Behavioral Health Specialist IV - Riverside Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention
Salary
$57,861.02 - $87,856.26 Annually
Location
Riverside
Job Type
Regular
Job Number
26-79706-NP
Department
Behavioral Health
Division
2nd Chance Reentry Program
Opening Date
05/19/2026
Closing Date
5/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Riverside University Health System (RUHS) - Behavioral Health Department is currently recruiting for a Behavioral Health Specialist IV position in Riverside.
The Behavioral Health Specialist IV is the advanced journey-level classification in the Behavioral Health Specialist series and reports to a supervisory or mid-level manager. Incumbents work collaboratively with behavioral health professionals in providing client treatment services by assisting clients with accessing appropriate community resources, providing education and information to the community, and offering support, encouragement, advocacy, and related services to help clients cope with immediate situations without attempting to modify or change the consumer's personality structure.
Responsibilities for this position include meeting with clients, conducting screenings, maintaining accountability of charts and documentation, meeting regularly with supervisors, and ensuring that daily clinic operations and activities are followed appropriately. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate the ability to effectively oversee clinic operations in the absence of the supervisor. This position will require driving and travel throughout Riverside County.
Candidates must hold a current certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor issued by an approved certifying body, such as CCAPP or CADTP.
Schedule: 9/80, Non-Payday Fridays off
Meet the Team!
Riverside University Health System - Behavioral Health is a leading provider of mental health and substance use services in Riverside County. With a dedicated team of professionals, including psychiatrists, clinicians, peer specialists, and paraprofessionals, RUHS-BH serves over 45,000 individuals annually.
We are committed to delivering culturally competent, evidence-based care across all ages. Our programs, including Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, and the Public Guardian's Office, address the diverse needs of our community.
At RUHS Behavioral Health, you'll join a compassionate, innovative team where your skills make a real difference. We offer opportunities for growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.
If you're passionate about advancing your career while improving mental health in Riverside County, RUHS Behavioral Health is the place for you!
For more information, please visit www.ruhealth.org/behavioral-health
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPTION I
Education: Completion of 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university, preferably with coursework in a behavioral science related field. (Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45-quarter units of the required education.)
Experience: Two years in a recognized substance abuse treatment program in an administrative, prevention or counseling capacity.
Certificate: Incumbents are required to be certified by the date of hire with an Alcohol and Other Drug certification in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 11833(b)(1).
OPTION II
Experience: Two years in a recognized substance abuse prevention program in an administrative or provider capacity.
Certificate: Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor Certification.
ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of: Basic principles and practices involved in improving behavioral health; laws, rules and regulations governing a public substance abuse agency; substance abuse programs and services available to the community and their functions; principles and techniques of individual and group substance abuse counseling; interviewing and problem solving methods; moderate to complex principles and practices involved in improving behavioral health; laws, rules and regulations governing a Drug Medical Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) substance abuse agency; substance abuse programs and services available to the community and their functions; principles and techniques of individual and group substance abuse counseling; interviewing and abstract problem solving methods; use the of American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) screening criteria for consumer placement into appropriate levels of care; providing appropriate services for consumers with co-occurring SUD and MH disorders; tenets of providing Trauma Informed Care; medications used in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services; laws and ethics involved in the provision of substance use services.
Ability to: Work effectively with a wide variety of different agencies, organizations and individuals; interview clients, recognize the relevant and significant facts, and take appropriate action pertaining to substance abuses addictive behavior; implement a treatment plan and monitor a clients progress toward established goals; understand and evaluate psychological, cultural and social factors affecting behavioral patterns; interpret agency programs and policies to clients, the general public and agencies/organizations; apply laws, rules and regulations governing a public substance abuse agency in specific situations; communicate effectively in verbal and written form; match multidimensional severity and level of function with type and intensity of service; provide integrated services; write clear and concise policies and procedures for use in programs' Policies and Practices Manual; use technology (telephone, telehealth, zoom, MS Teams) to provide direct services to consumers; provide services in a culturally competent manner with cultural humility.
Other Requirements:
Possession of a valid California Drivers License may be required.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
For questions regarding this recruitment
Contact the recruiter, Nicole Prado:nprado@rivco.org, (951) 955-2552 with any questions regarding this recruitment. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
____
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veterans Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouses death certificate, a letter of spouses disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veterans Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the Apply link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veterans preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).
A new member is defined as any of the following:
CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If theres any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)
Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.
SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance).
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.
DISABILITY:
Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for individuals who are unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave Benefits. The wage replacement rate is determined by current law, offering 60-70% of the wages earned during the SDI eligibility period.
Additionally, employees receive employer-paid Long-Term Disability Benefits, which cover 66.67% of pre-disability earnings, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month. There is a 365-day waiting period before these benefits become active. Employees may coordinate these benefits with other available leave balances to receive up to 100% of their regular pay.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable SEIU Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.
01
Have you completed 30 semester or 45 quarter units from an accredited college or university, preferably with coursework in a behavioral science related field? (Must provide transcripts)
02
How many years of professional work experience do you have in a recognized substance abuse treatment program in an administrative or provider capacity?
03
How many years of experience do you have in a recognized substance abuse treatment program in an administrative, prevention or counseling capacity?
04
Do you possess certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 11833(b)(1)?
05
Please list the Agency name, type of certification, and the expiration date. i.e. CCAPP CADC-I C11111111 Exp 10-24-2020
06
Do you possess a valid California Class C Drivers License?
07
How many years of experience do you have conducting screenings for substance abuse treatment programs?
08
How many years of experience do you have assisting public and private programs in the development of information and administrative tools necessary to support substance abuse preventive efforts?
09
Are you a current regular employee with the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) - Behavioral Health?
Required Question
Employer County of Riverside
Address County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569
4080 Lemon St., 7th floor
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Phone Contact Recruiter for Job Information
Website http://www.rc-hr.com