Chief Deputy Behavioral Health

Chief Deputy Behavioral Health

Salary

$206,170.85 - $250,601.97 Annually

Location

275 Beck Ave, Fairfield, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

26-137270-01

Department

Health & Social Services Dept

Division

H&SS-Administration Div

Opening Date

07/31/2026

Closing Date

8/28/2026 12:00 AM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

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

The Behavioral Health Services Division within the Health and Social Services Department is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our services aim to empower all community members throughout their journey towards wellness and recovery. It is also of equal importance for us to improve access to quality care for underserved and under-represented ethnic and minority populations who have been historically marginalized by health care systems. We seek qualified staff who possess valuable life experiences and expertise to ensure our workforce is culturally and linguistically responsive and leverages diversity to foster innovation and positive outcomes for the people we serve.

Click here to learn more about the Behavioral Health Services Division

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.

View the brochure for this career opportunity here: Chief Deputy Behavioral Health Recruitment Brochure

View the job description here: Job Description

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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 masters 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 masters 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 masters 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 masters 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 masters 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

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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.

HOW TO APPLY

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.

DOCUMENT SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

A Degree (Masters, 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.

Americans with Disabilities Act

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.

APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES: Qualified individuals with a disability, who are able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, and need an accommodation during any phase of the recruitment/testing/examination process (as detailed in the "Selection Process"), must complete the following Request for Testing Accommodation by Applicants with Disabilities Form.

This form must be received in the Human Resources Department by the application review deadline. Applicants will be contacted to discuss the specifics of the request.

We offer a benefits package to employees which includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, holidays, vacation, and sick leave

To learn more, view our benefits summaries for executive and senior management.

01

This Supplemental Questionnaire will be used to determine applicants qualifications for this position and assess an applicants ability to advance in the recruitment process; therefore, applicants are encouraged to answer all questions thoroughly and completely. Omitted information will not be considered or assumed. Applicants who have no experience in a specific area are recommended to state "no experience in this area" instead of leaving the space blank. Please note that the experience in your answers must be reflected in your employment history.

• I acknowledge

02

I understand that this position requires a master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, hospital administration, or public health administration; a doctoral degree in psychology (PhD or PsyD); or a medical degree with specialized training in psychiatry from an accredited college or university. I further understand that I must possess a current and valid California professional license as a physician specializing in psychiatry, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional clinical counselor, registered nurse, or a similarly qualified licensed healthcare professional. Verification of the required education and California licensure must be submitted by the job-posting deadline. Acceptable education documentation includes a diploma or official or unofficial transcript that identifies the student, educational institution, degree conferred, date the degree was conferred, and area of study or specialization. Applicants with a foreign degree must also submit documentation establishing United States educational equivalency. I will submit the required education and licensure documentation by:

• Uploading it to my application prior to submittal
• Emailing it to recruitment@solanocounty.gov
• Faxing it to (707) 784-3424

03

Describe your executive leadership experience overseeing behavioral health programs, services, or systems. Include the scope and complexity of the programs you managed; your responsibility for staff, budgets, contracts, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and service delivery; the number and classifications of staff under your leadership; and your role in setting strategy, establishing accountability, and advising executive or governing bodies.

04

Describe a significant organizational change or system-level initiative that you led, such as responding to new legislation or regulations, addressing a budget reduction, expanding or redesigning services, restructuring an organization, or implementing a major new program. Explain the circumstances, your executive leadership role, how you engaged staff and stakeholders, the decisions and actions you took, how you addressed resistance or operational challenges, and the measurable outcome.

05

Positions assigned to this classification are required to drive. Do you possess a valid Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

06

If you have a valid Drivers License, please provide the State and Drivers License number. If you do not have a valid Drivers License, please write "n/a."

Required Question

Employer Solano County

Address 675 Texas Street

Suite 1800

Fairfield, California, 94533

Phone (707) 784-6170

Website https://www.solanocounty.gov/