Director, Substance Use Services

Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is nationally recognized for making data-driven decisions and relentlessly testing new strategies to find what works. We care about people, and we show that by getting results. In Allegheny County, we hold the levers for a $500 million behavioral health Medicaid program, alongside another $200 million in additional, flexible funding to improve the behavioral health of the county’s most vulnerable children, youth, and adults. 

Allegheny County DHS is deploying cutting-edge solutions to modernize its system of care. In recent years, we have: 

• worked to understand the overdose crisis, monitoring changing trends and responding with targeted, evidence-based solutions; 

• expanded access to medication-assisted treatment in the community, and ensured that everyone coming into the jail can be assessed and provided full Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid and Alcohol Use Disorders; 

• rebuilt our behavioral health crisis system, including implementing geographically focused teams to more quickly respond to people in crisis; 

• introduced warm handoffs to care, both in strategic locations like emergency rooms and through trusted messengers like peer specialists; 

• invested in harm reduction strategies, including safe syringe programs; 

• expanded recovery homes and housing support for people with co-occurring disorders; 

• bolstered the behavioral health workforce through a sizable fellowship that includes student-loan repayment as well as professional development; 

• pioneered large-scale, gold-standard research on “contingency management” (using a behavioral therapy that uses “rewards” to help people stay on the path to recovery).

Our next challenges lie in integrating care with physical health more seamlessly, reducing disparities by building a system that works better for people in greatest need, and deftly adjusting our Medicaid program to respond to policy changes at the state and federal levels while keeping our clients covered. 

These challenges and opportunities require a Director, Substance Use Services, to lead Allegheny County’s system of care for prevention, treatment and recovery supports for people living with substance use and co-occurring disorders. The role reports to the Director of the Office of Behavioral Health and oversees four direct and 11 indirect report staff. The salary range for this position is $110,594-$121,653. The position is hybrid, with most work performed on-site in Allegheny County, where the Director is required to reside.

We are seeking a leader who is on the forefront of understanding the changing landscape of substance use and is capable of translating this knowledge into investment strategies that direct over $100 million annually to reduce overdose and premature death and increase recovery for 12,000 people in Allegheny County. The Director will lead a countywide system of care – spanning prevention, treatment access, and long-term recovery supports – and will carry the responsibility of serving as the Single County Authority for the state. This means ensuring that every public dollar is used effectively, and that providers are delivering high-quality, compliant, and life-saving services.

We need a leader who can:  

• Relentlessly pursue new solutions for changing problems;  

• Ensure monitoring and compliance with state and federal requirements;  

• Promote effective and equitable recovery pathways for all communities;  

• Collaborate deeply across systems, including mental health, child welfare, justice, and housing; and  

• Harness data and outcomes to shape decisions and keep the system accountable to improving the lives of our most vulnerable residents.  

Key Responsibilities:  

• Administer the evaluation, planning, organization, and coordination of the substance use system. This includes providing technical assistance to local agencies and assuring compliance with various regulations and mandates.  

• Serve as a liaison with contracted service providers, the County, State Department of Health (DOH), Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), and federal offices concerned with substance use issues.    

• Establish and maintain staff and contractor priorities, performance standards, internal policies, and procedures.   

• Collaborate with the Medicaid Behavioral HealthChoices Managed Care Organization and the Senior Manager for Managed Care Oversight to maximize coordination of services for Allegheny County residents, regardless of payer.  

• Actively promote collaboration and coordination with other DHS services, as well as systems supporting clients such as vocational rehabilitation, education, criminal justice, courts, etc.   

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:   

• Record of cutting through bureaucracy to deliver results; able to think clearly, simplify complexity, and design workable solutions in a highly regulated environment.  

• Experience in advancing health equity, and building trust with all communities, especially historically marginalized communities, where positive outcomes are more disparate.   

• Strong track record of designing and implementing data-driven policies, programs or reforms in behavioral health or related systems and leading teams towards high quality programs and processes.  

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment, balancing long-term strategy with immediate operational needs. 

• Strong process improvement, project management, and coordination skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams and stakeholders.   

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex issues and processes in a concise manner to a variety of audiences.

Minimum Experience & Training: 

A degree from an accredited college with a major in behavioral health sciences or related fields, public administration, or business management; professional experience providing direct service and/or program planning in a human services agency (2-6 years based on degree); and two years’ experience supervising human services professionals. 

In addition to our mission oriented, supportive culture and competitive salary, Allegheny County and its’ partners offer a generous total rewards package. This includes health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, life insurance, long and short-term disability, employee assistance program, vacation and sick leave, and the County's retirement program.

We invite interested, qualified candidates to explore and apply for this exciting opportunity.

                                                          AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER - M/F/V/D

Salary : $100