Chief Strategy Officer - Office of Behavioral Health

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Service Manager III

Opening Date: July 31, 2026

Closing Date: August 14, 2026

Job Class Code: MA36

Grade: 36 (Confidential)

Salary: $92,851.20 – $131,518.40 per year

Position Number: 09590-0077

Location: This is a full-time position located in Augusta and allows for partial telework with management approval.

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

Core Responsibilities:

The Chief Strategy Officer for The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) is responsible and will provide leadership for the overall strategic planning, development and implementation of key strategic priorities and initiatives for OBH. The position evaluates OBH, The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the behavioral health service system and whether they are meeting the needs of Maine citizens with mental health and/or substance use disorders; determines priorities, sets goals, and works with OBH and its stakeholders to refine a vision. The Chief Strategy Officer assists and advises the OBH Director in identifying behavioral health system needs and system gaps, developing strategies to address these gaps, securing resources, and ensuring implementation in service of the identified goals. 

Additionally, this position will also be responsible for providing leadership and management of several key strategic activities within OBH. This includes OBH s work to strengthen the children’s behavioral health system of care in accordance with the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement, overseeing OBH’s portfolio of housing resources and programs, and leading OBH’s strategic legislative, compliance and communications activities. 

This position will work with OBH leadership to ensure strategic planning priorities are aligned with OBH’s mission, values, goals and priorities. The Chief Strategy Officer will also play a key leadership role in community partner outreach and engagement.

Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify, your background must include a minimum of 10 years in governmental agencies or large, complex organizations or firms, in one or more of the following areas: designing, funding, advising and managing projects, programs, resources and services for at-risk populations, preferably those with behavioral health disorders.  A Master’s degree in public health, rehabilitation, psychology, counseling, communications, law or a related field is preferred.

The background of well-qualified candidates will demonstrate the following competencies:

•        Proven ability to interact with a wide variety of constituencies, build strong partnerships and develop and advance strategic initiatives.

•        Demonstrated competency in providing implementation guidance, leadership and technical assistance.

•        Proven ability to interpret, develop, and implement policy.

•        Demonstrated leadership in program implementation, development and oversight.

•        Proven record of success in project management, with a focus on the establishment of quality standards, results tracking, and evaluating outcomes.

•        Knowledge of behavioral health and at-risk populations

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information: 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) within DHHS is responsible for providing leadership, coordination, and oversight of Maine’s Behavioral Health System of Care. OBH works collaboratively with a network of community providers actively to support individuals with substance use and mental health conditions across areas of promotion, prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery.

This is an exciting opportunity to join OBH and to work to advance and strengthen the continuum of behavioral health services in Maine.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Sarah Squirrell, Director of OBH [email protected] 

To apply, please upload a current resume, work samples, and cover letter addressing the competency areas identified in the Minimum Qualifications Section. 

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact [email protected]

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. When you or immediate members of your family are ill, utilize 12 days of sick leave per year.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($12,213.60 - $13,650.48 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 18.86% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.