Senior Director of Behavioral Health - Clinical & Support Services

Overview

Help shape the future of behavioral health care.

At Unity Center for Behavioral Health, we’re seeking our next Senior Director of Behavioral Health, Clinical & Support Services to provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple clinical and support service areas with a local and regional impact.

This is a highly influential leadership role where you will guide directors, managers, supervisors, and staff while helping advance innovative care models, strengthen operations, improve quality and patient outcomes, and support the expanding needs of the Behavioral Health Service Line. This position requires experience working with APP's directly, hospital operations experience over multiple units, finance experience, contract, behavioral health and Oregon funding experience including rules and regulations, community advocacy work, and union experience, 

The Senior Director of Clinical & Support Services will help shape the future of behavioral health care. In this dynamic executive leadership role, you'll guide clinical and operational teams across multiple service areas, champion innovative care models, drive strategic growth, and build strong partnerships throughout the community. If you're energized by leading high-performing teams, advancing quality and patient outcomes, influencing healthcare strategy, and creating meaningful change for individuals experiencing behavioral health and substance use challenges, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact. 

The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with behavioral health expertise, strong business acumen, and a passion for developing people and programs. You'll oversee operations, financial performance, quality improvement, service line growth, workforce engagement, and community relationships while helping Unity Center continue its mission of delivering exceptional behavioral health care. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in complex environments, embraces innovation, and believes that great teams create extraordinary patient experiences.

About Legacy Health Unity Center for Behavioral Health 

Unity Center for Behavioral Health is a 24-hour behavioral and mental health services center located in the greater Portland metropolitan area. We provide immediate psychiatric care and a path to stabilization and recovery for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.  Unity Center offers mental health treatment to adults and adolescents aged 9 to 17.  We also have the only emergency department specifically for behavioral health emergencies in Oregon. The Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) serves adults 18 and older.  We believe in a trauma informed approach to assessment and treatment.  For more information, please visit our website:  www.unityhealthcenter.org.  

Responsibilities

You’ll provide leadership across:

• Strategy & growth: Shape service-line strategy and lead the development and redesign of programs and services.
• Operational excellence: Oversee clinical and support operations, allocation of resources, and performance improvement.
• Financial performance: Provide leadership for financial budget planning and performance.
• Quality & innovation: Advance quality with evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.
• People leadership: Develop and empower leaders and teams while building a culture of collaboration and engagement.
• Community partnership: Represent the Behavioral Health Service Line in community relationships and support governmental and regulatory initiatives. Acts as a liaison on behalf of Legacy’s Behavioral Health Service Line with community members.

The leader we’re looking for:

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and strategic behavioral health leader who pairs clinical understanding with strong business and operational acumen. You’re comfortable leading through complexity, developing people and programs, building strong partnerships, and translating strategy into meaningful results.

If you’re energized by improving behavioral health care, developing exceptional teams, and creating meaningful change for individuals experiencing behavioral health and substance use challenges, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Qualifications

Education:   

Must meet one of the following education requirements for one of the following professional pathways:

• Social Work/Counseling: Master’s degree in Social work, Counseling, or another Behavioral Health field as required by licensure.
• Psychology: Graduate of a school accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), or a graduate school of psychology evaluated by an Oregon Board-recognized credentialing body if working in Oregon, or a Washington Board-recognized credentialing body if working in Washington. (Note: ACA-accredited programs in Canada do not require evaluation.

Experience: 

• Previous business/administration experience required. 
• Minimum of six years progressively more responsible experience within health care environment, including multi-hospital or integrated delivery system models with managed care. 
• Experience working in successful partnership with physicians. 
• Experience working in leadership role with clinical specialty areas of Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder is desired.
• Experience working in leadership with support areas of hospital operations, housekeeping,transportation and dietary services preferred.
• Experience in leading clinical departments with thorough understanding of social determinants related to inpatient, outpatient, and emergency behavioral health issues.  
• Experience working with union contracts is preferred.  

Skills: 

• Strong leadership skills.
• Organizational skills both to function independently and to work closely with other professionals using a team approach.   
• Ability to handle multiple demands and to respond rapidly to changing priorities. Knowledge of administrative and managerial systems and roles. 
• Knowledge of financial and marketing systems.
• Knowledge of health care issues, demographics, financing, policy changes.
• Strong people skills since position demands interactions with multiple organizations and several different groups of professions both internal and external.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication, collaboration and conflict management skills. 
• Ability to manage complex team dynamics within a Union environment. 
• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Experience with Lean Management systems is an asset.

Licensure

Must hold the corresponding license for the professional pathway identified under Education: 

• Social Work/Counseling: Current LCSW or LPC license. CADC certification is preferred.  
• Psychology: Current valid Oregon and/or Washington License as a Psychologist.

Pay Range

USD $87.79 - USD $132.55 /Hr.

Our Commitment to Health and Equal Opportunity

Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.

If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.

Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To learn more about our employee benefits click here: https://www.legacyhealth.org/for-health-professionals/careers/benefits