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

THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION

POSTING DATE: 3/26/2025

SALARY RANGE: $105,085.00 - $173,250.00 ANNUALLY

BACKGROUND CHECK

Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint screening and must be successfully completed.

PROBATION

All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a 6-month mandatory probation.

POSITION OVERVIEW

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. BCHD’s wide-ranging responsibilities include maternal and child health, youth wellness, school health, aging services, animal control, restaurant inspections, violence prevention, emergency preparedness, STI/HIV treatment, and acute and chronic disease prevention. 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.

Critical activities of the new division include:

• Leading the public health response to overdose in support of the city’s 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 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.

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. 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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides oversight and management of the Division of Public Behavioral Health.
• Provides executive leadership and direction to an Assistant Commissioner and Program Directors; delegates sufficient authority to subordinates to effectively manage the Division’s resources.
• Responsible for budgeting and fiscal oversight of program operations and ensuring fiscal accountability across initiatives.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with grant requirements and city, state, and federal regulations.
• Responsible for ensuring accurate and timely reporting as dictated by grant requirements and state and federal regulations for reporting.
• Responsible for oversight and management of City behavioral health contract with the local behavioral health authority and other necessary contracts.
• Responsible for ensuring strong partnerships and clear communication with external partners including Maryland Department of Health, Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response, community-based organizations, and others.
• Serves as a senior BCHD advisor on substance use treatment and harm reduction strategies and behavioral health to the Commissioner of Health and the Mayor’s Office.
• Represents the Commissioner and/or serves as Commissioner’s designee for national, statewide, and local committees as appropriate.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION: Master’s degree (e.g. MPH, MHS, or MPP) required; advanced degree in public health, social work, healthcare management, or related field preferred.

AND

EXPERIENCE: A minimum of 8 years of experience in a senior management role; 4 years of experience managing homogeneous functions through subordinate supervisors.

Previous experience in city, state and/or federal public health preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Strong administrative and management skills. The position will directly and indirectly oversee approximately 30 employees.
• Ability to consistently manage and meet deadlines; ability to take initiative and handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Professional demeanor and ability to effectively work with all levels of agency and City personnel, community partners, and the general public.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required; must have ability to be both direct and diplomatic as needed, must lead through influence.
• Must be result-driven and have demonstrated ability to lead people towards meeting organizational vision, mission, and goals.

BENEFITS

The City of Baltimore offers a generous and competitive benefits package. You can learn about our benefits here: 

https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov/hr-divisions/benefits

☒ RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

This position is required to complete an Affidavit for Political Appointees and Public Officials as part of the City’s Residency Requirement. This position is required to complete a Financial Disclosure pursuant to Sections 7-7, 7-8, and 7-9 of the City Ethics Law.

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. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.

BALTIMORE CITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER