Behavioral Health and Recovery Division Director

The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) seeks a seasoned, visionary, and highly skilled leader to serve as the Appointed Division Director of the Behavioral Health and Recovery (BHRD) Division. The BHRD Director oversees a team of approximately 200 professionals responsible for a broad portfolio of initiatives, programs, and services that improve the health and wellbeing of individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use conditions across the region, including supporting a continuum of crisis services for all people in King County. The Division Director reports to the DCHS Department Director and serves as the lead behavioral health advisor to the King County Executive. This role represents King County on interjurisdictional, regional, and community boards, committees, and work groups that shape the future of behavioral health services across a racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse county. The Division Director serves as a public-facing leader who routinely engages with elected officials, media, partners, and community stakeholders.

DCHS provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community. Largely through contracting with a trusted network of community-based agencies, DCHS administers over $1 Billion in public funds a year to provide King County residents much-needed services for behavioral health prevention and treatment, housing and community development, supports for children and their families, youth and young adult education and employment, veterans, older adults, women's program services and developmental disabilities to help our county's most vulnerable residents and strengthen our communities. DCHS envisions a welcoming community that is racially just, as the field of human services exists to undo and mitigate unfair structures. We seek to lead the way by working as respectful and responsible stewards for the King County community.

To be considered minimally qualified applicant must demonstrate a background that provides the knowledge, skills and ability to: 

Provide Strategic Leadership and Direction

• Provide clear vision, direction, and strategic planning for BHRD programs, ensuring alignment with department and countywide goals.
• Oversee a broad network of contracted community behavioral health providers, ensuring high-quality service delivery and effective contract management. 
• Implement programs and services that reflect King County’s principles and priorities, including Equity, Racial and Social Justice, embedding these values into policies, practices, and operations.
• Use advanced analytic skills to interpret performance data to plan, administer, and fund community-based behavioral health services.
• Apply a deep understanding of how place, race, policy, and systemic inequities affect marginalized communities and integrate these insights into programs and strategies.
• Lead and foster cross-department collaboration to improve outcomes, align priorities, streamline operations, and strengthen system-wide behavioral health efforts.

Division Operations and Partnerships

• Establish and monitor division-wide performance benchmarks, quality measures, and outcome reporting systems to ensure transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Drive continuous improvement in service quality, customer service, and data-driven decision-making. 
• Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and proactively identify and mitigate operational, financial, and service-related risks. 
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners, including Executive Office staff, Councilmembers and council staffers, community providers, funders, and other county departments and divisions. 
• Ensure timely, accurate, and complete submission of required reports and deliverables for funders, the County Executive, and the King County Council. 
• Strengthen collaboration with other DCHS divisions and county agencies to ensure coordinated and effective service delivery and consistent policy implementation.

Team Leadership and Culture Building

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing workforce, including 200+ employees across the Integrated Care Network, Crisis and Commitment Services, and BHRD’s local initiatives.
• Oversee managers and supervisors, assign work, conduct performance evaluations, and provide supportive coaching and development.
• Cultivate an inclusive, equitable, and thriving workplace culture where all staff can grow, collaborate, and contribute. 
• Inspire excellence, accountability, and professional growth throughout the division.
• Serve as a contributing member of the DCHS Leadership Team.
• Model ethical leadership, guiding teams and partners toward decisions that strengthen community trust and long-term outcomes.

Financial Stewardship and Resource Management

• Direct the planning, development, and administration of the division’s $465 million annual budget.
• Oversee development and management of the biennial budget, lead forecasting, and partner with the Chief Financial Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer to ensure effective stewardship of resources.
• Develop financial strategies that optimize resources, respond to a changing funding landscape, and ensure compliance with all funder and regulatory requirements.
• Build coalitions and strategic partnerships with diverse funders including federal, state, local governments, nonprofits, and private-sector organizations. 

Executive Representation and Priority Management

• Serve as the division’s lead representative in politically sensitive matters, engaging with media, legislative bodies, community stakeholders, other departments, and partner jurisdictions.
• Coordinate with regional and statewide behavioral health partners to advance system alignment, improve care continuity, and ensure compliance with statewide priorities and mandates. 
• Navigate complex policy environments and provide clear, strategic guidance on issues affecting behavioral health and recovery services
• Cultivate strong partnerships with local jurisdictions, tribal governments, regional coalitions, service providers, and community-based organizations.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE:

• Extensive leadership experience directing large, complex public sector health and human services operations, including strategic planning, program administration, and performance management.
• Executive-level leadership experience managing behavioral health crisis systems, integrated care networks, or large-scale direct behavioral health service operations.
• Proven ability to manage substantial budgets, including forecasting, resource allocation, compliance oversight, and funder engagement.
• Advanced knowledge in Medicaid, including managed care, and other public sector funding
• Advanced experience using performance data, evaluation methods, and outcome measures to drive decisions, improve programs, and advance accountability.
• Strong background working with diverse communities and a deep understanding of how systemic inequities impact behavioral health outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in change management principles and leading teams through significant change
• Exceptional communication skills and demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with executive leadership, elected officials, funders, community partners, and staff.
• Significant experience supervising and developing large teams, including senior managers, ensuring a culture of accountability and fostering a high-performing and inclusive workplace. 
• Experience navigating politically sensitive matters and representing complex programs to media, legislative bodies, and community stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across a wide range of partners, including staff, elected officials, state agencies, community partners, and individuals with lived experience, to deliver work products and support people with behavioral health conditions. 
• Ability to pass a post-offer/pre-employment Washington State Patrol Background Check

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of King County policies, funding structures, and the regional behavioral health landscape.
• Proven ability to manage substantial budgets of $100M+

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION:

• This position has been designated Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.
• The Behavioral Health and Recovery (BHRD) Division team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is Chinook, 401 5^th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
• King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• This position is a career service exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
• This position is not represented by a union.
• This is an appointed, career service-exempt Division Director leadership position. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to lead and advance the division’s strategic priorities. Consistent with King County requirements for appointed positions, the appointment is at-will and may be ended at any time, with or without cause.
• Classification: Division Director – Behavioral Health and Recovery
   

WHO MAY APPLY:
This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around the week of November 2, 2026. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Larsen, [email protected].

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Application Process

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact Alicia Larsen at [email protected].

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.