Behavioral Health Program Manager

Unified Fire Authority•Salt Lake City, UT

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Program Manager directs the daily administration and coordination of Unified Fire Authority’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Program. The role is a primary resource for employees, retirees, and eligible family members seeking assistance, coordinating access to peer support, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), insurance-based treatment, contracted behavioral health clinicians, and community resources. The position provides nonclinical case coordination and follow-up; routine counseling, psychotherapy, diagnosis, and ongoing clinical treatment are not part of the role. The manager leads the administrative and operational functions of the Peer Support Program and provides program guidance to peer support team members within the manager’s qualifications. The position coordinates Behavioral Health After-Action Reviews (BHAARs) and initial critical incident support, facilitating BHAARs only when appropriately trained and qualified. The role also manages program operations, budgets, contracts, utilization, reporting, and continuous improvement. The position works under the general direction of the Health and Safety Battalion Chief, exercising independent judgment within UFA policies and delegated authority. Clinical consultation is obtained from appropriately licensed professionals when needed. The manager provides operational coordination and program direction to Peer Support Team members; formal personnel supervisory authority, if any, will be established by UFA. Work is generally performed in an office during routine Monday-to-Friday hours, with occasional evening, weekend, or on-scene or station response potentially required for significant incidents, peer support activities, training, or BHAAR coordination. The position is classified as non-exempt and eligible for overtime.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, behavioral health, human services, healthcare administration, public administration, or a closely related field; equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.
Three years of relevant experience in behavioral health program operations, care coordination, crisis support, peer support administration, or closely related work, including demonstrated program coordination responsibilities.
Valid driver’s license.
Complete UFA-approved peer support and critical incident response training within a timeframe established by UFA.
Knowledge of first responder behavioral health, peer support principles, crisis escalation, referral resources, confidentiality, and professional boundaries.
Ability to communicate compassionately and professionally with people in distress while remaining within a non-treatment role.
Ability to organize multiple priorities, maintain secure records, analyze utilization and budget data, administer contracts, and prepare reports.
Proficiency with office productivity software, scheduling systems, and secure program recordkeeping, and ability to learn new technology.
Ability to coordinate effectively with UFA leadership, peer supporters, clinicians, EAP, insurers, and community partners.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related behavioral-health field.
Utah social-work or behavioral-health credential.
Experience with firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, military, veterans, or other public-safety populations.
Experience with crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, substance-use resources, and behavioral-health resource navigation.

Responsibilities

Manage daily operations of the Behavioral Health and Wellness Program and implement approved policies, procedures, service pathways, and administrative processes.
Receive requests for assistance, explain available resources, and coordinate timely referrals to peer support, EAP, insurance-based providers, contracted clinicians, or community services.
Coordinate nonclinical intake, eligibility verification, service authorizations, scheduling, resource navigation, and follow-up; refer clinical assessment and treatment decisions to qualified providers.
Oversee Peer Support Program administration, including team coordination, recruitment support, onboarding, training schedules, records, and program evaluation.
Advise peer support team members on program protocols, boundaries, referral pathways, and concerns requiring clinical or emergency escalation; obtain licensed clinical consultation when appropriate.
Coordinate with Operations Battalion Chiefs on significant or potentially traumatic incidents, including peer support mobilization, BHAAR scheduling, logistics, and follow-up resources; facilitate BHAARs only within documented training and qualifications.
Develop and coordinate behavioral health education and outreach to increase resource awareness, reduce access barriers, and promote early intervention and employee wellness.
Serve on the department’s Health & Wellness committee.
Maintain relationships with EAP, health plan resources, contracted behavioral health clinicians, and other partners; identify service gaps and coordinate access to specialized care.
Manage provider administrative agreements, service authorizations, invoicing, utilization limits, and vendor coordination in accordance with UFA policy.
Maintain confidential administrative records and secure referral and utilization tracking, limiting collection and disclosure of clinical information to what is authorized and necessary.
Prepare aggregate reports and evaluate referral patterns, access barriers, utilization, costs, and improvement opportunities without disclosing identifiable treatment information.
Assist the Health and Safety Battalion Chief with budget planning, expenditure tracking, purchasing, invoice reconciliation, and financial reporting.
Identify grant opportunities, coordinate applications, and administer grant reporting and compliance.
Coordinate training, outreach, employee education, meetings, correspondence, travel, and related administrative functions.
Participate in developing and periodically reviewing peer support, BHAAR, referral, confidentiality, and crisis escalation procedures with leadership, legal counsel, and qualified clinical advisors.
Serve as the Mental Health Resources Liaison (MHRL) in accordance with Utah code.
Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.