Director, Ambulatory Integrated Behavioral Health in Oakland, California at Alameda Health System

We are currently recruiting for a Full-Time Director of Ambulatory Integrated Behavioral Health to lead our Integrated Behavioral Health Program across Alameda Health System’s Wellness Centers. This is primarily an administrative leadership position with approximately 10–20% direct patient care responsibilities and offers flexibility in work location. We are seeking a licensed behavioral health leader, a Psychologist (PhD, PsyD) or a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PsyNP), with previous management experience and a strong foundation in therapy services, integrated care, and team development. This is an excellent opportunity for a mission-driven leader who is passionate about advancing behavioral health services and supporting innovative models of care for underserved communities. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to apply!

SUMMARY: The Director of Behavioral Health Ambulatory provides administrative and clinical leadership for the development, implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of ambulatory behavioral health services across the organization. This role is responsible for strategic planning, operational performance, clinical integration, regulatory compliance, quality outcomes, and financial sustainability across behavioral health programs, integrated behavioral health in primary care and specialty care and care coordination across ambulatory settings.

Reporting to senior leadership, this position serves as a key leader in aligning behavioral health strategy with organizational goals, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective, evidence-based care delivery within a highly regulated healthcare environment. The Director works collaboratively with physicians, operational leaders, community partners, and executive stakeholders to strengthen program governance, improve access, optimize utilization, and support scalable models of behavioral health care delivery.

This role also provides leadership in integrating innovation, technology, and operational efficiencies—including automation, workflow optimization, and best practices—to support sustainable behavioral health service delivery at AHS.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual in the classification.

1. Provide director-level oversight across ambulatory behavioral health programs, including integrated behavioral health in primary care and specialty care and ambulatory department in general.

2. Develop, implement, and evaluate strategic and operational plans for behavioral health services across ambulatory care settings.

3. Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including DHCS, DMHC, CMS, accreditation standards, and licensing requirements.

4. Establish and oversee utilization criteria, medical necessity frameworks, and service delivery standards aligned with evidence-based practices and regulatory expectations.

5. Lead program evaluation, quality improvement initiatives, and outcomes measurement to ensure clinical effectiveness, operational excellence, and financial sustainability.

6. Analyze utilization trends, identify areas of risk and opportunity, and present recommendations to executive leadership and governing bodies.

7. Direct behavioral health integration across ambulatory medical and specialty clinics, ensuring continuity of care and effective multidisciplinary collaboration.

8. Oversee behavioral health staffing, including recruitment, supervision, performance management, professional development, and succession planning.

9. Provide leadership for behavioral health training programs, clinical supervision structures, and case consultation processes.

10. Manage annual budgeting, resource allocation, and operational planning to ensure responsible stewardship and cost-effective service delivery.

11. Partner with internal medical and allied providers, county behavioral health agencies, health plans, and community organizations to strengthen integrated care systems.

12. Participate in regulatory audits, corrective action planning, and accreditation readiness activities.

13. Present behavioral health strategy, program performance, and organizational priorities to executive leadership, Boards, and key stakeholders.

14. Support implementation of scalable behavioral health solutions, including technology integration, digital innovation, and operational redesign where appropriate.

15. Maintains accurate, timely clinical documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).

16. Provides crisis intervention, risk assessment, and safety planning when clinically indicated.

17. Engages in professional development, training, and supervision as required.

18. Tracks and reports on outcomes, maintaining patient registries, and providing targeted interventions based on quality metrics and behavioral health care best practices.

19. Provides expertise on behavioral health for AHS staff through in-service training, consultations, and other more informal means.

20. Provides clinical supervision for pre-licensed staff or trainees, as needed.

21. Attends and participates in staff, provider and other meetings as required or requested.

22. Attends education programs and provides evidence of necessary education completion to upgrade skills or maintain licensing requirements.

23. Responds to EHR messages, emails, referral requests, and voicemails in a timely manner.

24. Psychologist: select, administer, score, interpret, integrate testing results and provide a written and verbal debriefing of test results to patients.

25. Other duties and/or especial projects as assigned.

26. Clinical Productivity: Maintain and submit appropriate billing for direct patient visits per week. Productivity expectations are set by the Department’s Director.

27. Documentation: Complete notes within 24–48 hours of service delivery. Complete co-signing and other chart completion duties for assigned supervisees.

28. Supervision & Leadership: Provide supervision to pre-licensed and licensed clinicians; ensure compliance with supervision documentation standards.

29. Quality Improvement: Lead semi-annual chart audits; implement outcome improvement projects with documented results.

30. Program Oversight: Ensure service line/program outcomes meet organizational benchmarks.

31. Case Management: Provide documented follow-up for high-acuity patients within 72 hours.

32. On-Call Response: Provide timely and appropriate intervention during assigned on-call coverage.

33. Collaboration: Participate in at least 90% of interdisciplinary, QI, and leadership team meetings and huddles.

34. Quality of Care: Achieve patient satisfaction of ≥70% and complete outcome measures (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7, etc.) with ≥80% of assigned patients.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education: Doctoral degree in Psychology (PhD, PsyD) or Psych Nurse Practitioner (PsyNP).

Required Experience: Minimum five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, ambulatory care, managed care, or integrated healthcare settings. Demonstrated expertise in behavioral health operations, utilization management, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement. Minimum three (3) years of senior management or executive leadership experience.

Preferred Experience: Experience working in publicly funded healthcare systems, Medi-Cal/Medicaid environments, or county behavioral health systems strongly preferred.

Required Licenses/Certifications: Valid and unrestricted professional license under their respective regulatory boards.

Pay Range: $72.52/Hour - $120.88/Hour

The pay range for this position reflects the base pay scale for the role at Alameda Health System. Final compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to a candidate’s experience, education, skills, licensure and certifications, departmental equity, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the operational needs of the organization. Alameda Health System also offers eligible positions a generous comprehensive benefits program.