Mental Health Administrator 6

State of Ohio • Columbus, OH

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the Chief of Ohio Pharmacy Services (OPS). This executive-level role oversees statewide inpatient, outpatient, and wholesale pharmacy operations, supporting Ohio’s behavioral health system, correctional institutions, youth services, and community partners. The role provides strategic direction, ensures regulatory compliance, and advances pharmaceutical services across multiple state agencies.

The position leads pharmacy and administrative operations, develops and manages statewide pharmacy services and pharmaceutical contracts, and establishes purchasing and distribution strategies that provide cost-effective, compliant, and uninterrupted access to medications. It ensures compliance with applicable federal and state laws and maintains policies, procedures, and quality standards across pharmacy operations.

The Chief supervises pharmacy and service-center managers, oversees budgets and financial operations, and leads staffing and organizational planning. The role also collaborates with state agency partners, physicians, and healthcare teams; prepares reports; represents DBH in stakeholder settings; and responds to inquiries. The position reports to the Deputy Director, and additional duties may be assigned.

This is a permanent, full-time, hourly position. Normal hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a flexible schedule. The position is unclassified and exempt from bargaining units.

Requirements

• Meet the stated minimum qualifications through one of the listed routes: programmatic qualifications, administrative staff qualifications, six months of experience as a Mental Health Administrator 5 (65225), or an equivalent combination as noted in the posting.
• For the programmatic route: complete an undergraduate core program in mental health and developmental disabilities technology, social work or a comparable field, special education, psychology, or rehabilitation; or have 24 months of experience assessing consumers’ or residents’ needs and abilities as part of an interdisciplinary team and developing habilitation or treatment plans or programs for people who are mentally ill or developmentally disabled.
• For the programmatic route: have 12 months of training or experience in federal and state regulations governing care, custody, treatment, programming, and environment of consumers or residents in state facilities and community programs.
• For the programmatic route: have six months of training in budgeting and spending or six months of experience determining the budget and spending for an operational unit or program.
• For the administrative staff route: complete an undergraduate core program in business administration or management sciences, or have 12 months of experience in program and policy development for an operational unit or program and monitoring implementation.
• For the administrative staff route: have 12 months of training in budgeting and spending or 12 months of experience determining budgetary needs and spending for an operational unit or program.
• In addition to one of the programmatic or administrative staff routes: have six months of training in manpower planning or six months of experience scheduling personnel for adequate coverage and making staff projections.
• In addition to one of the programmatic or administrative staff routes: have three months of training in employee training and development or three months of experience writing training materials or conducting training.
• Submit official transcripts for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application when requested and before a formal employment offer; transcripts printed from an institution’s website are not accepted.
• Complete the online application and ensure that qualifications, experience, education, and training are evidenced in the application and support any supplemental-question responses.
• The final candidate must undergo a criminal background check. Final applicants tentatively selected for this class must also submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.

Responsibilities

• Lead all Ohio Pharmacy Services pharmacy and administrative operations, including inpatient pharmacy, outpatient pharmacy, and the wholesale distribution warehouse.
• Direct statewide planning, development, and marketing of OPS services in alignment with Ohio Revised Code 5119.44 and department priorities.
• Develop and manage the State of Ohio’s pharmaceutical contract portfolio.
• Implement purchasing and distribution strategies to support cost-effective, compliant, and uninterrupted statewide medication access.
• Ensure operations comply with federal and state laws governing pharmacy practice, drug distribution, controlled substances, and pharmaceutical recordkeeping.
• Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and quality standards for inpatient, outpatient, and distribution operations.
• Supervise the managers of Central Pharmacy Inpatient, Central Pharmacy Outpatient, the Pharmacy Service Center, and other OPS operations.
• Oversee budget development, payroll, accounts receivable and payable, and financial performance.
• Review forecasts, cost analyses, financial statements, and cash-flow reports.
• Lead hiring, performance evaluations, leave approvals, and recommendations regarding organizational structure.
• Collaborate with state agency partners to provide clinical leadership for pharmaceutical services.
• Collaborate with physicians and healthcare teams to promote optimal patient outcomes.
• Prepare and review medical, administrative, and operational reports.
• Represent DBH at meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.
• Respond to inquiries from clinicians, public officials, and the general public.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Deputy Director.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave.
• Education and development opportunities, including employee development funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS, and optional deferred compensation through Ohio Deferred Compensation.

What This Job Offers

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