Mental Health Administrator 4 (OhioRise)

Organization

Behavioral Health

Agency Contact Name and Information: Annette.Wade@dbh.ohio.gov

Unposting Date

Sep 21, 2026, 3:59:00 AM

Work Location

James A Rhodes Office Tower 8

30 East Broad Street 8th Floor

Columbus 43215

Primary Location

United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-Columbus

Compensation: 40.40/hour

Schedule

Full-time

Work Hours: M-F, 8am - 5pm, Hours may vary

Classified Indicator: Classified

Union: Exempt from Union

Primary Job Skill

Mental Health

Technical Skills: Behavioral Health, Planning and Development, Public Relations, Policy Direction

Professional Skills: Collaboration, Establishing Relationships, Leading Others, Presenting, Strategic Thinking

Agency Overview

Mental Health Administrator 4
OhioRise

Who we are:

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

DBH Values:

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

Job Description

Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name—the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

What you’ll do at DBH:

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health is seeking a collaborative, forward‑thinking leader to help strengthen behavioral health services for children, youth, and families across the state. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in cross‑system environments, enjoys building partnerships, and is committed to improving access and outcomes for young people with complex needs. This role is related to OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) and supports statewide efforts to strengthen behavioral health services for children, youth, and families. The position oversees major cross‑system initiatives and collaborates closely with partners across state agencies, local boards, providers, and community organizations. This valuable work is dedicated to ensuring young people with higher‑level behavioral health needs receive coordinated, accessible, and high‑quality support across the system.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & System Coordination

· Lead statewide work related to OhioRISE and child/adolescent behavioral health initiatives.

· Provide strategic direction for developing, implementing, coordinating, and improving programs and system initiatives that expand access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and families.

· Represent the department in cross-agency planning and decision-making with Medicaid, managed care organizations, county boards, child-serving systems, providers, and other partners.

Policy Development & System Improvement

· Identify system gaps and develop strategies to improve care coordination, service access, quality, and outcomes for youth with complex behavioral health needs.

· Ensure alignment of all initiatives with state and federal priorities, department goals, laws, rules, and regulations.

· Lead development and implementation of policies, guidance, funding strategies, and technical assistance that strengthen the statewide continuum of care.

Program Administration & Continuum Expansion

· Provide leadership for statewide youth behavioral health treatment and recovery initiatives.

· Support implementation of evidence-based and evidence-informed practices.

· Strengthen provider capacity, promote community-responsive services, and advance efforts to improve behavioral health outcomes for children, youth, and families.

This is an hourly position and is exempt from the bargaining units, with a pay range of 14 on the E1 Exempt Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

Position Qualifications

For all “programmatic” positions, completion of undergraduate core program in one of following fields: mental health & developmental disabilities technology, social work or comparable field (e.g., child & family community services), special education, psychology or rehabilitation or 24 mos. exp. in development & implementation of treatment/ habilitation plans for persons who are mentally ill or developmentally disabled & working as part of interdisciplinary team to assess consumers'/residents' needs & abilities; 12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in state & federal regulations, standards & court orders governing care, custody, treatment, programming & environment of consumers/residents in mental health or developmental centers, or regulating drug treatment center operations or federally funded drug abuse services, or governing delivery of psychiatric services in adult correctional institution, or affecting community mental health programs (i.e., category of state & federal regulations, standards & court orders must be linked directly to type of facility & services being provided).

For all “administration staff” positions, completion of undergraduate core program in business administration/management sciences or 12 mos. exp. developing goals, objectives, policies & procedures of operational unit or program of agency or firm & monitoring implementation of same.

In addition to one of preceding categories (i.e., programmatic positions or administrative staff), 6 mos. trg. in supervisory principles/techniques or 6 mos. exp. scheduling, monitoring & evaluating personnel; 6 mos. trg. in budgeting or 6 mos. exp. determining budget needs & spending for operational unit or program of agency or firm; 6 mos. trg. in employee training & development or 6 mos. exp. writing training materials or conducting training; 3 mos. trg. in manpower planning or 3 mos. exp. scheduling personnel for adequate coverage & making staff projections.

-Or 6 mos. exp. as Mental Health Administrator 3, 65223.

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Travel may be required; may be exposed to communicable diseases & consumers/residents who may display erratic or violent behavior.

Primary Job Skill: Behavioral Health
Technical Skills: Policy Direction, Behavioral Health, Planning and Development, Public Relations
Professional Skills: Collaboration, Establishing Relationships, Leading Others, Presenting, Strategic Thinking

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

Supplemental Information

Application Procedures
To be considered for this position, you must apply online through this posting website (careers.ohio.gov). We no longer accept paper applications. When completing your online Ohio Civil Service Application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined on this job posting. We will not give credit for your qualifications, experience, education, and training in the job selection process if there is no evidence provided on your application. In addition, “see resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be fully supported by the work experience/education sections of your application. You may check the status of your application by signing into your profile on this website (careers.ohio.gov). We will communicate with you through the email you provided in your profile and job application. Be sure to check your email regularly.

Background Check Notice
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Rule 5122-7-21, “Background check on applicants,” outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process, assessment &/or interview, please contact Andrew Seifert, EEO/ADA Administrator at andrew.seifert@dbh.ohio.gov or 614-466-8884.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.