Chief Deputy Behavioral Health

Posting number: 26-137270-01

Department: Health & Social Services Dept

Division: H&SS-Administration Div

Job classification: Chief Deputy Behavioral Health

Posting type: Open & Competitive

Categories: Mental Health, Social Services, Management, Human Services, Program Management

Help us lead a team dedicated to mental health wellness and recovery!

THE POSITION

The Chief Deputy Behavioral Health is an executive leadership position within the Department of Health and Social Services responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, and overseeing the County’s comprehensive behavioral health system. Under administrative direction, this position provides executive oversight for mental health and substance use disorder services delivered through County-operated programs and contracted providers, consistent with state and federal laws, regulations, and contracts with the California Department of Health Care Services.

The role includes responsibility for program development, budget and fiscal oversight, personnel management, performance improvement, regulatory compliance, service delivery, and integration across the behavioral health continuum of care. The Chief Deputy Behavioral Health serves as a senior advisor to the Department Director, provides subject matter expertise on behavioral health policy and operations, and represents the Department with the Board of Supervisors, Behavioral Health Advisory Board, County departments, community partners, state and regional agencies, contracted providers, clients, families, and the public.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a seasoned behavioral health executive with the clinical, administrative, fiscal, and strategic experience needed to lead a complex public behavioral health system. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:

• Lead a comprehensive public behavioral health system that includes recovery-oriented mental health and substance use disorder services.
• Guide the Division through significant state and federal impacts on behavioral health financing, accountability, access, documentation, service delivery, and workforce expectations.
• Lead through change, complexity, and conflict while supporting staff morale, maintaining accountability, balancing productivity, and promoting organizational stability.
• Balance clinical quality, managed care requirements, fiscal discipline, regulatory compliance, and community need.
• Strengthen performance improvement, innovation, continuous quality improvement, data-informed decision-making, evidence-based practices, and peer-supported services.
• Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with County departments, contracted providers, community-based organizations, hospitals, advocacy groups, law enforcement, schools, county behavioral health associations, state agencies, and regional partners.
• Lead through subordinate managers and multidisciplinary teams while supporting staff development, retention, accountability, and a healthy organizational culture.
• Communicate clearly and transparently with the Department Director, County Administrator’s Office, Board of Supervisors, advisory boards, community stakeholders, staff, clients, families, and the public.
• Use effective communications, public education, and marketing strategies to help staff, partners, policymakers, and the community understand behavioral health priorities, system changes, available services, and the impact of the Division’s work.
• Navigate complex and sensitive issues with sound judgment, diplomacy, transparency, and a strong understanding of legal, clinical, fiscal, and operational risk.
• Champion trauma-informed, equity-centered, culturally responsive, recovery-oriented, and integrated systems of care.
• Inspire trust, establish a clear vision, and guide teams through change while maintaining focus on access, quality, outcomes, and the needs of diverse communities.

Education: Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, hospital or public health administration; or doctorate in psychology (PhD, PsyD); or medical degree with training in psychiatry.

AND

Experience: Six years of leadership in behavioral health or related human services including experience in development of programs; evaluation of program effectiveness; team building, policy development and fiscal oversight.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

In accordance with Title 9, Section 620 of California Code of Regulations, one or more of the following licenses and experience/education is required for this position:

• California licensed physician or surgeon (M.D. or D.O.) showing evidence of having completed the required course of graduate psychiatric education as defined in Section 623, to be supplemented by an additional period of two years of training or practice limited to the field of psychiatry, one year of which shall have been administrative; or
• California licensed psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) with a doctorate in psychology and at least three years of acceptable clinical psychology experience, two years of which will be administrative; or
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a master's degree in social work or higher and at least five years of mental health experience, two of which shall be administrative; or
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with a master's degree in an approved behavioral science course of study and at least five years of mental health experience, two years of which shall have been administrative; or
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with a master's degree in an approved behavioral science course of study and at least five years of mental health experience, two years of which shall have been administrative; or
• State of California Registered Nurse (RN) with a master's degree in psychiatric or public health nursing and at least five years of mental health experience, two of which shall be administrative. Additional post-baccalaureate experience in a mental health setting may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the educational requirements; or
• Administrator with a master's degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or public administration and who shall have at least three years of experience in hospital or health administration, two of which shall have been in mental health; or
• Another similar qualifying California license or credential recognized under Title 9, Section 620 of the California Code of Regulations.

Applicants are required to possess a valid California Driver’s License, Class C

Interested candidates should apply by 8/28/2026. 

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the qualified applicants may be invited for further examination and will either be pre-scheduled by the Department of Human Resources or be invited to self-schedule. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of an initial application screening, a mandatory information meeting, a supplemental questionnaire assessment, a written and/or practical exam, an oral board exam, or any combination listed. Responses to supplemental questions may be used as screening and testing mechanisms and will be used to assess an applicant’s ability to advance in the process; as such, responses to supplemental questions should be treated as test examination responses. Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

All potential new hires and employees considered for promotion to management, confidential positions or unrepresented positions will be subject to a background and reference check after contingent job offer is accepted. These provisions are subject to change.

RETIREES - Solano County invites all qualified candidates to apply for positions; however pursuant to Government Code Section 21221(h) and 21224, hiring restrictions may apply to California Public Sector Pension Plan Retirees.

Applications must be submitted through the NeoGOV system. Paper copies of applications are not accepted. All candidates are encouraged to submit a copy of their official/unofficial transcripts (verifying the courses and units completed) or degree (verifying institution, student, date, degree and area of specialization conferred) by the application review deadline. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of completing the application. You will be evaluated based on the information provided on the application. Please ensure any experience you believe qualifies you for the job is reflected in your application’s employment history. When completing employment details, do not write “see resume,” as resumes will not be reviewed and this will be considered an incomplete application.

Previously submitted application materials (e.g., copies of diploma and/or transcripts, etc.) for prior recruitments will not be applied for this recruitment but must be re-submitted for this recruitment.

Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources at (707) 784-6170, business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EOE/AA.

Please note that all dates/times listed in the job announcement are Pacific Time.

A Degree (Master's, PhD, PsyD, or medical) and License are required for this position. All candidates are encouraged to submit a copy of their official/unofficial transcripts (verifying the courses and units completed) or degree (verifying institution, student, date, degree and area of specialization conferred) by the final filing deadline. However, proof of this education requirement must be submitted prior to appointment.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: Candidates who attended a college or university that is accredited by a foreign or non-U.S. accrediting agency must have their educational units evaluated by an educational evaluation service. The result must be submitted to the Human Resources Department no later than the application review deadline. Please contact the local college or university to learn where this service can be obtained.

How to Submit Your Documents                                                                                    

In addition to uploading attachments when applying online, candidates may submit documents by fax to (707) 784-3424, or by email to recruitment@solanocounty.gov. Be sure to include the recruitment title (CHIEF DEPUTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH) and the recruitment number (26-137270-01) in your email or fax.