Salary : $83,988.00 - $149,724.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Remote Optional
Job Number:Department: Health Care Authority
Division: BHR
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: 8/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionDeputy Division Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery (EMS3/DBHR)71105105The Deputy Division Director will shape statewide strategy across diversion & re-entry, prevention, and prenatal-to-25 programming. This position directs policy implementation, oversees staff and contract teams, and manages multiple funding streams including Medicaid, state, and federal grants. It's an ideal fit for a strategic leader passionate about expanding behavioral health access across diverse communities, including partnerships with Tribes and American Indian organizations statewide.
All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.
About the position:The Deputy Director for DBHR reports directly to the DBHR Director and is responsible for developing and implementing strategic state and federally funded behavioral health treatment and recovery strategies and programs. This position provides high level policy analysis, direction, and supervises professional treatment and recovery staff. This position is responsible for interpreting and implementing broad division policies related to state and federal regulations (WAC, RCW, CFR) required to implement mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery programs. This position is responsible for ensuring behavioral health and recovery programs successfully navigate multiple funding sources to include Medicaid, State funding and federal grants, each with their own set of requirements. This includes directing the work of teams who oversee, plan, and develop contracts, as well as promoting and supporting the implementing and expanding behavioral health and recovery programs and coordination across multiple agency divisions, state agencies, 29 federally recognized Tribes, and six recognized American Indian organizations.
This position is eligible to telework but is occasionally required to report on-site to meet business need.The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions - both on-site and telework eligible positions - is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs.
All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location. DutiesSome of what you will do:- Serve with delegated authority to act on behalf of the DBHR Director and assists the Director in on-going activities related to all behavioral health and recovery programs.
- Serve as an active member of the DBHR executive leadership team.
- Assign and review the work of management and supervisory staff; act for the DBHR Director in all matters assigned.
- Represent the DBHR Director at meetings with the Governor's office, legislators, outside agencies, and other units of state government.
- Direct other key statewide planning efforts that may impact critical agency and division initiatives, projects and/or strategies; determine due dates, monitor for completion, and provide input regarding completed work.
- Provide technical and administrative oversight to special projects, including organizational process improvements, legislative support, and other critical projects and initiatives.
- Direct activities of staff and provide project management oversight and technical assistance on key division initiatives.
- Respond to legislative inquiries from policy direction to questions about specific constituent concerns.
- Responsible for guiding strategic direction of the statewide public behavioral health treatment and recovery support service system, including by defining and implementing contract development and budget projections for the establishment of federal authorities through state plan and waiver applications. Focus within this system includes behavioral health and recovery services and programs. This includes both services delivered in a managed care purchasing model and fee for service programs for behavioral health.
- Supervise senior managers who are responsible for implementing the statewide behavioral health programs through program development and establishment of federal authority; providing coordination of managed care rates, fee for services rates, state plan authorities, waiver authorities, implementation of new or changing Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) regulations and implementation of any new purchasing strategies or programs requiring federal funding.
- Ensure assignments are managed with efficient project management, effective communication and coordination with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), CMS, and other federal, state, and local entities.
- Coordinate operational activities related to the efforts to provide integrated managed care statewide and functions as the lead communication intermediary with numerous stakeholders including the legislature, when specifically discussing behavioral health treatment and recovery support services.
- Provide oversight of behavioral health treatment and recovery support services involvement with lawsuits and legal settlements.
- Contribute to the mission by providing leadership and coordination for improving the behavioral health system of care and improving the lives of populations served.
Qualifications Required qualifications:Qualifying candidates will meet
one of the following criteria options:
Option 1:
Master's degree or higher in social services, behavioral health, public health, public administration, or closely related field and four (4) years of the required experience below
Option 2:
Bachelor's degree in a field identified above, and six (6) years of the required experience below
Option 3:
Associate degree in a field identified above, and eight (8) years of the required experience below
Option 4:
Ten (10) years of the required experience below
The required experience includes the following:
- Professional experience working in the community-based public behavioral health system with specific duties related to mental health, substance use disorders, problem gambling treatment and recovery support services.
- Direct knowledge of the Washington State community behavioral health system, including outpatient and inpatient care, systems, and coordination of treatment (e.g. MCOs, BH-ASOs, Community Behavioral Health Providers, Corrections, DCRs, DDD, Department of Health, and the long term care services and support system), understanding of crisis and commitment services, community psychiatric hospitalization, and pertinent CFR, RCW and WAC related to behavioral health
- Knowledge of the Washington State Centennial Accord and the Government-Government relationship with Tribes.
- Understanding of crisis and commitment services, community psychiatric hospitalization, and pertinent CFR, RCW, and WACs related to behavioral health.
- Knowledge of federal and state behavioral health Medicaid managed care regulations
- Knowledge of Washington behavioral health statutes, rules and regulations including Medicaid regulations.
- Knowledge of behavioral health managed care principles and contract issues related to federal funding, medical necessity, resource management, access, quality improvement, cultural competency, and provider contracting.
- Knowledge of protocols and processes of the executive and legislative branches of state and local government.
Required competencies:
- The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Preferred qualifications:- Professional experience working with BHASOs and/or community behavioral health agencies.
- Experience and demonstrated ability to make data-informed decisions and conduct data-based program planning and services recommendations.
- Supervisory and management experience within state service.
How to apply:Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification.
To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach in separate files:- A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
- Current resume
To take advantage of
veteran preference, please do the following:
- Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
- Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
What we have to offer:- Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve
- A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered
- A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
- A great total compensation and benefit package
- A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
- And free parking!
