Division Chief of Behavioral Health and Trauma Services
About The Position
The Division Chief of Behavioral Health and Trauma Services serves on the NYC Office of Community Safety's Senior Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership for the City's crisis response, trauma recovery, and behavioral health portfolio. Reporting directly to the Commissioner, the Division Chief oversees the Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) and leads efforts to strengthen crisis response, expand trauma recovery and health and behavioral health supports for people impacted by violence, build the civilian workforce needed to deliver services, and advance cross-system strategies for people whose behavioral health needs intersect with community safety and the criminal legal system. The role includes oversight of B-HEARD and other crisis response initiatives and helps shape the Office's approach to supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by violence and trauma. The Division Chief works across health, behavioral health, forensic, criminal legal, and community-based systems to identify gaps, strengthen existing services, and assess where OCS should develop or expand direct services to improve safety and outcomes. The Division Chief sets strategy; oversees OCMH programs, implementation, performance, budget, staffing, contracts, and resources; and works with City agencies and external partners to support effective delivery and responsible stewardship of public funds. The role leads and develops a multidisciplinary team, establishes goals and performance expectations, and represents the Office in interagency and external forums.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in behavioral health, forensic mental health, healthcare, crisis response, public health, public safety, social services, or a related field.
- At least three years of supervisory or management experience.
- Experience leading behavioral health, crisis response, public health, healthcare, or related initiatives.
- Deep knowledge of New York City's behavioral health, healthcare, and forensic mental health systems, including their intersections with the criminal legal system.
- Experience managing complex programs, partnerships, and initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to assess service gaps and translate policy, clinical, and system knowledge into practical programs and service models.
- Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
- Strong relationship-building skills and experience working across government, healthcare, and community-based organizations.
- Excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Commitment to equitable, trauma-informed, person-centered approaches to crisis response, recovery, and community safety.
Responsibilities
- Set strategic direction for OCS’s crisis innovation, trauma recovery, and behavioral health portfolio.
- Lead continued development and expansion of B-HEARD and other innovative crisis response initiatives.
- Develop strategies to strengthen trauma recovery, expand behavioral health supports, and improve safety for people and communities impacted by violence.
- Develop strategies for people whose behavioral health needs intersect with community safety and the criminal legal system, including people with serious mental illness and substance use disorders.
- Assess gaps across health, behavioral health, forensic, and community-based systems and identify needs for new services, programs, or direct-service capacity.
- Lead efforts to build and strengthen the civilian workforce delivering crisis response, trauma recovery, behavioral health, and violence prevention services.
- Advise the Commissioner and Deputy Mayor on crisis response, behavioral health, and trauma recovery policy, strategy, and emerging issues.
- Oversee the strategic direction, implementation, and performance of OCMH programs and initiatives.
- Manage the division's budget, staffing, contracts, and other resources.
- Partner with the Division of Operations, OMB, City Hall, and agency partners on budget, procurement, contracting, and operational matters.
- Oversee contracted providers and funded partners, ensuring accountability, program quality, and alignment with Office priorities.
- Monitor program performance and outcomes and drive continuous improvement using data, research, and evidence-informed practices.
- Build and maintain partnerships with City agencies, healthcare and behavioral health systems, forensic providers, criminal legal system partners, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders.
- Coordinate with City agencies and internal operational teams, including budget, contracts, human resources, legal, and research.
- Represent the Office in interagency initiatives, public forums, advisory bodies, and external meetings related to the division's portfolio.
- Convene and engage advisory boards, working groups, and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, inform policy, and identify emerging needs.
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team responsible for crisis response, trauma recovery, behavioral health innovation, workforce development, and strategic initiatives.
- Establish goals, priorities, and performance expectations and ensure accountability for results.
- Foster a collaborative, mission-driven team culture and support staff development and leadership growth.
- Support effective recruitment, retention, and professional development to build and sustain a high-performing team.
- Work with other Senior Leadership Team members to advance agency priorities and strategic initiatives.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
