Salary : $126,102.08 - $160,940.00 Annually
Location : County of Santa Barbara - All locations, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-8141-04 (O/BW)
Department: Behavioral Wellness
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 8/26/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Description
The County of Santa Barbara's Behavioral Wellness Department is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time position for a Crisis Services Manager in Any location in Santa Barbara County, California. Although this position can be based in any location in Santa Barbara County it will have countywide responsibility and will require travel to Santa Barbara, Lompoc and Santa Maria. The countywide classification is Health Services Manager II. This position is "At-Will" and is exempt from Civil Service provisions.
Crisis Services Manager Job Description

The Crisis Services Managerreports to the Branch Chief of Specialty Programs and serves as a member of the Behavioral Wellness Department management team. This role manages prevention, intervention, and treatment addressing alcohol and other drug-related problems, mental illness, and/or co-occurring conditions in the county's Crisis Services teams. Works in close collaboration with the Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF), the Crisis Stabilization unit, crisis residential facilities, oversees hospital discharges, monitors the utilization review for crisis services, and performs related duties as required. The Crisis Services Manager oversees programs countywide including Mobile Crisis, Co-Response teams, and the Access Line; as well as being the department's liaison with contractors overseeing our Crisis Stabilization Unit and Crisis Residential Treatment facilities.
Benefits: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or to view more information. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

Hiring Incentive: The Behavioral Wellness Department may offer and may provide reimbursement for reasonable relocation expenses, and, at the discretion of the CEO, can provide flexible relocation assistance, housing and student loan offsets, cash incentives, and/or vacation and sick leave pre-accruals in the interest of attracting the best talent to the organization.
The Ideal Candidate will have the following:

• Extensive experience with the LPS Act and 5150/5585 codes and the ability to train and keep current with the industry standards.
• Proven track record with the management of mental health programs, especially those involving crisis evaluation, de-escalation and stabilization.
• Ability to manage and understand very difficult and stressful situations.
• Experience and skills in building and maintaining positive and collaborative relationships with community partners and providers, stakeholders, consumers and family members.
• Strong skills in collecting and analyzing data.
• Ability to respond effectively in adversarial situations.
• Ability to inspire, coach, develop, and empower staff.
• Experience leading change initiatives

Examples of Duties
These examples are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

• Leads Crisis Services which consists of multiple major programs and/or functions that include addressing behavioral health crisis situations, assuring the delivery of high-quality emergency response services, crisis stabilization, safety planning and referrals/linkage.
• Sets program goals and measurements; and assumes accountability for program results.
• Makes broad policy decisions for the program/business, the work that is performed, and the expansion of services.
• Oversees the program budget development; balances fiscal priorities; prioritizes and allocates resources within the program; and coordinates resources with other programs or departments.
• Directly supervises the Behavioral Wellness Team Supervisors who have responsibility for Behavioral Wellness programs.
• Exercises high-level of independent action, sound judgment and decision making in support of overall departmental goals and assumes accountability for result.
• Serves on the department's management team and participates in the department's strategic planning processes.

Employment Standards
The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university inpublic health administration, public administration, behavioral/mental health,or related field, AND
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a behavioral health field, mental health substance use, social work, etc. including at least two (2) years as a supervisor or manager; AND
• A valid California license in one of the following:
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Psychiatrist

Note on Out-of-State Licensure: Applicants must possess valid California, clinical licensure in their profession at the time of application.

This position also requires the possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs as a condition of continued employment.
Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and techniques of health care management in a public agency setting including public health, mental health and recovery, correctional health, and medical health including the interpretation of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Trends in public, mental, medical, and correctional health, and recovery education, treatment, prevention, and related issues
• Principles and practices of public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Management principles, practices, and techniques.
• Principles and practices of fiscal management and budgeting.
• Principles and practices of program planning and administration.
• Personnel management principles and practices, including employee supervision, training, and evaluation.
• Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis.
• Principles and practices of group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Principles and practices of procurement and contract administration.
• Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment.
• Social, economic, cultural, and other issues impacting program area.

Ability to:

• Effectively administer public health, mental health and recovery, correctional health, and/or medical health programs and activities.
• Manage assigned operations/programs; ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, participating in the development of goals and strategic objectives, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning/monitoring work.
• Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies.
• Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation.
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics.
• Oversee the implementation of, and adherence to, quality assurance activities and standards.
• Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
• Resolve complex problems within area of assignment.
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations.
• Make presentations to stakeholders, elected officials, County leadership, and the public.
• Creates and provides informative presentations to stakeholders, elected officials, County leadership, and the public.
• Collaborate with program stakeholders, elected and appointed boards, the public, and internal leadership.
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including but not limited to coworkers, subordinate staff, supervisors, other managers, professional agencies, and the general public.

Supplemental Information
SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards. Candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list.
• Candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list.