Alcohol & Drug Program Manager

Alcohol & Drug Program Manager

Salary

$126,102.08 - $160,940.00 Annually

Location

Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, CA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

26-8141-05 (O/BW)

Department

Behavioral Wellness

Opening Date

11/03/2026

Closing Date

11/17/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

The County of Santa Barbaras Behavioral Wellness Department is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time position for an Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP) Manager in any location in Santa Barbara County, California. Although this position can be based in any location in Santa Barbara County, it will have countywide responsibility and will require travel to Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria based on the department's operational needs. The countywide classification is Health Services Manager II. This position is "At-Will" and is exempt from Civil Service provisions.

ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROGRAM MANAGER Description

The Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP) Manager reports to the Branch Chief of Alcohol and Drug Programs and serves as a member of the Behavioral Wellness Department management team. This role manages prevention, intervention, and treatment services to prevent or minimize alcohol and other drug-related problems, including behavioral health plan administration for the Drug Medi-Cal Organized System (DMC-ODS) outpatient programs. This position works in close collaboration with Specialty Mental Health programs, Justice programs, and community-based organizations providing Drug Medi-Cal treatment services. The ADP Program Manager oversees programs countywide, including direct supervision and clinical support for the SUD Wellness and Recovery Access Point (SUD WRAP) Outpatient services, as well as being a department liaison with contractors providing Drug Medi-Cal Treatment Programs.

About the Department

Founded in 1962, it is the mission of the Department of Behavioral Wellness to promote the prevention of and recovery from mental illness and addiction among individuals, families, and communities by providing effective leadership and delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services. The Department provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to 10,000 clients with mental illness and substance use disorders annually through its professional staff of over 400, in addition to its many contracted Community-Based Organization (CBO) providers. The Department's decisions and service delivery are guided by the following values:

• Quality services for persons of all ages with mental illness and/or substance abuse
• Integrity in individual and organizational actions
• Dignity, respect, and compassion for all persons
• Active involvement of clients and families in treatment, recovery, and policy development
• Diversity throughout our organization and cultural competency in service delivery
• A system of care and recovery that is clearly defined and promotes recovery and resiliency
• Emphasis on prevention and treatment
• Teamwork among department employees in an atmosphere that is respectful and creative
• Continuous quality improvement in service delivery and administration
• Wellness modeled for our clients at all levels; i.e., staff who regularly arrive at the workplace healthy, energetic, and resilient
• Safety for everyone

Benefits: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or click here to view more information. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

Hiring Incentive : The Behavioral Wellness Department may offer and may provide reimbursement for reasonable relocation expenses, and, at the discretion of the CEO, can provide flexible relocation assistance, housing and student loan offsets, cash incentives, and/or vacation and sick leave pre-accruals in the interest of attracting the best talent to the organization.

The Ideal Candidate will have the following:

• Extensive experience with evidence-based Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery models, including Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) services.
• Practical and theoretical knowledge of clinical and administrative applications in the field of substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring disorders (mental health conditions and SUD), including proficiency with state and federal laws governing SUD prevention and treatment services.
• Proven track record with the management of behavioral health programs, especially those involving Drug Medi-Cal treatment services, specialty mental health services, and justice-involved populations.
• Ability to manage and understand very difficult and stressful situations.
• Experience and skills in building and maintaining positive and collaborative relationships with community partners, treatment providers, stakeholders, consumers, and family members.
• Strong skills in collecting and analyzing data.
• Experience providing clinical and administrative supervision to multi-disciplinary teams including clinicians, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) counselors, peer support specialists, and administrative office professionals.
• Ability to inspire, coach, develop, and empower staff.
• Experience leading change initiatives such as those addressing healthcare equity, population health, and community well-being issues.

Examples of Duties

These examples are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job, and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

• Serves as a member of the County's management team by planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing the Behavioral Health Plan administration activities for the DMC-ODS outpatient system of care, including Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Outpatient Services and Intensive Outpatient Services.
• Ensures successful implementation of evidence-based practices among network providers including: cognitive behavioral treatment, contingency management, medications for addiction treatment, motivational interviewing, recovery principles, and trauma-informed care through regular technical assistance provided to outpatient providers, participation in stakeholder meetings, and supporting the implementing of performance improvement projects among direct service providers.
• Implements system-side interventions to reach DMC-ODS outpatient level of care annual goals and outcome measures in collaboration with Quality Care Management and contracted outpatient providers, including identification of potential gaps with network adequacy standards and / or HEDIS measures for DMC-ODS outpatient services and regularly communicating identified challenges or barriers to departmental clinical leads.
• Directs, coordinates, and participates in the development of integrated screening and assessment workflows for County behavioral health outpatient programs and implement strategies for the integration of behavioral health services including mild / moderate mental health interventions and substance use disorder interventions consistent with CalAIM initiatives and department priorities.
• Participates in regular SmartCare Action Team meetings and serves as a liaison for DMC-ODS contracted providers for utilization of the County electronic health record and billing system, providing technical assistance with the user face including reporting functions, chart reviews, and CalOMS data entry; identifies barriers and communicates technical and / or clinical solutions to department leads.
• Oversees County SUD WRAP Outpatient treatment services by providing clinical oversight, staff clinical and administrative supervision, and adherence to documentation standards and minimum billable services requirements using weekly SmartCare reporting and data monitoring activities.
• Ensures County ADP direct service programs are in compliance with Department of Health Care Services certification requirements including Drug Medi-Cal certification requirements and AOD Certification requirements such as biannual renewals and site certification requirements.
• Provides strategic and operational leadership for the Behavioral Health Linkages Justice-Involved Re-Entry Initiative including clinical guidance for treatment of co-occurring
• conditions, monitoring of post-release linkage to behavioral health services, data management, and staff supervision.
• Evaluates SUD WRAP services and DMC-ODS programs to ensure adherence to strategic and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures; researches trends and best practices in SUD treatment and BH services; and recommends and implements operational and /or program changes.
• Supervises SUD WRAP Outpatient staff and Behavioral Health Linkages staff, which include clinical, professional, and support staff; and is responsible for conducting performance evaluations, employee development, hiring, discipline, and termination procedures.
• Represents Behavioral Wellness in meetings and collaborative initiatives involving SUD intervention, treatment and recovery services collaborating with the general public, County staff, and external agencies regarding CalAIM Justice-Involved Re-Entry Initiatives, school-based SUD services, and outreach activities.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent of a bachelors degree from an accredited four-year college or university in public health administration, public administration, behavioral/mental health, or related field and,
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a behavioral health field, mental health services, substance use disorder prevention or treatment services, social work, etc. including at least two (2) years as a supervisor or manager.
• A valid California license in one of the following:
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
• Clinical Psychologist
• Psychiatrist

Note on Out-of-State Licensure: Applicants must possess valid California, clinical licensure in their profession at the time of application.

This position also requires the possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs as a condition of continued employment.

Supplemental Information

SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards. Candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list.
• Candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list.
• The most qualified candidates will be invited for an interview with the hiring department.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of accommodation needed from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss the required deadlines.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER:

• Live Scan and Background Check: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidates appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a Live Scan and background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 11/17/2026. Applications and job postings can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty

For recruitment related questions, please contact Vanessa Hernandez - vhernandez@countyofsb.org

Retirement Plans

• Generous County Defined Benefit Plan
• Eligible to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
• Retirement Reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, and 1937 Act plans
• For more information on our retirement plans, please visit: https://www.sbcers.org/ and http://www.santabarbara457.com

Health Benefits

• Choice of dental, vision and medical plans. In addition to the Benefit Allowance noted above, the County contributes toward medical premiums and dental premiums
• On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria which provide ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential assistance with personal and workplace problems to employees and their immediate family members
• Healthcare Advocacy Program to help employees navigate the complexities of health plan benefits
• Available Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Supplemental Term or Whole Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance and more!
• For more information on our health benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4012/Health-Benefits

Paid Time Off

• Vacation Leave 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment
• Sick Leave 12 days annually with unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement
• Paid Holidays based on bargaining unit (view the compensation summary for this bargaining unit, link below)
• Alternative Transportation Benefit (TDM) up to 2 days of additional vacation for using alternative methods of commuting
• For more information on Paid Time Off please view the Compensation Summary for this bargaining unit (available below)

Miscellaneous Benefits

• County Paid Term Life Insurance
• County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance
• Childcare and Employee Discounts
• Relocation Assistance may apply
• Flexible work schedule may apply
• For more information on all of these benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4013/24636/WorkLife-Benefits

Compensation Summary

• To view the Compensation Summary specific to the bargaining unit for this position (link to full Memorandum of Understanding also available at bottom of the summary), please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/3096/Managers---Unrepresented
• This benefits list is for convenience only; please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for complete details of terms and conditions. Amounts are generally prorated for part-time employment.

01

This position requires candidates to be willing to travel to ALL LOCATIONS within the County (Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc). I agree to these terms, regardless of the work location selected on my application.

• I understand.

02

To be considered for this position your application must CLEARLY demonstrate how you meet the requirements under EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS on the Job Posting or you will not be considered for this position. Part of the employment standards are a valid California license in any of the following listed below. Please identify which license you currently possess:

• A valid California license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• A valid California license as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• A valid California license as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
• A valid California license as a Clinical Psychologist
• A valid California license as a Psychiatrist
• None - I do not meet the minimum requirements for this position

03

Please describe in detail your five years or more of progressively responsible professional experience in a behavioral health field, mental health services, substance use disorder prevention or treatment services, social work, etc. Include your employers name(s), duration of employment with this type of experience and overall responsibilities pertaining to this experience. (Complete details should be listed on your application under Work History).

Do not type "see resume" or "see application." If you do not have this experience, type "N/A."

04

Please describe in detail your two years or more of direct supervisory experience. Include in your response your employer/organization name(s), dates in the supervisory role, number of direct staff supervised, type of setting and your overall responsibilities. (Complete details should be listed on your application under Work History).

Do not type "see resume" or "see application." If you do not have this experience, type "N/A."

05

Describe in detail your skills and experience managing, coordinating, or overseeing behavioral health and/or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment programs or services, your level of responsibility, and your experience working with contracted service providers, if applicable. In your response, include your employer, title, and dates of employment.

Do not type "see resume" or "see application." If you do not have this experience, please type "N/A".

06

Describe in detail your experience using data, electronic health records, or performance measures to evaluate program effectiveness and improve service delivery. In your response, include your employer, title, and dates of employment.

Do not type "see resume" or "see application." If you do not have this experience, please type "N/A".

07

How many years of professional experience do you have monitoring, evaluating, or ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, quality standards, and performance measures within behavioral health and/or Substance Use Disorders (SUD) treatment programs? (Full details of this experience should be on your completed application)

• More than 5 years of experience
• 4 to 5 years of experience
• 3 to 4 years of experience
• 2 to 3 years of experience
• Less than 2 years of experience
• I do not have this experience

08

How many years of professional experience do you have coordinating initiatives or collaborating with stakeholders, leadership, community organizations, and the public to address program needs, resolve operational challenges, or implement services? (Full details of this experience/position(s) should be on your completed application)

• More than 5 years of experience
• 4 to 5 years of experience
• 3 to 4 years of experience
• 2 to 3 years of experience
• Less than 2 years of experience
• I do not have this experience

Required Question

Employer County of Santa Barbara

Address 1226 Anacapa Street

Santa Barbara, California, 93101

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sbcounty