Deputy Commissioner of Public Behavioral Health, Operations Manager II (NCS) - Baltimore City Health Department

Deputy Commissioner

The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) is seeking a Deputy Commissioner to lead the newly organized Division of Public Behavioral Health.

Founded in 1793, BCHD is the oldest health department in the country, with around 800 employees and an annual budget of around $200 million, that aims to protect health, eliminate disparities, and ensure the well-being of everyone in our community through education, advocacy, and direct service delivery. BCHDs wide-ranging responsibilities include maternal and child health, youth wellness, school health, aging services, animal control, restaurant inspections, violence prevention, STI / HIV treatment, and acute and chronic disease prevention.

This position requires a visionary leader capable of fostering partnerships across sectors, managing diverse teams, and driving innovative solutions. This senior management position will lead a talented team responsible for the public health vision and strategy for preventing and addressing challenges related to mental health and substance use in Baltimore City.

This is a unique opportunity to join a team of dedicated public servants committed to making a meaningful and lasting impact on their community.

Critical activities of the new division include :

• Serving as the City of Baltimore lead, champion, and face for public behavioral health; providing strategic oversight and planning around behavioral health in Baltimore City; and forging strong partnerships with the local behavioral health authority, State of Maryland Behavioral Health Administration, and others.
• Leading the public health response to overdose in support of the citys overall strategy. The division will develop the needs assessment and the public health strategy in coordination with other city agencies, key nonprofit organizations, and public input.
• Being the lead in city government for engagement with Baltimores local behavioral health authority, Behavioral Health System Baltimore, an independent nonprofit organization that provides funding and other supports for mental health and addiction treatment and related services in the city.
• Supporting the consent decree for the Baltimore Police Department, related to expectations for services available to individuals encountered by law enforcement with mental health and substance use issues.
• Managing essential harm reduction services, including one of the most established and integrated syringe exchange programs in the country. Established in 1994, the Community Risk Reduction Services (CRRS) program has over 13,000 registered clients and distributes over 1 million syringes a year to reduce HIV, hepatitis C, and other infections. The incumbent will manage a public-private partnership, Healthcare on the Spot, which provides free, low-barrier, integrated healthcare in communities affected by overdose.
• Overseeing the agencys portfolio for trauma trainings, suicide prevention, and violence prevention in schools.

The incumbent will report directly to the Health Commissioner. The incumbent will also work closely with and collaborate with the Deputy Commissioners for Population Health and Disease Prevention, Aging and Community Support, and Youth Wellness and Community Health, as well as the Chief Epidemiologist.

Duties and Responsibilities include :

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities include :

Minimum Qualifications include :

This is a highly visible leadership position within BCHD. A successful candidate will have a strong working experience in public health, behavioral health services, and harm reduction, strong management and team skills, and community engagement experience.

Salary is commensurate with education and experience and includes an excellent benefits package.

Additional Information includes :

Baltimore City Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City of Baltimore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources directly. Do not attach your request for accommodation to the application.

Baltimore City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.