Job Information
San Mateo County, CA Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (Open & Promotional) in United States
Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (Open & Promotional)
Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sanmateo/jobs/newprint/5258243)
Apply
Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (Open & Promotional)
Salary
$197,537.60 - $247,041.60 Annually
Location
County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
D056A
Department
Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Opening Date
03/04/2026
Bargaining Unit
50B
Description
Benefits
Questions
Description
Note: This recruitment schedule was amended on March 25, 2026 to extend the Final Filing Date. This recruitment has been changed to "Continuous."
San Mateo County Health is seeking an accomplished executive leader to serve as the
Assistant Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BRHS).
Please view our Online Brochure (https://www.canva.com/design/DAHBQbZIrOs/Z_fgbdSnjr_Ta5Zx_uiNgg/view?utm_content=DAHBQbZIrOs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hceed953ca9) for detailed information about the position and instructions on how to apply.
Application/Examination
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.
The examination process will consist of an application screening (Pass/Fail) based on the candidate’s application, cover letter, resume, and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to participate in a panel interview (weight: 100%).
Candidates invited to interview will also be required to submit a written work product in advance of the interview. The work product will be evaluated by the panel and may be incorporated into the interview through discussion, follow-up questions, or a brief presentation.
Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or additional evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
To apply for this exciting career opportunity, the following materials must be submitted in addition to the standard Employment Application form:
Resume
Cover Letter
Responses to the Supplemental Questions (attached to the application form)
Cover Letter Prompt:
Please submit a cover letter describing:
Your understanding of San Mateo County’s behavioral health landscape and local community needs;
How your leadership philosophy and experience align with the culture and strategic direction of BHRS; and
How your skills prepare you to lead complex behavioral health operations, including fiscal stewardship, regulatory compliance, and system-wide accountability.
Tentative Recruitment Timeline
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of March 30, 2026
In-Person Panel Interviews: April 15 and/or April 16, 2026
This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the County of San Mateo Human Resources Department.
Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.
We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.
Talent Acquisition Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (03042026) (Assistant Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services - D056)
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance (https://www.smcgov.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Benefits%20at%20a%20Glance%204.29.25.pdf) page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you’ll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
A Resume and Cover Letter must be submitted in addition to the standard Employment Application Form and Responses to the Supplemental Questions. Failure to do so may disqualify you from this recruitment.
I have read and understand this important information. Proceed to supplemental questions.
02
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must submit responses to the supplemental questions below. These responses are a critical part of the evaluation process and will be carefully reviewed by subject matter experts. Responses should be clear, detailed, and concise, describing your relevant work experience, training, and education as they relate to this position. Please address all parts of each question and provide specific examples that reflect your individual experience and expertise. Strong responses are authentic, well-organized, and demonstrate attention to detail, clarity of expression, and the ability to follow instructions. A resume will not be accepted in place of the required responses.
I have read and understand this important information.
03
The ideal candidate will possess a current California license in at least one of the following: Registered Nurse, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy. Do you possess a current clinical license in nursing, psychology, social work, or marriage and family therapy? If you answered “Yes,” please include your license information in the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. Please note that holding one of these licenses is not a requirement for this position, and applicants without a license will not be disqualified from consideration.
Yes
No
04
Describe your executive-level experience operating within or alongside a behavioral health plan or managed care environment. Include your role in overseeing utilization management, quality strategy, network accountability, regulatory compliance (state/federal), and accreditation activities (e.g., NCQA). How did you ensure operational readiness, fiscal sustainability, and accountability for outcomes?
05
Describe your experience providing strategic and operational oversight for one or more behavioral health systems of care (e.g., Adult and Older Adult, Child and Youth, Substance Use Disorder). How did you balance access, quality, clinical standards, workforce capacity, and fiscal constraints at a division or organization-wide level while maintaining continuity of care?
06
Describe a large-scale organizational change or system transformation you led within a complex behavioral health or healthcare environment (e.g., CalAIM implementation, EHR transition, regulatory mandate). What was your leadership approach, how did you align executive partners and stakeholders, how did you ensure financial and operational accountability, and what measurable outcomes were achieved?
07
How did you learn about this position?
County of San Mateo Website
County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
County Hosted Virtual Event
County Hosted Job Fair
CalOpps.org
College/University Career Center
Community-based Organization Posting
Facebook/Instagram
Friend or Relative
GovernmentJobs.com
Indeed
Job Fair
LinkedIn
Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
X (formerly called Twitter)
Zip Recruiter
Other (Please specify in next question)
08
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question
Employer
County of San Mateo
Address
County of San Mateo Human Resources Department 500 County Center, 4th Floor Redwood City, California, 94063-1663
Phone
(650) 363-4343
Website
https://jobs.smcgov.org
Apply
Please verify your email address Verify Email