Director of Behavioral Health
The County of Kings, California, is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Director of Behavioral Health. The Kings County Behavioral Health Department’s mission is to provide the best comprehensive, coordinated and culturally sensitive behavioral health services for adults and children living with mental illness and substance abuse disorders in Kings County.
This essential role oversees programs that support individuals and families facing mental health and substance use challenges. The ideal candidate will demonstrate integrity, strong ethical principles, openness to change and innovation, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment. They should be an articulate communicator who can inspire trust, respect, and confidence across the organization and community.
This position offers a unique opportunity to shape policy, cultivate partnerships, and drive meaningful, lasting change. If you are passionate about making a difference and leading progress in behavioral health services, we invite you to consider joining us in this vital mission.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education:
- Equivalent to the qualifications outlined in California Code of Regulations, title 9, section 620 which are:
Where the Local Behavioral Health Director is other than the local health officer or medical administrator of the county hospital, they shall be one of the following:
- A physician and surgeon licensed in the State of California 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 experience.
- A psychologist who shall be licensed in the State of California and shall possess a doctorate degree in psychology from an institution of higher education. In addition, the psychologist shall have had at least three years of acceptable clinical psychology experience, two years of which shall be administrative experience.
- A clinical social worker who shall possess a master’s degree in social work or higher and shall be a licensed clinical social worker under provisions of the California Business and Professions Code and shall have had at least five years mental health experience, two years of which shall have been administrative experience.
- A marriage, family, and child counselor who shall have a master’s degree in an approved behavioral science course of study, and who shall be a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor and have received specific instruction, or its equivalent, as required for licensure on January 1, 1981. In addition, the marriage, family, and child counselor shall have had at least five years of mental health experience, two years of which shall have been administrative experience. The term, specific instruction, contained in Sections 5751 and 5751.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall not be limited to school, college, or university classroom instruction, but may include equivalent demonstrated experience in assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and counseling, and psychotherapeutic treatment of premarital, marriage, family, and child relationship dysfunctions.
- A nurse who shall possess a master’s degree in psychiatric or public health nursing and shall be licensed as a registered nurse by the Board of Registered Nursing in the State of California and shall have had at least five years mental health experience, two of which shall have been administrative experience. Additional post-baccalaureate experience in a mental health setting may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the educational requirements.
- An administrator who shall have a master’s degree in hospital administration, public health administration, or public administration from an accredited college or university, and who shall have at least three years of experience in hospital or health care administration, two of which shall have been in the mental health field. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis with the approval of the Department.
Experience:
- Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience managing the operations, services, and programs of a comprehensive behavioral health services agency, including two (2) years in a senior management capacity.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Licenses:
Possession of a valid California driver’s license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Qualify for security clearance through a background investigation and fingerprint check; must be willing to work irregular hours as required; travel within and outside the County.