Title:  Mental Health Workforce Development Director

Overview

Are you passionate about transforming mental health care and empowering a workforce to deliver high-quality, person-centered services?

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking a dynamic Mental Health Workforce Development Director to lead strategic initiatives that promote mental health awareness, workforce development, and practice improvement across the Department's Central Office and State-operated facilities.

In this pivotal role, you will work collaboratively with the staff, leadership, and other state agencies to develop and implement strategies that increase capacity, strengthen staff development, and address complex workforce challenges. You will play a key role in ensuring that DMH professionals are prepared to meet the evolving needs of individuals with serious mental illness and youth with emotional disturbances.

Key Responsibilities Include:
•    Leading internal workforce development and planning efforts to support a skilled, engaged, and resilient workforce.
•    Designing and coordinating training programs in response to regulatory changes and departmental priorities.
•    Enhancing recruitment and retention for hard-to-fill roles, with a focus on nursing and clinical staff.
•    Building and maintaining communication channels among providers, stakeholders, and government entities to support collaborative service delivery.
•    Promoting mental health education and awareness both internally and in partnership with community stakeholders.
•    Integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into all workforce-related strategies and activities.
•    Monitoring workforce trends, evaluating training outcomes, and aligning programming with operational needs and strategic goals.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, strategic planning skills, and a solid background in mental health systems and workforce development. Familiarity with training design, staff engagement strategies, and cross-agency collaboration is essential.

Who May Apply

This position, Mental Health Workforce Development Director (Job Requisition #52972), is open to all State employees and external applicants.
If you would like more information about this position, please contact lee.dorf@vermont.gov
Resumes will not be accepted via e-mail.  You must apply online to be considered.
Please note that multiple positions in the same work location may be filled from this job posting.

AHS BACKGROUND CHECKS:  Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position.  In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.

Environmental Factors

Duties are performed routinely in a standard office setting, but with frequent travel to other DMH facilities and community-based events, programs, and services for which private means of transportation may be needed. The role requires schedule flexibility and availability, often without advance notice. Contacts are both one-to-one and with groups, at which a variety of opinions may be expressed or advocated. Interaction with multiple stakeholder and interest groups with expectations to effectively understand, evaluate, and develop strategies to overcome multiple, complex barriers at local, state and federal level to implementing policy, financial, information technology and practice-related improvements to the health and mental health care systems. Interaction with the public and individuals seeking employment at the department, both in-person and virtually or by phone.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in business administration, health care administration, human resources, mental health, human services field AND two (2) years or more of management, administrative and/or operational experience in a health care or mental health setting.

OR

Bachelor's degree in business administration, health care administration, human resources, mental health, human services field AND four (4) years or more of management, administrative and/or operational experience in a health care or mental health setting.

OR

Associate’s degree in business administration, health care administration, human resources, mental health, human services field AND six (6) years or more of management, administrative and/or operational experience in a health care or mental health setting.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience and knowledge in workforce development and talent acquisition, especially in a health care setting. 
Mental health setting preferred.

Total Compensation

As a State employee you are offered a great career opportunity, but it's more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package features an outstanding set of employee benefits that are worth about 30% of your total compensation, including:

• 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
• Work/Life balance: 11 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
• Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• Low cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Want the specifics? Explore the Benefits of State Employment on our website.

Equal Opportunity Employer