Washington Rural Behavioral Health Leadership Opportunities

Rural Staffing Services • Washington, WA

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About The Position

Rural Staffing Services partners with rural hospitals, clinics, public hospital districts, community health centers, and behavioral health organizations throughout Washington to identify experienced leaders who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of serving rural communities. We are currently connecting with professionals who may be interested in active and upcoming behavioral health leadership opportunities across Washington. These opportunities may include leadership within Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, community hospitals, integrated care programs, outpatient behavioral health clinics, substance-use treatment programs, crisis services, and community-based organizations. Behavioral health access can be especially limited in rural communities, making strong leadership essential. Behavioral health leaders help organizations build programs that are accessible, sustainable, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of the community. They may lead mental health, substance-use, crisis response, social services, or integrated behavioral health programs while working closely with clinical, operational, and community partners. The strongest leaders understand that behavioral health care does not exist in isolation. It is connected to primary care, emergency services, social needs, housing, transportation, workforce shortages, and the overall well-being of the community. Rural behavioral health leadership requires creativity, collaboration, cultural awareness, and a genuine commitment to meeting people where they are.

Requirements

• Progressive experience in behavioral health, mental health, substance-use treatment, social services, or integrated care
• Previous leadership experience as a director, manager, clinical supervisor, program administrator, or comparable leader
• Experience developing, managing, or improving behavioral health programs
• Knowledge of behavioral health regulations, documentation, quality standards, and reimbursement
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills
• Experience working with rural, underserved, or high-need populations
• Familiarity with hospitals, FQHCs, Rural Health Clinics, community behavioral health organizations, or public agencies
• Relevant education, licensure, or certification based on the specific position
• A compassionate, collaborative, and community-focused leadership style

Nice To Haves

• Licensure such as LICSW, LMHC, LMFT, SUDP, psychologist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or another behavioral health credential.

Responsibilities

• Providing strategic and operational leadership for behavioral health services
• Developing, expanding, or strengthening mental health and substance-use programs
• Supporting integrated behavioral health within primary care or hospital settings
• Leading clinical and nonclinical behavioral health teams
• Recruiting, developing, and retaining behavioral health professionals
• Strengthening access to care in rural and underserved communities
• Supporting crisis response, suicide prevention, and care-transition programs
• Building relationships with schools, law enforcement, tribal partners, public agencies, and community organizations
• Overseeing program quality, compliance, documentation, and regulatory readiness
• Managing budgets, grants, contracts, staffing, and program performance
• Developing policies, procedures, workflows, and service-delivery models
• Supporting telebehavioral health and other creative access solutions
• Tracking outcomes and using data to improve care and program sustainability
• Advocating for patients, families, employees, and the communities being served

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed