Initial Posting Date:

09/17/2026

Application Deadline:

10/01/2026

Agency:

Department of Corrections

Salary Range:

$6,895 - $9,140

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program, Behavioral Health Specialist 1/Qualified Mental Health Associate (Wilsonville/Portland) Limited Duration

Job Description:

Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program, Behavioral Health Specialist 1/Qualified Mental Health Associate (Wilsonville/Portland) Limited Duration

Coffee Creek Correctional Facility – Wilsonville, Oregon

Columbia River Correctional Institution – Portland, Oregon

Oregon Department of Corrections

We have an exceptional opportunity for a Behavior Health Specialist 1 with rotating shift locations between Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) in Wilsonville, Oregon and Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland, Oregon. 

This position is expected to last through September 30, 2027; and will be filled as a Limited Duration; this position may be extended if additional funding is approved.

About the Job – Your Role

The purpose of this grant funded position is to provide care coordination for adults in custody (AICs) releasing from treatment into the community. These AICs are enrolled in Alternative Incarceration Program (AIP) or Co-occurring disorders (COD) treatment services in minimum custody institutions releasing to any of the 36 counties across the state of Oregon. AICs releasing from these programs may need assistance with identifying housing, transportation, clothing, SUD aftercare services, mentoring referrals, and/or medical or mental health referrals. The QMHA in this role is responsible for collaborating with systems stakeholders to identify resources, as well as referring out to community providers for care. Services provided include assessment, treatment planning, psychosocial skills development, behavior management, milieu management, case management, and care coordination. This position may also provide group facilitation as needed. This position has contact with all levels of institution staff, as well as other agencies, individuals, and groups that interface with the ODOC. This position is supervised by the Alternative Incarceration Treatment Program Manager.

This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). This position may be eligible for Police & Fire (P&F) benefits through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), as defined by statute.

Minimum Qualifications

There may be multiple ways to meet the minimum qualifications for this position. We encourage you to review all the options carefully—whether through education, experience, training, or a combination. If you believe your background has prepared you to succeed in this role, we welcome your application!

Your application will be reviewed to verify you have:

• A Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field; OR

• A combination of at least three years of relevant work, education, training, or experience; OR

• Possession of a current Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) certification; OR

• A qualified Mental Health Intern, as defined in 309-019-0105(61).

Additional Requirements: 

• Applicants must be credentialed as a QMHA or meet the criteria for credentialing.

• This position requires knowledge in evidence-based, trauma-informed, gender-responsive treatment interventions for adults with substance related disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. It requires experience providing skills training and case management for individuals impacted by substance related disorders and/or persistent mental health disorders and completion of clinical documentation of individual encounters in a timely manner.

Desired Attributes:

• Credentialed as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor 1 (CADC-I) with MHACBO

• Knowledge of the chronic disease approach to substance use disorder treatment

• Experience working with justice-system-involved clients or mandated populations

• Curriculum-based group facilitation experience

• At least 1 year of case management experience or equivalent experience with care coordination or resource navigation services

Application Information

• In the Work Experience section of your application make sure to include the dates and duties of all relevant positions and details to support how you meet these attributes. If you do not include education or work experience meeting the minimum qualifications, you will not be considered for the position. Only the candidates whose experience most closely matches the qualifications and requested skills of this position will be invited to interview. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications on or before the job posting close date.

• The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

• Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment.

• As part of our selection process, we may require additional assessment stages, such as written exercises, to further evaluate candidates’ qualifications. Meaningful participation in these exercises is required for all applicants moving forward in the process. Failure to complete the required exercise(s) within the specified timeframe will result in disqualification from consideration. All candidates who successfully complete these screening stages and meet the necessary requirements will advance to the next stage in the selection process.

• Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.

Working Conditions

These positions perform work inside an adult prison, have contact with adults in custody (AIC) during treatment/consultation, at times out of visual range of security staff, are exposed to AICs that may become physically and/or verbally abusive; and require vigilance and awareness.

This position requires travel between Correctional facilities in Portland and Wilsonville. You must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record or be able to provide an acceptable alternative method of transportation. 

About the Department

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for over 12,000 adults in custody in 12 state prisons throughout Oregon. It advises and evaluates counties regarding administration of probation and parole programs supervising more than 24,000 offenders in Oregon communities. The mission is to protect communities, promote accountability, and transform lives.

The Oregon Department of Corrections serves a diverse and changing population of people who are incarcerated and on supervision. We commit to creating an organization both reflecting the diversity of the population we serve and ensuring all employees thrive in a culture of safety, trust, and belonging. We strive to be an anti-racist corrections system. Welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all people. Free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

The Department offers a variety of programs and opportunity to create a safe and healthy environment to for our staff, volunteers, and adults in custody. Joining the Oregon Department of Corrections is joining a team working for the benefit of our communities through innovative and proven correctional practices.

Benefits

The salary range listed above is for non-PERS qualifying applicants. PERS qualifying applicants may be eligible for an adjusted range to reflect an additional 6.95%.

The State of Oregon provides a generous benefit package, which includes:

• Family health, vision, and dental insurance

• Vacation, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays

• 21 days paid military leave for national guard and reserve components

• Optional short and long-term disability

• Term life insurance

• Fully paid retirement program

• Oregon Saving Growth Plan

• Flexible spending accounts for health and childcare

• And more

About the Process – What to Expect

• After the application deadline, a recruiter will review submissions for education and experience to identify candidates who best fit the minimum qualifications and requested skills.

• Top candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

• The hiring manager will review your application and schedule interviews.

• Interview will be held with a panel of stakeholders who have completed panel assessment training. Scores will be determined based on predetermined questions and scoring guides. Preferences points will be applied in compliance with relevant laws and bargaining agreements. There may be multiple rounds of interviews.

• Final candidates will have a background check, PREA check, and reference checks.

• A Classification and Compensation analyst will review the Workday Application of the successful candidate to determine starting wages. Learn more about Equal Pay.

• A job offer will be extended through Workday to the successful candidate. Congratulations, and welcome to the team!

Requirements for Employment

The successful candidate for this position must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, there may be some felony convictions that could disqualify you for this position. However, having a felony record does not exclusively restrict you from being considered as an applicant. CJIS clearance is done at the conditional job offer. If you have questions about whether or not your criminal record could disqualify for you, please contact the recruiter for more information.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDI&B) is embedded in the Department of Corrections core values. The department strives to be a model employer committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Ensuring legal compliance, efficiency, and exceeding expectations to deliver the best public services.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. Additional information can be found from The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Know Your Rights.

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for complying with the Federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA 42 U.S.C. 1997). PREA prohibits the Oregon Department of Corrections from hiring, promoting, or contracting with anyone, (that will have direct contact with residents), who has engaged in, been convicted of, or been civilly or administratively adjudicated for engaging in sexual abuse in confinement settings. Learn more about PREA.

Eligible Veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources. Please note – if you are a veteran, you will receive a task in Workday to upload your documents immediately after you submit your initial application. You will have up until 24 hours after the posted application deadline to submit the appropriate documentation.

The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

Questions

If you have questions about the position, selection process, or need accommodations to participate in the recruitment process please contact the recruiter and reference the requisition number.

Recruiter: Kelli Ketchum, Kelli.L.Ketchum@doc.oregon.gov 

Reference Number: Req-205663

• Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity. You may lose progress on your application.

• Workday performs weekly maintenance Friday evenings, and the system may be down for several hours.

• ODOC does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States.

• This applicant list may be used to fill future vacancies. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

• This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.