What You'll Be Doing

Wake County is seeking an innovative, passionate, flexible, and collaborative professional to join the team as a new Behavioral Health Program Manager. The Program Manager will serve as a key liaison between healthcare providers, law enforcement, social service agencies, community stakeholders and individuals with lived experience to foster collaborative relationships, ensuring everyone has a voice and support through a coordinated crisis response system.

Wake County has a vision for all individuals to have the opportunity to thrive through a community that works together to offer a compassionate, accessible, recovery-oriented and integrated behavioral health system of care. To support this vision, this new position has been created, focused on behavioral health crisis services and the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system. The Behavioral Health Program Manager will lead and coordinate County priorities related to these systems.
Wake County Behavioral Health does not deliver direct services but instead plays a leadership role, helping community-based programs work effectively together to improve access to and the quality of behavioral health care. The Program Manager will facilitate collaboration across community partners, addressing complex problems related to system barriers, communicating regularly with stakeholders, and tracking progress.

The Program Manager must be culturally knowledgeable and sensitive, a strong and patient communicator, and have the ability to bring critical partnerships together to achieve community-wide goals. The ideal candidate will be an innovative thinker, managing day-to-day project activities, addressing issues and risks, ensuring programmatic quality, and overseeing programmatic administrative functions such as budget. This position offers a hybrid schedule with both in-person and remote work.

The Program Manager will:

• Through collaboration with community partners, lead the coordination of the community’s behavioral health crisis services, by maximizing the partnerships between the behavioral health and the criminal justice systems
• Continuously evaluate and improve the effectiveness and responsiveness of the crisis system, with a focus on reducing reliance on emergency services, diverting individuals from the justice system, promoting community-based care alternatives and prioritizing equity in service delivery.
• Work with county leadership to develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance the crisis system, improve accessibility, ensure culturally competent care and reduce justice system involvement for individuals with behavioral health conditions
• Collect, analyze, and report on crisis and justice system performance metrics to inform program improvements and policy decisions. Track key outcomes, including reductions in justice system involvement and hospitalization rates for individuals with behavioral health conditions
• Engage with community members, advocacy groups, and stakeholders to build awareness of available crisis services, justice services and receive feedback for continuous improvement.
• Ensure that crisis providers, law enforcement and justice personnel are adequately trained in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and de-escalation techniques with a focus on valuing the experiences of all individuals. Develop and implement training programs as needed
• Identify potential funding opportunities, prepare grant proposals, and manage program budgets to support crisis services and justice services initiatives.
• Prepare and deliver presentation to senior management, stakeholders and community partners and elected officials

About Our Team

Improving the health and well-being of vulnerable residents is a top priority for Wake County. As a result, the County is expanding its leadership role to address system-wide opportunities, ensuring that all individuals have the chance to thrive in our community. Wake County is recognized for its professional management, innovative solutions to complex challenges, and strong partnerships with the community to create impactful programs.

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• Bachelors degree in related field
• Three years experience in related field
• Equivalent education and experience are accepted

• Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Experience navigating and working in behavioral health systems and familiarity with local community resources
• Familiarity with Medicaid, Medicare, and other funding mechanisms for behavioral health services
• Experience with trauma-informed care and harm reduction approaches
• Extensive facilitation skills
• Experience in policy development and implementation within a government or community-based setting
• Master’s degree in a discipline related to the position is a plus, but not essential

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• Strong understanding of behavioral health crisis services, systems of care, and crisis intervention best practices, as well as knowledgeable about the intersection of the justice system and behavioral health
• Proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations
• Experienced collaborator and facilitator with the ability to take initiative and manage cross-organizational groups and multidisciplinary projects
• The ability to proactively identify and solve problems and barriers
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities
• Proficiency in data analysis and the ability to use data to drive decisions and evaluate program effectiveness
• Strong communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to present to various audiences
• Ability to plan and implement budgetary, purchasing and accounting practices and procedures

About This Position

Location: Justice Center Raleigh, NC

Employment Type: Regular

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:15 pm

Hiring Range: $85,000 - $97,000, starting salary based on experience and education

Market Range: 66,270.00 - 112,663.00

Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Posting Closing Date: Priority consideration will be given to applications received by September 30, 2024, however, the posting will remain open until a successful candidate has been identified

What Makes Wake Great

Home to the State Capital, Wake County is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation and the most populous county in the state, with more than 1.1 million residents. The County has received national and international rankings and accolades from publications such as Money, Fortune, and Time magazines as being one of the best places to live, work and play. The central location of the County allows for a short drive to the spectacular mountains or coast. Wake County Government is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, who are elected at-large to serve two-year terms. Wake County Government has a general operating budget of $1.874 billion, employs over 4400 employees, experiences minimal turnover, and is an award-winning leader in wellness and technology initiatives; such as offering employees and covered spouses free access to the Employee Health Center. Wake County Government offers a wide range of training and development opportunities, a stable career in public service with a balance of work and family life, flexible work schedules and a competitive salary and benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Wake County provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

Background Check Statement

Position may require a background check that may include: criminal, credit, motor vehicle, education, and sexual offender registry or others based on job requirements. Unless required by state law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude you from consideration for employment. Wake County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Emergency Service Worker Statement

In the event of an emergency, as determined by the County Manager or designee, participation in preparedness and response operations should be expected. Employee may be required to fill a temporary assignment in a role different from standard duties, work hours and/or work location in preparation for, during and after the emergency. Employee may also be required to participate in relevant exercises and regular preparedness training.

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• Wake County Government

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