Special Assistant, Central Office;

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Review Vacancy

Date Posted 07/03/26

Applications Due07/17/26

Vacancy ID219205

• Basics
• Schedule
• Location
• Job Specifics
• How to Apply

NY HELPNo

AgencyMental Health, Office of

TitleSpecial Assistant, Central Office;

Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers

Salary GradeNS

Bargaining UnitM/C - Managerial/Confidential (Unrepresented)

Salary RangeFrom $156757 to $197170 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Exempt Class

Travel Percentage 10%

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 8 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

County Albany

Street Address NYS Office of Mental Health

44 Holland Avenue

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12229

Duties Description The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill one exempt position of Special Assistant, NS, in the Office of Chief Medical Officer (OCMO). The Special Assistant will function as the Director of Operations, serving as an advisor to the Chief Medical Officer and providing executive leadership for the operational functions of a diverse portfolio of statewide clinical, prevention, population health, data, and research activities, ensuring alignment with organizational mission, strategic priorities, and public mental health outcomes. The incumbent will manage, direct, and coordinate prevention and collaborative care initiatives, as well as initiatives impacting populations with complex care needs (including Medicaid/Managed Care and homelessness), and work closely with the Chief Medical Officer, as well as offices that provide operational support to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (e.g. Nursing Services, Health Services), and the OMH's Research Institutes.

Specific duties to be performed may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serve as the principal operational advisor to the Chief Medical Officer, translating strategic vision into agency-wide initiatives, performance objectives, and measurable organizational outcomes.
• Provide leadership and policy direction to OCMO staff in program planning, development, and implementation to maximize efficiency and impact.
• Lead operations for cross-divisional initiatives, emerging policy priorities, emergency preparedness and response activities, and intra-agency collaborations, ensuring coordinated implementation, risk mitigation, and timely achievement of organizational objectives.
• Provide operational leadership and project management for a diverse portfolio of statewide clinical, prevention, population health, data, and research activities, ensuring alignment with organizational mission, strategic priorities, and public mental health outcomes.
• Direct fiscal strategy and stewardship for operating budgets, procurement activities, contract management, grant-funded initiatives, and resource allocation processes to ensure financial sustainability and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Leverage data analytics and operational metrics to drive accountability, improve service delivery, and support process improvement and executive decision-making.
• Ensure communication of strategic goals and objectives in support of organizational priorities throughout OCMO.
• Coordinate with human resources and oversee all aspects of personnel management, inclusive of staffing strategy, succession planning, and performance management.
• Foster and maintain executive-level partnerships with government agencies, healthcare systems, research institutions, community organizations, and other external stakeholders to advance collaborative initiatives and system-wide improvements.
• Oversee administrative processes within OCMO and ensure transparent communication and staff engagement.

Minimum Qualifications This is an exempt class position; there are no established minimum qualifications. However, in order to be successful, candidates must hold a Master's or Doctorate degree in public health, public administration, or other health or human services-related field, plus at least ten years of experience in mental health, public health, or healthcare, at least five years of which must have been in program management and large-scale operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Exceptional skills needed include the following: Organizational; meeting facilitation; communication (written and oral); dynamic, high-level interpersonal relationship management; meticulous attention to detail; synthesis of large volume of information and ability to focus on key points.
• Demonstrated experience in the foundational principles of developing, implementing, and managing behavioral health and human services programs, with the ability to rapidly assess new initiatives, understand their strategic and operational context, and quickly acquire subject matter knowledge to advance implementation. Combines strong administrative and operational expertise with substantive content knowledge to develop high-quality materials, anticipate and address potential challenges, identify practical solutions, and support successful execution of complex initiatives.
• Ability to be highly flexible, including both being able to pivot rapidly to address urgent high-profile requests as well as shifting between widely varying content areas.
• Knowledge of NYS procurement and contract processes, and fiscal expertise to navigate contract management and budget development/review/oversight.

Ability to understand how individual parts feed into the overarching context (visualize the big picture), and support connections and synergy between inter- and intra-agency initiatives to meet a common goal.

Additional Comments The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. OMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, OMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring OMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. OMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Please note, New York State residency is required at the time of appointment.

Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Name Brianna Cherrier

Telephone

Fax (518) 486-3897

Email Address OMHHRM@OMH.NY.GOV

Address

Street NYS Office of Mental Health

44 Holland Avenue

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12229

Notes on ApplyingTo be considered for this position, interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format to omhhrm@omh.ny.gov. Please include the title of the position and Vacancy ID #219205 in the subject line of your email when applying.

You are advised that, should you accept a job offer with the Office of Mental Health, you may be required to be fingerprinted and pay a fingerprint fee.

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