Behavioral Health Compliance Officer

Salary : $92,601.60 - $124,092.80 Annually
Location : Oroville/Chico Area, CA
Job Type: Regular Help
Job Number:
Department: Behavioral Health Department
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Summary
This classification is scheduled to receive a 5% COLA effective July 2027.

Note: A training and experience evaluation may be utilized to determine an applicant's ranking among qualified candidates. Based upon information provided in this application including responses to supplemental questions, an applicant's education, training and experience (full-time equivalent) may be evaluated. Applicants should provide thoughtful and thorough responses to supplemental questions as they play an important role in this recruitment process. All qualifying work experience that is described or included in responses to supplemental questions MUST also be included and detailed in the "Work Experience" section of this application. "See Resume" is not an acceptable response for any supplemental question.
FLSA: Exempt

DEFINITION

Under general direction, manages, coordinates planning, development, implementation and monitoring of an effective ethics, compliance, and privacy program for Butte County Department of Behavioral Health by providing executive leadership to promote awareness and understanding of positive ethical and moral principles consistent with the mission, vision and values of the organization; oversees programs that ensure full compliance of Behavioral Health systems with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations; engaging and pro-actively supporting all levels of leadership and staff throughout Butte County Department of Behavioral Health.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction from the Director of Behavioral Health. Exercises direct supervision over supervisory, professional, and technical staff through subordinate levels of supervision.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is a management classification responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating the ethics, compliance, and privacy program for the Department of Behavioral Health. Incumbents are responsible for performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making responsibilities, which include program evaluation and developing and implementing policies and procedures for assigned programs. Incumbents serve as a professional-level resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within broad guidelines.

Essential Job Functions
EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Typical functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics. The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.

• Plans, manages, and oversees the daily functions, operations, and activities related to compliance, ethics, and privacy for Behavioral Health programs and services.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the division; recommends within division policy, appropriate service, and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Directs activities for system-wide compliance audits established to investigate and monitor compliance with standards and procedures required by federal and state laws, including supervising the audit activities conducted by contracted consultants.
• Evaluates, develops, and writes policies and procedures that establish standards for compliance and ensure privacy protection, giving specific guidance to management, medical staff, and individual departments or employees, as appropriate.
• Identification, implementation, and maintenance of the Butte County Behavioral Health's information privacy policies and procedures in coordination with Privacy Oversight Committee and legal counsel.
• Collaborates with other designated individuals to ensure policies and procedures relating to cyber privacy and security are developed and implemented for the organization's hardware, software and telecommunications systems.
• Oversees the patients' rights function and Cultural Competency role in the Behavioral Health department.
• Develops and implements orientation and ongoing educational programs designed to specifically promote an understanding of compliance issues and the consequences of noncompliance throughout Butte County Department of Behavioral Health.
• Maintains an awareness of laws and regulations, keeping abreast of current changes that may affect health care systems through personal research, seminars, and peer contact, ensuring that the organization is kept at the highest level of compliance.
• Reviews inquiries concerning billing, reports of noncompliance and results of documentation compliance audits and directs staff in areas needing corrective action.
• Participates in appropriate level of response, develops corrective action plans, oversees compliance investigations, including maintaining the utmost confidentiality of information reported by individuals in order to protect both the individual and the subject of the investigation.
• Maintains a system of tracking and reporting that provides timely and relevant information of all aspects of compliance incidents, issues, and violations and at all appropriate levels within the organization.
• Reviews complaints, concerns, or questions relative to compliance issues, and provides executive leadership and consult to all entities as appropriate, informing the Director of Behavioral Health or designee of major findings, problems and violations and recommends remedial correction and prevention actions.
• Works with all levels within the organization to ensure that internal controls throughout the system provide for accurate, complete and compliant programs and processes.
• Directs and participates in any external audit review process, resolution of compliance issues and respond to legal or administrative inquiry relative to compliance issues or audits.
• Prepares regular reports for Butte County Behavioral Health Director, Assistant Behavioral Health Director - Administration Compliance Committee, PHF committee, and subcommittees.
• May be called to report before the Board of Supervisors, as requested.
• Identifies potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; develops/implements corrective action plans for resolution of problematic issues, and provides general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar situations in the future. Incorporates lessons learned into Compliance Policies and provides supplemental training as needed.
• Initiates and manages an effective compliance communication program for the organization, including promoting (a) use of the compliance Hotline; (b) heightened awareness of Standards of Conduct, and (c) understanding of new and existing compliance issues and related policies and procedures.
• Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned personnel; works with employees to correct deficiencies; recommends and implements discipline and termination procedures.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Administrative principles, practices, and methods including goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, policy and procedure development, quality control and work standards.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes and ordinances relevant to the area of responsibility, including privacy, fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Current trends in health care policy, planning, finance and relatedlaws.
• Rules, regulations, policies, and standards related to the development, evaluation, and audit of behavioral health programs for conformance with specified laws.
• Accounting and auditing methods applicable to hospital and clinic operations.
• Principles, practices and techniques of healthcare administration, with special reference to organization, personnel management, and fiscal preparation and control.
• Principles of health care and hospital system organization and administration.
• Investigation and risk assessment methods, techniques, and procedures including research of alleged non-compliance of mandated regulations, information gathering, and process documentation.
• Planning and problem-solving methods.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability To:

• Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures and work standards.
• Provide administrative, management and professional leadership for behavioral health ethics, compliance, and privacy.
• Conduct periodic risk assessments and response plans.
• Respond promptly to detected offenses, developing corrective action, and reporting findings to the government via established channels.
• Conduct research of laws and other regulatory standards; develop policies, procedures, and practices to ensure Agency compliance with federal and State laws and regulations governing assigned programs.
• Provide effective training and evaluation programs to ensure proper application of Agency rules, regulations, and guidelines governing workplace behaviors and ethics.
• Understand, interpret and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures and standards relevant to work performed.
• Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow-up on assignments.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctorate (JD) degree and licensed by the Bar to practice law in the State of California, remaining active with all California Bar annual requirements, and maintaining a clear criminal record, and three (3) years of post-licensure or post-graduation experience in utilization review, quality improvement activities or equitable experiences in a hospital or health care setting, including one (1) year of supervisor experience; or

Possession of a valid license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) issued by the California Board of Behavioral Health Sciences, Master's level Registered Nurse or Clinical Psychologist issued by the California Board of Psychology, and three (3) years of post-licensure or post-graduation experience in utilization review, quality improvement activities or equitable experiences in a hospital or health care setting, including one (1) year of supervisor experience; or

A Master's degree in Health Care Administration or Public Administration, and three (3) years of post-licensure or post-graduation experience in utilization review, quality improvement activities or equitable experiences in a hospital or health care setting, including one (1) year of supervisor experience.

Certifications and Licenses:

• Must possess a valid US driver's license upon date of application. Must obtain California driver's license following hire date per California DMV regulations.

Environmental Factors and Conditions/Physical Requirements
PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required; occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information; ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.
• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.
• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances.
• Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental