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Mental Health Program Manager Jobs in Riverside, CA

Program Manager

Anaheim, CA · On-site

$25 - $30/hr

Clear Behavioral Health is dedicated to supporting individuals facing mental health and substance ... The Program Manager works closely with leadership to implement best practices, support staff ...

Program Manager

Anaheim, CA · On-site

$25 - $30/hr

Clear Behavioral Health is dedicated to supporting individuals facing mental health and substance ... The Program Manager works closely with leadership to implement best practices, support staff ...

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Showing results 1-20

Mental Health Program Manager information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$44.3K

$97.6K

$163.8K

How much do mental health program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for mental health program manager in Riverside, CA is $97,638.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,000.00 and $115,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Mental Health Program Manager vs Mental Health Counselor?

AspectMental Health Program ManagerMental Health Counselor
CredentialsMaster's degree in psychology, social work, or related field; often requires program management experienceMaster's degree in counseling, psychology, or social work; licensure required
Work EnvironmentAdministrative settings, clinics, community programsPrivate practice, clinics, hospitals, community agencies
Employer & IndustryHealthcare organizations, government agencies, nonprofitsHospitals, mental health clinics, private practices
Primary FocusOverseeing mental health programs, managing staff, ensuring complianceProviding direct therapy and counseling services to clients

The main difference is that Mental Health Program Managers focus on overseeing and managing mental health programs, while Mental Health Counselors provide direct client therapy. Both roles require relevant advanced degrees and licensure, but their daily responsibilities and work environments differ significantly.

What Does a Mental Health Program Manager Do?

A mental health program manager works in a mental health clinic, hospital, or another healthcare facility. As a mental health program manager, you oversee all aspects of the program. Your responsibilities include managing responses to patient behavior and providing support to mental health workers. Other duties involve ensuring program progress through consistent care as developed by you and other senior mental health staff. You work collaboratively with staff and use your superior communication skills to ensure the safety of staff and the patients. Privacy is a chief concern, and you work to develop policies to safeguard patient and family confidentiality.

What are some common challenges faced by Mental Health Program Managers, and how can they be effectively addressed?

Mental Health Program Managers often encounter challenges such as balancing administrative responsibilities with direct program oversight, addressing limited resources, and ensuring staff wellbeing while meeting client needs. Effective strategies include fostering open communication within the team, prioritizing workload management, and seeking out partnerships or grants to supplement funding. Regular training and support for staff can also help maintain high-quality care and reduce burnout, making the work environment more sustainable and collaborative.

What does a Mental Health Program Manager do?

A Mental Health Program Manager oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of mental health services and programs within an organization or community. They are responsible for managing staff, budgets, and resources, as well as ensuring that programs meet the needs of clients and comply with relevant regulations. This role often involves coordinating with other healthcare providers, monitoring program outcomes, and making improvements based on data and feedback. Mental Health Program Managers play a crucial part in expanding access to quality mental health care and promoting positive outcomes for individuals and communities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Mental Health Program Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Mental Health Program Manager, you typically need a background in psychology, social work, or a related field, along with program management experience and relevant licensure or certification. Familiarity with case management software, electronic health records (EHRs), and data reporting tools is important for effective program oversight. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills enable you to manage teams and collaborate with stakeholders. These skills ensure the delivery of high-quality mental health services, efficient program operations, and positive outcomes for clients.
What are popular job titles related to Mental Health Program Manager jobs in Riverside, CA? For Mental Health Program Manager jobs in Riverside, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Mental Health Program Manager jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Mental Health Program Manager jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Mental Health Program Manager jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Mental Health Program Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Mental Health Program Manager job openings in Riverside, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, and 19% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $97,638 per year, or $46.9 per hour.
Mental Health Program Manager I-Public Defender

Mental Health Program Manager I-Public Defender

San Bernardino County

San Bernardino, CA • On-site

$95K - $131K/yr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago


San Bernardino County rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 78 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

396th of 705 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

The Job SALARY INCREASES Employees are eligible for merit-based step increases within the salary range, up to the maximum step. Refer to the Exempt Employee Ordinance for details. STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS San Bernardino County employees may be eligible for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

For more details/application information, review here. The San Bernardino County Public Defender's Office is seeking a Licensed Mental Health Program Manager to oversee the Mental Health Diversion Program under the California Mental Health Diversion Law (PC 1001.36). The role of the Program Manager would entail overseeing the planning, coordination, and delivery of mental health services for Public Defender clients

In this role, the Program Manager would facilitate multidisciplinary meetings, evaluate program effectiveness, ensure treatment plans are created in a timely manner, and create client-centered strategies that support a fluid transition from custody into mental health services for those participating in the Mental Health Diversion Program. Additionally, the Program Manager will directly supervise the Clinical Therapist and provide clinical supervision hours for the Social Service Practitioner Unit. Furthermore, the Program Manager will conduct Mental Health Diversion Program clinical evaluations in determining whether the client meets the criteria under the Mental Health Diversion Law and will testify on their findings if needed.

For more information, refer to the Mental Health Program Manager I job description. About The Public Defender's Office The Law Offices of the Public Defender San Bernardino County is a county department that is staffed with attorneys licensed by the State Bar of California. The attorneys who handle cases in court are called Deputy Public Defenders.

In addition to attorneys, the Public Defender employs Investigators to fully investigate cases handled by the Department. The Department also has a unit of social service practitioners and support staff to ensure the best holistic representation for clients. The Public Defender will be appointed to represent any criminal or civil commitment defendant who cannot afford to hire an attorney, unless the office has a legal conflict of interest with that defendant's case.

The Public Defender represents adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanor or felony crimes, and individuals facing involuntary civil commitment for mental disorders or commitment under the Sexually Violent Predator statute. The Law Offices of the Public Defender San Bernardino County is a leader in innovation, developing and implementing programs to operate more efficiently and improving individual lives. Using a holistic approach, the Public Defender seeks to increase client opportunities for achieving self-sufficiency.

In addition to providing legal defense, our agency also seeks to arrange client access to social service programs and assistance with receiving alcohol and drug rehabilitation services and counseling for mental health issues. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Background: A background investigation will be conducted, including a DOJ/FBI fingerprint check and drug screening. License: A valid California Clinical Social Worker license must be maintained throughout the duration of employment.

Certification: California Board of Behavioral Science Supervision Training certification must be maintained throughout the duration of employment. Travel: Travel throughout the County may be required and employees will be required to make provisions for such transportation. Sponsorship: San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS To review job-specific benefits, refer to: Summary of Benefits Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The County also offers an alternative Modified Benefits Option (MBO) that provides a wage differential. Minimum Requirements License: California Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Certification: California Board of Behavioral Science Supervision Training certification.

Experience: Three (3) years of professional-level administrative and/or clinical experience within a mental health program (mental health and/or substance use disorder treatment program) or a forensic justice involved program. Experience must include responsibility in one or more of the following areas: development of programs, policies and procedures; compliance/quality management; data/legislative analysis; monitoring contracts; or budget/fiscal administration. Experience must also include managing crisis situations in the field and working in a co-located setting.

Clerical and/or routine accounting experience is not considered qualifying. You must attach a copy of your California Clinical Social Worker license and proof of completion of a Supervision Training Course approved by the California Board of Behavioral Science to your application. Selection Process Application Procedure: To be considered for this excellent opportunity, please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire as soon as possible.

This is a continuous recruitment that may close with or without notice. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire. There will be a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on a review of the application and supplemental questionnaire.

It is to your advantage to be explicit in your responses on the application and supplemental questionnaire. All communications regarding the selection process will be via e-mail. Applicants are encouraged to check their e-mail frequently to learn additional information regarding this recruitment.

Check your GovernmentJobs account for notifications. Update your firewalls to allow e-mails from San Bernardino County through governmentjobs.com. Update your Spam, Junk, and Bulk settings to ensure it will not spam/block/filter communications from e-mail addresses with the following domain "@hr.county.gov"

Finally, be sure to keep your personal information updated. Taking these steps now will help ensure you receive all communications regarding this recruitment. To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete and submit your application.

Applicants will be automatically logged-out if they have not submitted the application and all required materials prior to the posted deadline. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records.

Please note, if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application we have not received your application. If you require technical assistance, please review the Government Jobs Online Application Guide, or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer or browser used to submit the application.

EEO/ADA: San Bernardino County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants. ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, submit the Special Testing Accommodations Request Form within one week of a recruitment filing deadline. Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans and their spouses or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans' Preference points.

For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the Veterans' Preference Policy. Please review for important Applicant Information and the County Employment Process


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