Project Director,KansasCCBHC-T

Position Summary

The Project Director, Kansas CCBHC-T will play a crucial role in supporting state-level efforts in Kansas to advance the transformation of care through the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model. This position will serve as a contracted member of the Behavioral Health Services Commission within the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, leading transformation efforts to further the state's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program. This position requires a highly skilled individual with a proven record of effectively managing project planning and execution, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and delivering high-quality results.

Kansas is one of three states selected to participate in a three-year, multistate pilot program that will provide critical training and technical assistance (TTA) support to states and clinics to advance the vision and impact of the CCBHC model. CCBHCs provide mental health and substance use services to anyone who walks through the door, regardless of a person's ability to pay. Through their documented ability to improve access to mental health care, lifesaving substance use treatment, recovery supports, crisis services, integrated care and other services, CCBHCs are eliminating barriers to care for people in hundreds of communities. This role will serve as a core member of the program implementation team and lead priority initiatives of the state roadmap and implementation plan.

This is an individual contributor role without any direct reports. Residence within Kansas is preferred, although the position can be done remotely from anywhere in state. You may also occasionally travel to Topeka, KS or other cities throughout the state as needed. Business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central time.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Serve as main point of contact for the Kansas state team in leading the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Transformation (CCBHC-T) project, coordinating and communicating with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead development and execution of project management processes, tools, and protocols for the Kansas state team.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordination across the state team and the state's CCBHC initiatives to optimize resource utilization, opportunities for collaboration and achieve shared objectives.

Project Management & Coordination

• Lead and manage the implementation of the CCBHC-T state roadmap and clinic strategy for KS, including the management of complex project strategies and work plans, consulting and partnering with the KS state CCBHC-T team and teaming partners as needed.
• Serve as the main point of contact regarding all project activities and plans, for clinics, state contacts, and partners.
• Monitor overall project performance and identify areas for improvement. Ensure adherence to project timelines, budgets, quality standards, and funder requirements.
• Conduct regular project reviews and communicate project status to internal and external stakeholders and partners as needed.

Data, Evaluation and Reporting

• Leads efforts related to state and project CCBHC data and information systems design and implementation
• Manages the project's data and information systems, ensuring data is accurate, secure, and accessible.
• Oversees data collection, integration, governance, and reporting; maintaining system performance and usability; and translating data into actionable insights to support project decision-making, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Leads reporting efforts for various stakeholders - including programmatic, state leadership and other identified needs.

Communication Strategy

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of a communications strategy for the CCBHC-T project, leveraging key stakeholders and partners as needed.
• Define CCBHC-T project audiences for Kansas and develop themes and talking points tailored to each audience needed.
• Support efforts to collect, analyze and package data, stories and value statements that showcase the impact and opportunities of the CCBHC model.
• Develop communication materials and resources as needed, ensuring close connection to the project vision and strategy, targeting specific audiences as identified.
• Partner with the National Council CCBHC-T project team to ensure communications are aligned with overarching project strategy, timelines, and talking points.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support relationship building with key stakeholders, including CCBHCs in Kansas, the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas (ACMHCK), CCBHC-T project team members, and other key stakeholders as identified and as needed.
• Identify any risks or areas of concern with partner engagement and raise mitigation ideas to the CCBHC-T Kansas project lead.
• Build and manage relationships with subject matter experts, leveraging their expertise to inform technical assistance products and delivery.

Technical Expertise

• Stay current on Kansas behavioral health needs, engaging stakeholders and experts as needed.
• Leverage public health communications and marketing expertise to inform communications strategy.
• Leverage technical skills and knowledge in project management/coordination to address complex project challenges.
• Support the development and deliver high-quality deliverables, including reports, presentations, and training materials.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors' degree, with 6+ years of relevant experience; or a Masters' degree with 4 years of experience.
• Background in public health, mental health and substance use services or related fields. Experience with managed care and Medicaid preferred.
• Experience in public policy and working in state government.
• Familiarity with Kansas behavioral health system, needs and opportunities.
• Experience building and managing workplans to meet deadlines and respond to stakeholder needs.
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office-MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint as well as proficiency in data visualization and reporting.
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal skills.
• Results-oriented with a high-attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in virtual meeting/collaboration, project management, and survey software (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Asana, Survey Monkey, Higher Logic).
• Ability to quickly learn new software platforms and programs.
• Ability to travel up to 40%. General expectations of approximately 3-4 trips a year for about 2-3 days each trip for participation in meetings, site visits and team meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within state government or state-level consulting/technical assistance is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing training and technical assistance programs for behavioral health audiences is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing large federal or philanthropy grants and/or contracts with multiple external partners is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of the CCBHC model.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $146,500 - $176,500. Salary decisions within the range are based on experience, education and internal equity.

The National Council offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes (but is not limited to):

• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions after 1 year of service
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, personal, floating holiday, bereavement and observed federal holidays
• Two weeks paid parental leave
• Free unlimited Relias professional development courses
• Annual professional development
• Calm Premium access

About Us

The vision of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is to make mental wellbeing, including recovery from substance use challenges, a reality for everyone. Despite overwhelming need, nearly 30 million people across the U.S. do not have access to comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment.

Founded in 1969, the National Council is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 15 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

The National Council is growing to meet this moment. We've more than doubled our dedicated team to 240+ employees since 2020. Although we have office space in Washington, D.C., we operate as a remote-first organization, with employees working from their various locations across the United States.

The National Council is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We embrace individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives, welcoming people of all races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and ages, as well as veterans, people with disabilities, and those with lived experiences in mental health and substance use challenges to apply. We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment and recruitment process for everyone. If you require accommodation during the application process, please contact us at Recruiter@thenationalcouncil.org.