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Health Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Sutter Health

Digestive Health Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$206K - $330K/yr

We are so glad you are interested in joining Sutter Health! Organization: CPMC-California Pacific Med Center Van Ness Position Overview: A strategic business leader responsible for the growth ...

Chapa-De

Behavioral Health Director

Auburn, CA

$154K - $190K/yr

Employer-paid Health Insurance (medical, dental and vision): 100% for employee and 80% for dependents. * 22 Vacation Days, 11 Paid Holidays, 8+ Days Sick Leave (1 hour for every 30 hours worked)

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Health Director information

See California salary details

$55.3K

$99.7K

$145.6K

How much do health director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for health director in California is $99,686.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $116,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a health director do?

A Health Director is responsible for overseeing public health programs and initiatives within a community, organization, or government agency. They manage staff, develop health policies, coordinate health services, and ensure compliance with health regulations. Health Directors also work on promoting health education, preventing disease outbreaks, and responding to public health emergencies. Their goal is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of the population they serve.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a health director?

To thrive as a Health Director, you need a strong background in public health, healthcare administration, and policy development, usually supported by a master’s degree in public health or a related field. Familiarity with health data analytics tools, regulatory systems, and program management platforms is vital. Leadership, strategic communication, and decision-making skills help drive effective teams and foster community partnerships. These competencies are crucial for ensuring organizational effectiveness, public health compliance, and the delivery of impactful health programs.

How does a health director typically collaborate with other departments to implement public health initiatives?

A Health Director often works closely with departments such as environmental services, emergency management, and local government agencies to plan and execute public health initiatives. This collaboration may involve coordinating joint outreach programs, sharing critical data, and aligning strategies to address community health concerns. Effective communication and strong leadership skills are vital, as Health Directors must bring together diverse teams to respond to public health issues quickly and efficiently. Building these cross-departmental relationships can also help advance your career by expanding your professional network and demonstrating your ability to lead complex projects.

What is the difference between Health Director vs Public Health Manager?

AspectHealth DirectorPublic Health Manager
Required CredentialsTypically requires a master's degree in public health, healthcare administration, or related field; often includes relevant certificationsUsually holds a master's degree in public health, health administration, or similar; certifications like CPH or CHES are common
Work EnvironmentLeads healthcare organizations, hospitals, or health departments; oversees strategic planning and policy implementationManages public health programs, community health initiatives, and departmental operations within health agencies
Employer & Industry UsageFound in hospitals, healthcare systems, government health agenciesCommon in local, state, or federal public health departments and organizations

The main difference between a Health Director and a Public Health Manager lies in scope and focus. Health Directors often oversee entire healthcare organizations or large departments, focusing on strategic leadership. Public Health Managers typically concentrate on managing specific public health programs and community initiatives. Both roles require similar credentials and work within the public health sector, but their responsibilities and organizational levels differ.

What are the most commonly searched types of Health jobs in California?

The most popular types of Health jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Health Director jobs?

Cities in California with the most Health Director job openings:

Health Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Health Director job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,686 per year, or $47.9 per hour.

Behavioral Health Director

San Francisco, CA • On-site

St. Anthony Foundation
51 - 200 employees
Learn more about St. Anthony Foundationexternal

$146K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Salary Range
$146,000-166,000
Workdays
Monday-Friday
Work Hours
8 AM-4:30 PM
About St. Anthony's
Founded in 1950, St. Anthony's is the most comprehensive safety net service center in San Francisco, directly providing food, clothing, medical care, addiction recovery services, and access to technology, job training, and other critical resources to the community. We support and are supported by thousands of San Franciscans. Everyone who comes through our doors joins the St. Anthony's family and helps us create a future where all people flourish.
Principal Responsibility
St. Anthony's Medical Clinic provides primary and specialty care to individuals and families in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Our range of primary, preventative, and ancillary care supports all patients in building healthy lifestyles for themselves and their families. The Behavioral Health Director will provide supervision to other clinicians and direct care of pediatric and adult clients of the St. Anthony Medical Clinic and other St. Anthony Foundation programs. The Behavioral Health Director will function as part of the primary care team and will focus on supporting the behavioral health clinicians in providing goal-focused and evidence-based sessions that focus on the clients' overall well-being. The clinician must demonstrate skills and ability in promoting excellent patient care. They will collaborate and coordinate care with staff in a patient-centered medical home setting and residential care facility with integrated primary care and behavioral health, and will act as a behavioral health resource and consultant to the health care team that includes medical providers, support staff, counselors, and health educators. The incumbent will also provide general administrative support and guidance to the behavioral health department. In the spirit of our Franciscan values and heritage, our team provides compassion and care daily. As a steward of healing and social justice, you are expected to meet the following duties:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Staff Performance and Development
  • Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, orientation, training, evaluation, and supervision of all behavioral health staff.
  • Provide timely and regular feedback on staff performance.
  • Review staff performance evaluations and provide feedback on skill development and performance.
  • Responsible for training staff on standard operating procedures for the department and partner agencies.
  • Ensure staff are professional, demonstrate good customer service skills towards guests and other community members. Role model and set the expectation that staff treat all individuals with dignity and respect.
  • Oversee and assist staff with accurate and timely reporting and documentation, including 86 reports, incident reports, 911/police reports, etc. Reviews reports regularly.
  • Facilitate regular meetings and team huddles.
Guest Engagement
  • Provide goal-focused, short-term, evidence-based services for individuals, families, children, youth, and groups as appropriate.
  • Conduct clinical assessments; develop treatment plans, and appropriate services and follow-up.
  • Refer clients externally for longer-term behavioral health and other services as appropriate.
  • Actively manage caseloads and update treatment plans regularly
  • Exchange information (within legal parameters) with other health and/or rehabilitative agencies to provide continuity of care for clients receiving services from more than one agency.
  • Facilitate case review meetings and participate in staff meetings, agency meetings and other meetings as assigned.
  • Work in an integrated setting with primary care teams via consultation, shared patient visits, warm hand-offs, or other forms of patient care integration activity.
  • Treat all guests with empathy, dignity, and respect. Seek to understand the other person's perspective and experience.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work effectively across cultures with an openness to learning about cultures not familiar to oneself.
Program Administration and Operations
  • Facilitate team meetings, case conferences, and trainings.
  • Provide clinical consultation, crisis support, and guidance to staff.
  • Understand and follow the organization's programs, policies, and procedures, and support behavioral health and FAC counselor staff in following and implementing these policies and procedures
  • Participate in regular training and development opportunities to increase personal capacity to apply innovative approaches to daily workflows, service delivery, and guest care and engagement and support staff in similar endeavors.
  • Support integration of evidence-based practices and program models such as trauma-informed care.
  • Assist and lead onboarding and mentoring of new staff. Identify gaps in service and propose new groups, workflows, or partnerships.
  • Evaluate program outcomes and client satisfaction data.
  • Support strategic planning and expansion opportunities.
  • Proactive communication with other team members regarding mutual patient care.
Teamwork
  • Participate in relevant meetings supporting team communication and the program's capacity to fulfill organizational goals and mission. This includes attending an interdisciplinary provider meeting where behavioral health patients are reviewed and treatment plans are updated.
  • Proactive communication with other team members regarding mutual patient care, particularly with patients' primary care providers and other mental health staff.
  • Provide support for patient mental health emergencies in the clinic
  • Manage stress and pressure situations calmly and responsively. Maintain the capacity to control reactions and awareness of how their behavior or response can impact others.
  • Consistently demonstrate integrity while working and representing St. Anthony's.
  • Practice direct, respectful, open, and honest communication with their colleagues. Proactively seeks support from team members or management.
  • Demonstrate cooperation with coworkers, management, and the community at large.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Licensure or pending licensure in the State of California as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or LCSW.
  • Successfully complete and obtain background clearance by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
  • Possess knowledge of mandatory reporting laws, protocols, and requirements for child abuse/neglect (CPS) and elder/dependent adult abuse (APS), including recognition, documentation, and timely reporting obligations.
  • Fluency in English and Spanish preferred, bilingual in Cantonese and Vietnamese helpful.
  • 3-5 years counseling or case management experience with proven expertise in assessing and managing the psychosocial needs of diverse, low-income, and medically underserved populations.
  • Experience in the assessment and treatment of psychological trauma.
  • Experience in assessment and treatment of substance use disorders
  • Knowledge of interrelationship between chronic illness and mental health.
  • Experience and skill in evaluating and treating children and adults with mental disorders, stress related to poverty, homelessness, and immigration history.
  • Previous Integrated Behavioral Health experience a plus.
  • Excellent interpersonal, listening, oral, and written communication skills are required.
  • Ability to be polite, diplomatic, and firm. Can set limits and practice professional boundaries with guests, volunteers, donors, and coworkers.
  • Ability to respond to emergencies and high-pressure situations in a self-composed and self-assured manner.
  • Ability to complete paperwork neatly and legibly.
  • Ability or willingness to learn to use information and communication technologies (computers, smartphones, and iPads) to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information.
  • Ability to be punctual, reliable, cooperative, and stay team-oriented.
  • Experience working in a non-profit or community-based social service agency with people experiencing homelessness or poverty desired.
  • Commitment to St. Anthony Foundation Statement of Values and a desire to work for a social services agency serving the poor.

St. Anthony's has a diverse workforce, welcoming all ethnicities, faith backgrounds and worldviews. We are also proudly Catholic. Our Franciscan identity is at the core of our mission, namely to uphold the dignity and value of the human person and lift the spirits of those in need to help create a society in which all person's flourish.
People of color, differently abled people, LGBT, and folks with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
St. Anthony's is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We value diversity of culture, thought, and lived experiences. We seek talented, qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, conviction history, uniform service membership/veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical conditions, genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression regardless of physical gender, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
St. Anthony's uses E-Verify to validate our new employees' eligibility to work legally in the United States.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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