County Mental Health Program Director (LG)-Washington Co MH/ID-Crisis, Emergency & Disaster Services

County Mental Health Program Director (LG)-Washington Co MH/ID-Crisis, Emergency & Disaster Services

Salary

$64,695.43 Annually

Location

Washington County, PA

Job Type

Civil Service Permanent Full-Time

Job Number

CS-2026-51264-L0753

Department

Local Government

Division

HS Washington Co Mh/Id Unit

Opening Date

06/04/2026

Closing Date

6/17/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Job Code

L0753

Position Number

80003806

Union

Non Union

Bargaining Unit

LG

Pay Group

LG

Bureau / Division Code

88213463

Bureau / Division

Washington County Behavioral Health & Developmental Services

Worksite Address

95 West Beau Street, Suite 300

City

Washington, Pennsylvania

Zip Code

15301

Contact Name

Carrie Taylor

Contact Phone

724.229.5930

Contact Email

carrie.taylor@washcopa.gov

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

THE POSITION

The County of Washington Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (BHDS) Department is seeking applicants for the position of Mental Health Program Director. This professional role focuses on supervisory and administrative work involving behavioral health program analysis, coordination, and implementation of Crisis/Emergency, Disaster, Forensic, and Inpatient behavioral health services within the County. You will make a direct, positive impact by helping to shape this continuum of holistic, person-centered services that support people in their most vulnerable moments.

Washington County offers a generous benefits package, including family health insurance, retirement contribution, and wellness benefits/activities for both employees and their families. Apply now to experience the rewards of public service and take the next step in your career by bringing your compassion, experience, and leadership to programs that promote stability, safety, and hope for the people we serve.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This role oversees and guides collaborative work to provide and enhance behavioral health Crisis, Emergency, and Disaster Services within Washington County. This includes developing and implementing service contractual expectations that meet community and crisis needs. As our County Mental Health Program Director, you will perform the following duties:

• Services Oversight: Direct and coordinate countywide crisis, emergency, disaster, forensic, and inpatient behavioral health services and programs; ensure adherence to applicable laws, policies, procedures, and service contracts
• Budget Preparation: Prepare budgets for all County behavioral health services and programs in conjunction with the Administrator and the Chief Fiscal Officer
• Community Engagement: Represent the BHDS program at meetings with boards, task forces, community groups, and government officials to support behavioral health crisis, emergency, and disaster planning
• Program Training: Facilitate BHDS Program sponsored trainings, meetings, and conferences to educate, plan, coordinate, and implement applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures with service providers and contracted agencies
• Court Coordination: Supervise subordinate duties involving court-related forensic BHDS administrative functions; work to coordinate and enhance the Mental Health Specialty Court and related initiatives
• Emergency Support: Serve as our primary liaison to the court system for involuntary commitments; serve as a member of the Washington County SWAT Team to assist with mental health support needed on site

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch. Required to work outside of normal scheduled hours (Evenings & Weekends).
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as a County Mental Health Program Specialist 2; or
• Five years of professional level experience in the field of mental health, including three years of administrative, supervisory, or consultative work; and a bachelors degree; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training..

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation.
• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination and a drug screening.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
• Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
• your score may be lower than deserved.
• you may be disqualified.

You may only apply/test once for this posting.Your results will be provided via email.

Benefit packages are determined by the county and may vary. Please contact the applicable county human resource office directly to inquire about a specific benefit package.

01

Have you been employed by a Pennsylvania local government agency in a civil service covered position as a County Mental Health Program Specialist 2 for one or more years full-time?

• Yes
• No

02

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

03

How many years of full-time professional experience do you possess in the mental health field?

• 5 years or more
• 4 but less than 5 years
• 3 but less than 4 years
• 2 but less than 3 years
• 1 but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

04

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

05

How many years of full-time professional mental health experience do you possess in an administrative, supervisory or consultative capacity?

• 3 years or more
• 2 but less than 3 years
• 1 but less than 2 years
• Less than 1 year
• None

06

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

07

How much graduate coursework in the behavioral, social or habilitative sciences, community planning, community organization or related field have you completed? If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting www.naces.org and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.

You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.

• 30 or more credits
• 15 but less than 30 credits
• Less than 15 credits
• None

08

You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty. If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.

Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training. The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered. In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.

• Yes

09

WORK BEHAVIOR 1 - PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Develop program objectives and associated plans, policies, and procedures. This involves conceptualizing service delivery methods, planning the timeline for program start-up, determining program organizational structures and ensuring overall program effectiveness and compliance with federal and state laws, state and county guidelines and regulations, and county contractual agreements..

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience LEADING A TEAM that developed program objectives and associated plans, policies, and procedures. This involved conceptualizing service delivery methods, planning the timeline for program start-up, determining program organizational structures, and ensuring overall program effectiveness and compliance with federal and state laws, state and county guidelines and regulations, or county contractual agreements.
• B. I have experience as a MEMBER OF A TEAM that developed program objectives and associated plans, policies, and procedures. This involved conceptualizing service delivery methods, planning the timeline for program start-up, determining program organizational structures, and ensuring overall program effectiveness and compliance with federal and state laws, state and county guidelines and regulations, or county contractual agreements.
• C. I have experience developing procedures which ensured compliance.
• D. I have no experience related to this work behavior.

10

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer(s) where you gained this experience,
• The actual duties you performed related to program development
• Your level of responsibility

11

WORK BEHAVIOR 2 - PROGRAM EVALUATION

Analyze and monitor the effectiveness of programs to meet goals and objectives by reviewing documentation such as service utilization, chart audits, etc. Explore programmatic or fiscal outcomes to determine program cost effectiveness and adherence to all applicable requirements, standards, and implications of policy decisions. Implement policy changes and/or actions necessary to resolve concerns for the program under review.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience exploring programmatic or fiscal outcomes and implications of policy decisions or proposed policy changes and ensuring adherence to all applicable requirements and standards. I was responsible for resolving program concerns and ensuring implementation of resolution actions.
• B. I have experience identifying concerns related to fiscal outcomes, implications of policy decisions or proposed policy changes, and adherence to all applicable requirements and standards. I identified program concerns for others to resolve.
• C. I have experience supporting a team by analyzing programmatic or fiscal data, policy decisions or changes, and applicable requirements and standards. I discussed my findings with other staff members who identified concerns and handled the resolution.
• D. I have no experience related to this work behavior.

12

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
• The actual duties you performed related to analyzing and monitoring programs
• Your level of responsibility

13

WORK BEHAVIOR 3 - SUPERVISION

Supervises staff by performing the full range of supervisory functions. This includes assigning, monitoring, and reviewing work; identifying training needs and providing training; preparing employee performance evaluations; approving leave; taking corrective actions; resolving complaints and grievances; and participating in the performance of subordinates work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have experience supervising staff by performing the full range of supervisory functions including assigning, monitoring, and reviewing work; identifying training needs and providing training; preparing employee performance evaluations; approving leave; taking corrective actions; resolving complaints and grievances; and participating in the performance of subordinates work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.
• B. I have experience as a lead worker by assigning work and identifying appropriate training as needed, meeting regularly with staff to review work assignments, and participating in the performance of the teams work as needed.
• C. I have successfully completed college-level coursework related to human resources, organizational behavior, or training such as effective leadership skills, teambuilding, or coaching skills.
• D. I have no experience or training related to this work behavior.

14

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior. Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
• The actual duties you performed related to supervision
• Your level of responsibility

15

If you have selected the level of performance pertaining to college coursework, please provide your responses to the items listed below. If you indicated you have no education/training related to this work behavior, type N/A in the text box below.

• College/University/Training
• Course Title
• Credits/Clock Hours

Required Question

Employer Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address 613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

Website http://www.employment.pa.gov