
217 E. Redwood Street  Baltimore, MD 21202

Fax number 410-333-4188

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

Should additional information regarding this recruitment be required, please contact the DJS Office of Human Resources at djs.careers@maryland.gov. Include the Recruitment Number that is located at the top of the bulletin.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity.

Bilingual applicants are welcome to apply for all recruitments.

DJS values the experience gained by Veterans while serving our country. Veterans are welcome to apply for all current recruitments.

Candidates with lived experience relating to the criminal/juvenile legal system are encouraged to apply.




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