Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Services (0943 Manager VIII)

Company Description

The Department of Public Health prioritizes equitable and inclusive access to quality healthcare for its community and values the importance of diversity in its workforce. All employees at the Department of Public Health work to advance equity, inclusion, and diversity with a specific lens and focus on race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexuality, disability, and immigration status.

• Application Opening: September 18, 2026
• Application Deadline: Application filing will close on or after October 2, 2026
• Salary: $243,100 and $310,206 annually (Range A)
• Appointment Type: Permanent Exempt
• Recruitment ID: PEX-0943-EXEMPT
• Work Arrangement: Onsite

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) operates one of the most complex and integrated public health systems in the nation, encompassing approximately $3.6 billion in annual funding, a workforce of nearly 9,000 employees, and services delivered through two hospitals, more than 45 primary and specialty care clinics, behavioral health programs, population health services, emergency preparedness, managed care, and a broad network of community-based partners.

Job Description

Tackling the behavioral health and homelessness crisis is one of DPH’s highest priorities. Behavioral Health Services (BHS) advances this mission by expanding treatment and recovery capacity, improving timely access to care, and shaping services around the needs of clients and communities.

Major policy changes and public investments give BHS new opportunities to accelerate this work. They create the potential to strengthen the system behind care and make lasting improvements in how San Franciscans access and experience behavioral health services.

DPH is seeking an impact-driven Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy, and Operations to help BHS realize this opportunity. The Deputy Director will shape how BHS puts strategy and investment into practice, bringing together divisional resources and partnerships to advance major priorities and strengthen the support behind care.

About the Role

The Deputy Director serves as a senior BHS executive responsible for advancing divisional strategy, policy, and operations.

Working with the BHS Director and other Deputy Directors, the position leads strategic budgeting, priority implementation, grant and restricted-fund administration, divisional resource planning, coordination of BHS communications and external affairs, and Behavioral Health Commission support.

The Deputy Director works at the divisional level, partnering with DPH’s centralized functions to secure the financial, workforce, technology, facilities, contracting, and other support needed to advance BHS priorities. Success requires sound judgment, political acumen, strategic budgeting expertise, and the ability to build alignment and achieve results across BHS, DPH, City departments, State agencies, elected officials, and community partners.

Key Responsibilities

Advance Strategy and Priorities

• Turn BHS priorities into clear plans, defined accountability, measurable outcomes, and consistent follow-through.
• Lead high-priority policies, grants, investments, and divisional initiatives from planning through implementation.
• Use data and performance information to measure progress, identify risks, and remove barriers.

Align Divisional Resources and Operations

• Align BHS staffing and hiring plans, facilities needs, contracts, funding, and other divisional resources with client needs, strategic priorities, and mandated timelines.

• Lead BHS divisional planning and coordinate with DPH’s enterprise finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, capital planning, and contracting functions to advance BHS priorities.

• Strengthen the divisional operations that allow clinical and program leaders to focus on access, capacity, and quality of care.

Lead Strategic Budgeting and Funding

• Lead BHS strategic budget planning and coordinate with DPH Finance to align divisional resources with BHS priorities.

• Direct divisional planning and administration of Behavioral Health Services Act funding, opioid settlement funds, State and federal grants, and other restricted revenues.

• Connect funding requirements and investment decisions to equity priorities, mandated services, and intended outcomes.

• Ensure that required financial, programmatic, and performance reports are timely, accurate, and complete.

Coordinate BHS Communications and Partnerships

• Coordinate BHS-specific communications with DPH External Affairs, including communications with elected officials, government agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders.

• Coordinate internal communications so BHS leaders and staff receive clear and timely information about divisional priorities, decisions, implementation, and progress.

• Direct support for the Behavioral Health Commission and ensure timely and responsive engagement.

• Build alignment across BHS, DPH, City departments, the State, and community partners and represent BHS before public and governmental bodies.

The Deputy Director of Behavioral Health Services (0943) may perform other duties as assigned or required.

Why This Role Matters

This role provides the divisional leadership needed to put major policy and funding priorities into practice. By aligning resources, removing barriers, and strengthening supports, the Deputy Director helps clinical and program leaders expand capacity, improve access, advance equity, and deliver better outcomes for San Franciscans.

Qualifications

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university AND

Experience: Four (4) years of managerial experience overseeing operations in health care, behavioral health or a government agency providing social services, all of which must include supervising professionals

Education Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis for up to two (2) years. One year (2,000 hours) of qualifying experience will be considered equivalent to 30 semester units/45 quarter units

Desirable Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a complex behavioral health, healthcare, public health, or human-services organization.

• Demonstrated success moving strategy and policy into implementation and measurable results.

• Experience with strategic budgeting, public-sector contracting, grants, restricted funding, facilities, and resource planning.

• Experience using data and performance information to strengthen operations, equity, and accountability.

• Experience presenting to governing bodies, elected officials, government agencies, and community organizations.

• Demonstrated ability to build alignment, navigate competing interests, and achieve results in a highly visible public-sector environment.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

One-year full-time employment is equivalent to 2,000 hours (2,000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week).

VERIFICATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education or experience verification is required, information on how to verify education and experience requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Additional Information

How to apply:

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted online at careers.sf.gov.

Our e-mail communications may come from more than one department so please make sure your email is set to accept messages from all of us at this link.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment. Please consider using a personal email address that you check regularly rather than a work or school account.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Selection Process:

The selection process will include an evaluation of application materials against the minimum qualifications. DPH may use additional screening and selection processes to comparatively evaluate candidates before making a final hiring decision.

Additional information regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information about the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Workers
• Reasonable Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst, Steven Scoles at [email protected] or (628) 271-6828.

We may use text messaging to communicate with you on the phone number provided in your application. By applying, you accept the Trust and Privacy Policy and you may opt out of text messaging anytime.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.