Director of Community Behavior Health Program

Job Summary: 

The Director of Community Behavioral Health Programs serves as the senior leader responsible for the planning, development, implementation, and oversight of all community behavioral health programs and services within the organization. This role provides strategic direction and leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed community behavioral health services to individuals, families, and communities. The Director works collaboratively across departments, with Tribal leaders, and with local, state, and federal partners to address the mental health and substance use needs of the populations served.

The Director of Community Behavioral Health Programs will lead efforts to reduce behavioral health disparities, strengthen community wellness, and integrate behavioral health services into community health services. The Director will oversee grant writing and funding development, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide technical assistance and supervision to behavioral health staff to maximize program effectiveness and community impact.

Essential Functions:

• Program Leadership & Oversight: Plans, directs, and evaluates all community behavioral health programs and services, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, best practices, and community needs.
• Community & Stakeholder Engagement: Builds and maintains partnerships with tribal nations, community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, and government agencies to expand access to behavioral health services
• Policy & Regulatory Compliance: Ensures departmental compliance with federal, state, tribal, and organizational standards; develops and updates policies and procedures as needed.
• Grant Writing & Funding Development: Identifies funding opportunities, writes and submits grant applications, and manages grant implementation to sustain and expand behavioral health programs and services
• Cultural Responsiveness: Ensures all programs and services are culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, and responsive to the unique needs and traditions of Great Plains Area Tribes and communities
• Data & Quality Improvement: Collects, analyzes, and reports on program data; leads quality improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery and outcomes
• Budget & Resource Management: Develops and manages the departmental budget, monitors expenditures, and ensures responsible stewardship of all funding sources; ensures compliance with OMB Cost Principles and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) in the administration and reporting of federal grants and funding, including allowable costs, cost allocation, and proper documentation standards.
• Interagency Collaboration: Represents the organization at state, tribal, and federal meetings, conferences, and committees; coordinates with Indian Health Service (IHS), SAMHSA, and other relevant agencies.
• Crisis Response: Develops and oversees crisis intervention protocols and ensures staff are trained and equipped to respond to behavioral health emergencies.
• Workforce Development: Recruits, trains, mentors, and retains a skilled behavioral health workforce; fosters a supportive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
• Staff Management: Leads and supervises departmental staff; conducts interviews and hiring; evaluates employee performance on a regular basis; and implements disciplinary action when needed.
• Strategic Planning: Develops and implements a comprehensive behavioral health strategy that addresses mental health, substance use disorders, trauma, and co-occurring conditions across the lifespan.
• Project Oversight & Quality Assurance: Provides overall direction on projects and activities; oversees quality assurance activities; reviews and approves work performed by consultants and contractors.
• Reporting & Compliance: Monitors, reviews, and edits program reports submitted to funding agencies; ensures accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all reporting requirements.

 Requirements

• Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors and guests.
• Foster a work environment of wellness, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness and respect.
• Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
• Familiarity and/or experience working with the American Indian populations; respect for and knowledge of traditional, cultural and spiritual practices of diverse American Indian communities, as well as an ability to work with other racially, culturally and ethnically diverse populations. 
• Consistently demonstrate respect and acceptance toward differing capabilities, race, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities. 
• Maintain and ensure organizational privacy and confidentiality.
• Must be able to handle crisis and tolerate stress professionally.
• Must be self-directed and take proactive initiative to assist others.
• Possess the ability to resolve problems with other departments and coworkers without direct supervision. 
• Able to exercise flexibility to alter plans/routines when situations require and continue to perform without projecting stress/frustration that would adversely affect the work environment.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including evenings, weekends and overnight or extended travel as necessary.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to community members, clients and other employees of the organization.
• Proficiency with computer programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other Internet technologies.
• Valid driver’s license must be kept current; certificates, credentials or licenses must be kept current and consistent with regulations required by applicable Federal, State and/or grant regulations.
• Ability to promote an alcohol, tobacco and drug-free lifestyle.
• Embrace modes appearance and attire which reflects a professional presence.
• Adhere to GPTCHB policies and procedures. 

Education/Experience/Certificates/Credentials

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or a related field, with at least three years of documeed grant management and administrative experience involving multiple federal and private grants.
• A minimum of three years in progressive management and supervisory work experience.
• Demonstrated experience building effective working relationships with Tribal community leaders, government agencies, scientific and academic institutions, medical and health-related organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.
• Knowledge of the cultures, traditions, values, and community practices of Tribal Nations in the Great Plains region.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Physical demands and work environment may include:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is often required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel: Local and moderate out-of-town travel is required.

Native American/American Indian Preference in hiring will be applied as defined in title 25 usc 44-46 &474. 

Employment is contingent upon the outcome of all required criminal background checks and pre-employment drug screen. 

Compliance with our Employee Health Procedure is a condition of employment.  You are required to agree that you will comply with all job-related employee health screening and immunizations prior to your first day of employment.  Jobs require that you have documentation that you have completed the following immunizations prior to your first day of employment: MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella (Chicken Pox), Hepatitis B, Influenza, T-dap (Tetanus - Diphtheria - Pertussis), and COVID-19 vaccination is required.