Chief Strategist for Behavioral Health

Job Description:
Director VII-
The Chief Strategist for Behavioral Health (BH) performs highly advanced (senior-level) managerial work providing direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Work involves providing strategic direction, establishing goals and objectives; overseeing the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and guidelines; establishing priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals; coordinating and evaluating program activities and/or business functions; and reviewing and approving budgets within a department(s) or division(s). Supervises the work of others. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions:
Directs program activities and/or business functions within a department(s) or division(s).
•Provides vision, leadership, and strategic direction for the behavioral health services for DFPS that is focused on treating, promoting the health and recovery, and meeting the needs of clients with mental and substance use conditions.
•Directs the operations and activities of the BH Services division and serves as the behavioral health services subject matter expert for DFPS.
•Provides guidance and consultation to DFPS executive leadership and program management to make decisions that improve the quality of life for DFPS clients.

Oversees and/or prepares a division(s) or department(s) budget and reviews and approves major expenditures; and ensures that requirements of funding sources are met.
•Develops, reviews, updates, approves, and monitors the biennial budget and Legislative Appropriations Requests (LAR) for behavioral health services for DFPS executive leadership and program management review.
•Coordinates the approval of major expenditures to further promote and meet the needs of DFPS clients with mental health and substance use conditions.
•Collaborates with DFPS executive leadership and the Office of Finance to ensure that requirements of funding sources are met to manage resources, needs, and priorities for behavioral health services.
•Participates with DFPS executive leadership to develop policy, procedure, guidelines to streamline the process of approving resources for behavioral health services in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Oversees the collection, organization, analysis, and preparation of reports and studies, including management, productivity, and financial reports.
•Oversees the development, compilation, organization, analysis and dissemination of productivity and financial reports related to behavioral health services to be reviewed by DFPS executive leadership to proceed with making recommendations and decisions to improve the quality of life for DFPS clients.
•Provides BH subject matter expertise, division metrics and performance data to agency executive leadership and provides consultation and guidance on the status and progress of division direction and activities statewide.
•Manages the development and implementation of studies, assessments, and special projects conducted by the division to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness and success of behavioral health services for DFPS and provides summary of recommendations to DFPS executive leadership to monitor progress and proceed with decision making.
•Establishes and implements reporting requirements for performance metrics to ensure that behavioral health performance standards, objectives and goals are met.

Oversees and/or develops, establishes, and implements goals and objectives consistent with the agency’s strategic plan; and develops and oversees standards for achieving those goals.
•Oversees and collaborates with DFPS executive leadership and BH leadership to develop, establish, and implement best practices to support behavioral health services for DFPS while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
•Collaborates with DFPS executive leadership and BH leadership to ensure the program’s activities are aligned with the agency strategic goals, mission, vision, and values; and improve internal and external communications, outreach, and collaborations.
•Directs stakeholder outreach initiatives and activities, research functions, and communications development to develop, establish and implement goals and objectives consistent with the DFPS strategic plan.
•Develops and applies shared values and principles focused on the benefits of behavior health services to improve the state’s system of care.

Oversees and/or plans, develops, implements, and monitors policies, procedures, and guidelines, and monitors compliance.
•Oversees the development, administration, and implementation of BH policies and procedures to promote effective program administration and delivery of agency services to client populations and operations in accordance with new or revised federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and stakeholder input and agency policies.
•Monitor compliance of BH Services, policies, and procedures by overseeing the preparation, publication and dissemination of reports, studies and information to provide guidance, coordination and support to the Commissioner and executive leadership on BH policy, procedural, legal and action issues.

Develops and oversees the implementation of long-range and short-term plans.
•Develops and oversees the implementation of long-range and short-range plans related to behavioral health services to treat and promote the health and recovery of people with mental health and substance use conditions and understanding the effectiveness to further improve outcomes and meet the unique and individual needs of DFPS clients across the state.
•Works with DFPS executive leadership to develop plans and specific activities to accomplish goals and objectives related to behavioral health services.

Develops and implements techniques for evaluating program activities and/or business functions; and identifies need for changes.
•Develops, establishes, and facilitates strategic initiatives and special projects for the division to evaluate behavioral health services for DFPS to measure efficiencies and outcomes and identify improvements and develop solutions for DFPS executive leadership to consider while making decisions.
•Directs a coordinated interagency, multisector approach in gauging state and local stakeholders to identify and improve behavioral health services for DFPS.
•Identifies areas for program or process changes and develops and implements strategies for effective BH division management and improvements.

Represents the agency at business meetings, hearings, trials, legislative sessions, conferences, and seminars or on boards, panels, and committees.
•Represents BH and the agency at business meetings, advisory groups, hearings, legislative sessions and meetings, seminars, conferences, workgroups, court proceedings, task forces and committees.
•Serves as a liaison, program and agency representative and subject matter expert for BH to internal and external entities, stakeholders and legislative representatives.
•Manages, plans, organizes, and facilitates internal and external meetings, multidisciplinary teams, and workgroups for strengthening division operations, and fosters collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, as needed.

Reviews results of special investigations, internal audits, research studies, forecasts, and modeling exercises to provide direction and guidance.
•Evaluates and analyzes results of BH large-scale, statewide special investigations, internal audits, research studies, forecasts, and evaluations to provide overall direction and guidance on behavioral health policies, processes, goals, strategic direction, improvements and to promote efficient and effective utilization of division resources and budgets.
•Provides overall direction, trends, performance data and guidance related to behavioral health services to develop strategies for effective management and improvement of behavioral health services for DFPS clients.

Participates in activities related to the legislative process including responding to legislative requests for information, provides legislative testimony, and oversees the implementation of legislative changes.
•Reviews and addresses issues and concerns expressed by state and federal officials, legislative staff and members, media, stakeholders, and the public regarding BH Services, in coordination with agency executive leadership and government relations.
•Oversees and ensures that legislative activities, changes, and assignments that impact BH Services are managed and implemented timely and appropriately in collaboration with DFPS executive leadership and government relations.
•Provides testimony at legislative hearings and legislative meetings on behavioral health initiatives, programs and operations that are implemented for the agency.

Participates in and/or oversees strategic communication efforts.
•Oversees the development of materials and media regarding BH for presentation to legislative committees, state and federal agencies, internal and external organizations, and the general public.
•Participates in strategic communications with DFPS executive leadership to manage informative and critical communications and determine strategic goals related to behavioral health services for DFPS.

Plans, develops, and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and
directs evaluation activities.
•Collaborates with DFPS executive leadership, programs, and external stakeholders to expand and promote behavioral health services for DFPS clients.
•Directs, plans, develops, and approves division activities and priorities, and implements standards to meet division goals focused ensuring the confidence and success of behavioral health services for DFPS.
•Develops, implements, directs evaluation plans, assignments and productivity related to assess efficiencies and productivity to meet DFPS’ statewide plan for implementing behavioral health services.

Reviews the performance of key management positions.
•Evaluates the performance of BH Services to ensure successful planning and directing of operations and programs that promotes behavioral health services for DFPS.

May act as deputy director and/or executive director in their absence.
•N/A

Supervises the work of others.
•Hires, manages, and provides guidance and professional development for BH Services division management and staff.
•Provides direct reports with work assignments, clear direction and information on responsibilities and work performance expectations.
•Develops work performance plans, creates, and maintains position descriptions for direct reports and conducts performance evaluations at least annually.
•Provides leadership to employees using a performance management strategy and development process to provide an overall context and framework to encourage employee contribution and includes goal setting, feedback, and performance development planning.
•Leads employees to meet the organization's expectations for productivity, quality, and goal accomplishment.

Performs related work as assigned
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to state government agencies and public social services.
Knowledge and the principles and practices of public administration and management.
Knowledge of DFPS programs and practices.
Knowledge of program planning and implementation.
Knowledge of elderly and adult disabled populations and family dynamics.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
Knowledge of the operation of all types of news media, their requirements and approach to subject matter.
Knowledge of applicable legal and confidentiality requirements.
Knowledge of related state and federal laws, regulations, policies, rules and requirements.
Knowledge of process improvement or quality assurance systems.
Knowledge of Texas legislative processes, initiatives and public accountability systems.
Knowledge of strategic planning, budget management, human resource management, project management.
Knowledge of the principles of leadership and how to effectively interact with various leadership styles.
Knowledge of state agency and program administration principles and requirements.

Skill in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support an overall business strategy.
Skill in written and verbal communications.
Skill in revising and editing written communications.
Skill in supervising staff.
Skill in gathering and analyzing information.
Skill in developing PowerPoint presentations.
Skill in public speaking.
Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing solutions.
Skill in working collaboratively and cooperatively with diverse groups.
Skill in managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
Skill in demonstrating leadership.
Skill in the use of computers, spreadsheets, databases, and Microsoft Office applications.
Skill in program management.

Ability to direct and organize program activities and/or business functions.
Ability to establish goals and objectives that support the strategic plan.
Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
Ability to develop and evaluate policies and procedures.
Ability to make presentations and testify at hearings.
Ability to communicate effectively.
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts.
Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
Ability to represent the agency effectively with key stakeholders.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to organize and build high-performing teams.
Ability to make independent judgments.
Ability to demonstrate a high level of diplomacy, tact, and discretion.
Ability to effectively direct the work of others.
Ability to manage resources and establish priorities.
Ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of agency staff, legislators and their staffs, and external agencies and organizations.

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