Behavioral Health Director Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

Lead. Innovate. Transform Community Health.

The right Behavioral Health Director isn't simply looking for their next job—they're looking for the opportunity to build something meaningful.

At Mat-Su Health Services (MSHS), we are searching for a leader who is passionate about creating innovative, integrated behavioral health services while helping shape the future of healthcare in one of Alaska's fastest-growing communities.

Located in the beautiful Mat-Su Valley, just north of Anchorage, our community offers a lifestyle that is difficult to match anywhere else. Imagine finishing your workday and being minutes from world-class hiking, fishing, skiing, boating, or simply enjoying breathtaking views of the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains. Whether someone enjoys outdoor adventure, raising a family in a close-knit community, or escaping the congestion of larger cities, the Mat-Su Valley provides an exceptional quality of life.

Professionally, this position offers an equally rare opportunity.

MSHS is a progressive Federally Qualified Health Center with integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services. We are financially stable, growing, and committed to innovation. We have invested heavily in expanding access to care, leveraging technology, strengthening integrated care models, and developing new behavioral health programs that meet the changing needs of our community.

We are not looking for someone to simply maintain existing operations. We are looking for a leader who enjoys strategic thinking, program development, mentoring clinical staff, building community partnerships, and identifying new opportunities to improve patient outcomes. The successful candidate will have the support of an engaged executive leadership team and Board of Directors that values collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to make a lasting impact. The Behavioral Health Director will have the ability to influence clinical practice, expand substance use disorder services, strengthen integrated care throughout the organization, pursue grant opportunities, and help shape the future of behavioral healthcare across the Mat-Su Valley.

While Alaska may seem like a bold move for some candidates, those who choose to live here often discover they never want to leave. The combination of meaningful work, professional autonomy, incredible scenery, and an unmatched quality of life creates an opportunity unlike many others in healthcare today.

Why Join Mat-Su Health Services?

• Mission-Driven Impact – Serve a diverse and growing population with real community need
• Leadership Opportunity – Shape the future of integrated care in Alaska
• Innovative Care Models – Engage in value-based care, population health, and system redesign
• Work-Life Balance – Enjoy Alaska’s natural beauty and strong community connections
• Supportive Culture – Collaborative leadership team and engaged clinical staff

Under the general direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Behavioral Health Director provides strategic and operational leadership for all behavioral health programs and services. The Director is responsible for developing, implementing, evaluating, and continuously improving evidence-based behavioral health programs that advance the organization's mission and respond to the evolving needs of the communities served. This position leads clinical quality, program development, workforce development, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, and interdisciplinary collaboration while fostering a culture of clinical excellence, innovation, accountability, and continuous quality improvement. The Director works collaboratively with executive leadership, providers, staff, community partners, and funding agencies to expand access to integrated, person-centered behavioral health services and improve measurable patient outcomes.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Complies with MSHS' Code of Conduct, Compliance Program, policies, procedures, and all applicable federal, state, and accreditation requirements. Compliance is a component of the annual performance evaluation.
2. Provides strategic leadership for the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of all behavioral health programs and services.
3. Develops and maintains an accessible, integrated, person-centered continuum of behavioral health services that meets the evolving needs of the communities served.
4. Identifies emerging community behavioral health needs and develops innovative, evidence-based programs and services that improve access, quality, and patient outcomes.
5. Serves as a member of the organization's Senior Leadership Team and participates in strategic planning, organizational development, and executive decision-making.
6. Promotes a culture of evidence-based practice, clinical excellence, trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented services, and continuous quality improvement throughout the Behavioral Health Department.
7. Develops, implements, and monitors clinical quality improvement initiatives utilizing performance metrics, outcome measures, patient satisfaction data, and operational analytics to improve clinical and organizational performance.
8. Provides leadership for clinical supervision, workforce development, succession planning, recruitment, retention, and professional development of behavioral health staff.
9. Develops and oversees clinical policies, procedures, workflows, and best practice standards that promote regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and high-quality patient care.
10. Oversees utilization management processes to ensure services are medically necessary, clinically appropriate, financially sustainable, and responsive to patient needs.
11. Establishes productivity, documentation, quality, and performance expectations for behavioral health staff and monitors compliance through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
12. Works collaboratively with the CFO to ensure the financial sustainability of behavioral health programs, including budgeting, productivity analysis, reimbursement optimization, program evaluation, and development of new service lines.
13. Identifies funding opportunities and collaborates on grant development, implementation, reporting, and compliance for federal, state, local, and private funding sources.
14. Collaborates with the Compliance Officer to ensure compliance with Medicaid regulations, Division of Behavioral Health standards, CARF accreditation requirements, HRSA/FQHC requirements, and other applicable regulatory standards.
15. Collaborates with Medical, Dental, Care Management, and administrative leadership to strengthen integrated care, improve care coordination, and enhance patient outcomes.
16. Evaluates new technologies, clinical innovations, and evidence-based practices that improve access, quality, efficiency, staff satisfaction, and patient outcomes.
17. Represents the organization with community partners, state agencies, professional organizations, and stakeholder groups to strengthen partnerships and expand behavioral health services.
18. Completes timely performance evaluations, coaching, and development plans for direct reports.
19. Maintains clinical competency and provides direct clinical services as needed to support patient care and organizational operations.

Non-essential Functions

Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions

1. Work is performed primarily inside a heated, ventilated, and well-lighted environment.
2. Job is considered low-risk for hazard exposure.
3. MSHS is a non-smoking campus.

Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Requires sitting, standing, bending, reaching, lifting under 50 lbs., and driving company vehicle.
2. Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office and other equipment or appliances.
3. Requires normal range of hearing and vision acuity.

Employment Practices

MSHS is an Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate against any person in employment or in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs and benefits on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, disability, sex, age, or marital status.

Position Requirements

Minimum Education and Experience

1. Must possess and maintain unrestricted Alaska licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
2. Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in community behavioral health, with at least three (3) years in a senior leadership, director, or program management role.
3. Demonstrated experience providing clinical services in mental health and/or substance use disorder treatment.
4. Demonstrated success developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based behavioral health programs and clinical service models.
5. Experience leading organizational change, program expansion, and strategic planning within a behavioral health setting.
6. Experience developing, managing, and reporting on federal, state, and private grants preferred.
7. Demonstrated experience using outcome measures, quality improvement methodologies, and data analytics to evaluate program effectiveness and improve clinical outcomes.
8. Experience establishing a culture of evidence-based practice, clinical excellence, and continuous quality improvement preferred.
9. Experience integrating behavioral health services within primary care and collaborating across multidisciplinary healthcare teams preferred.
10. Experience with community behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, or Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) preferred.
11. Advanced training or certification in clinical supervision, substance use disorder treatment, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, or other evidence-based treatment modalities preferred.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

1. Thorough knowledge of community behavioral health systems, integrated care models, and the delivery of evidence-based mental health and substance use disorder services.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of clinical best practices for serving children, adolescents, adults, and individuals with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, and co-occurring disorders.
3. Knowledge of evidence-based practices, trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented systems of care, and person-centered treatment approaches.
4. Demonstrated ability to design, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve behavioral health programs using outcome data, quality improvement methodologies, and evidence-based practices.
5. Ability to establish collaborative partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, tribal organizations, hospitals, schools, justice partners, and other stakeholders to improve access and continuity of care.
6. Thorough understanding of applicable federal, state, and accreditation requirements, including Medicaid regulations, Alaska Division of Behavioral Health standards, CARF standards, FQHC requirements, and applicable grant compliance requirements.
7. Demonstrated ability to develop clinical systems and operational processes that improve quality, patient outcomes, regulatory compliance, productivity, financial sustainability, and patient satisfaction.
8. Ability to effectively lead, mentor, coach, and develop multidisciplinary teams while fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement.
9. Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, strategic initiatives, and system transformation while effectively managing competing priorities.
10. Ability to analyze operational and clinical data, identify trends, and use information to support strategic planning and continuous organizational improvement.
11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clinicians, executive leadership, Board members, community partners, grantors, and regulatory agencies.
12. Demonstrated commitment to promoting the organization's mission, vision, values, and a culture of clinical excellence, continuous learning, and innovation.

General

1. Clear background check (subject to DHSS background check)
2. Current driver’s license; clear driving record
3. Current Tuberculosis screening result.
4. First Aid and CPR certifications must be obtained within 2 weeks of hire. CPI (Nonviolent Crisis Intervention) certification must be obtained when offered through the agency; may substitute current MANDT certificate for CPI.