ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - 75475

Executive Service

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Office of Wellness and Employment

Nashville, TN

Salary: Salary range: $5,647-9,005

Closing Date: 03/10/2026

Background Check:

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position

Who we are and what we do:

The Division of Mental Health Services is responsible for planning and promoting a comprehensive array of services and supports for individuals of all ages, living with mental illness, co-occurring disorders, and/or serious emotional disturbances. This is accomplished through the creation, expansion, and oversight of community-based programs and community support services. Initiatives include: affordable housing programs; homelessness prevention services; 24-hour crisis services; wellness and recovery services; peer recovery services; supported employment services; suicide prevention services; geriatric services/PASRR services; disaster MH services; a comprehensive System of Care-based child, youth, and family support services.

How you make a difference in this role:

Under supervision of the Director of Wellness and Employment, the Assistant Director position is responsible for day-to-day administration of 30+ agency contracts for the provision of the Peer Wellness Initiative and Individual Placement and Support supported employment programs. Contracts administration includes development and processing of annual contracts and amendments; collection and analysis of program data reports; monitoring and approving contract spending; monitoring of program contact compliance; provision of program consultation, training, and technical assistance; program development; and program quality enhancement.

Job Overview:

Contract development, management, and oversight: Develop annual contracts and needed amendments, initiate timely contract and amendment processing, and monitor timely contract and amendment approval. Communicate with contract agencies regarding contract changes, contract funding, and budget requests. Review program data reports submitted by agencies for timeliness, data quality, and effectiveness in meeting program process and outcome goals; suggest and oversee implementation of data system adjustments and enhancements as indicated. Develop and support collaborative relationships with staff of contract agencies Develop relationships and collaborate with state agencies and departments Oversee and ensure that all program goals are met or exceeded. Oversee implementation of program service delivery adjustments needed to meet program goals and program improvement plans. Negotiate and oversee implementation of program plan adjustments with agencies as indicated. Oversee and ensure timely and accurate submission of required program data by local providers, ensuring all contracted reporting requirements are met. Oversee and approve monthly payments to contractors; monitor provider spending patterns, facilitating adjustments in spending patterns as indicated; negotiate and implement budget revision requests as indicated. Perform formal monitoring of programs according to state and federal guidelines.

Key Responsibilities:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources Knowledge of administrative procedures and systems including word processing, file and data management, and time management Knowledge of principles, methods, procedures and evidence-based practices of behavioral health treatment and recovery and wellness and employment intervention Demonstrated skills of critical thinking, active listening, verbal and written communication Demonstrated skills in determining how system work and how changes will affect outcomes Skills in management of financial resources, analyzing program data to determine goal achievement and needed adjustments, Skills in facilitating interaction with contract agency staff to optimize program goal implementation while maintaining cordial working relationships Skills in identifying measures or indicators of system performance and actions needed to improve or correct performance of the system. Ability to read, listen, and understand information and ideas presented in writing and verbally Ability to communicate information and ideas verbally and in writing Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly Ability to identify or detect a pattern in verbal and written information

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelors or Masters degree in a social or behavioral science field 5 or more years professional experience in mental health and/or substance use disorder program 2 or more years in program monitoring, evaluation, planning, or coordinating program activities Government and grants/projects administration experience Experience in data aggregation and analysis Experience in wellness and employment services is preferred, but not required

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.