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San Mateo County Health is offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to step into the role of Clinical Services Manager I/II Child/Youth Services (Open and Promotional). 

Join us for a LinkedIn Live informational session to learn more about this exciting career opportunity. We’ll provide an overview of the department, highlight the impact of the work, and share key details about the role, including responsibilities, benefits, and what we’re looking for in an ideal candidate. We’ll also walk through the recruitment and selection process. 
Don’t miss out—join us on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST. Click here to register.

The Position

Under the direction of the Deputy Director of Child and Youth Services, the Clinical Services Manager (CSM) will plan, coordinate, and implement comprehensive countywide mental health programs. This includes oversight of both county-operated and contracted programs, as well as field-based outpatient services that meet the diverse needs of children, adolescents, families, Transitional Age Youth (TAY18-25).

The CSM will assist in developing, implementing and evaluating goals, objectives, policies and procedures for assigned programs; ensure the provision of behavioral health services that meet quality assurance standards and safe patient care requirements; and select, train and provide direction to subordinate professional, clinical, technical and clerical staff.

This role requires a balanced blend of clinical expertise and strong administrative capabilities, including data collection, state compliance oversight, reporting and performance monitoring.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the CSM-I/II will manage several program components, including the Youth Services Forensic Mental Health Team, The Child Welfare Behavioral Health Team, and Youth Contracted Providers. Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring contracts for compliance, performance and adherence to program standards
• Overseeing data collection activities to support evaluation, reporting, quality assurance and continuous quality improvement
• Coordinating the implementation of new policies and ensuring effective integration across programs
• Managing program audits, corrective action plans and other state and federal compliance requirements and.
• Provide supervision and oversight to BHRS county run programs.

The Youth Services Center Forensic Mental Health Team provides comprehensive services to youth and young adults in the custody of the San Mateo County Juvenile Probation Department, including youth residing in juvenile hall as well as those on probation under community supervision. The Child Welfare Team provides behavioral health services to children, youth, and families served by the County’s Child and Family Services Department.

In this role, the Clinical Services Manager will also strengthen cross-departmental collaboration and build strong, effective partnerships to support the wellbeing of youth and families.

The ideal candidate will bring experience managing, supervising, administering behavioral health programs; a strong understanding of trauma-informed care; and skill in leading program planning efforts. They will be adept at navigating complex clinical, operational, and personnel issues, and will demonstrate cultural humility along with strong verbal and written communication skills. Candidates with at least five years of progressively responsible experience in behavioral health systems, clinical operations, and stakeholder engagement, including at least two years of experience in a supervisory or lead capacity, will be especially well-suited for this role.

In addition, the ideal candidate will:

• Bring strong supervisory experience supporting multidisciplinary teams
• Be experienced in conducting quality assurance and quality improvement activities, including Performance Improvement Projects, preparing program audits and addressing corrective action plans
• Demonstrate skill in balancing clinical oversight and administrative responsibilities, including state reporting, compliance data tracking and performance monitoring
• Exhibit strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Manage competing deadlines and multiple projects with effective prioritization and follow-through
• Possess proficiency in data collection, tracking, and reporting with the ability to analyze data to inform decision-making and improve outcomes
• Have knowledge and experience working with the Child Welfare System and understanding of the Integrated Core Practice Model
• Have knowledge and experience working with Juvenile Probation and familiarity with Title 15 minimum standards for Juvenile Facilities.        
• Provide leadership in planning and implementing organizational change, operational improvements and performance enhancements supported by best, promising and community informed practices
• Understand system-of-care issues as they relate to children, adolescent, young adults, and families
• Have a comprehensive understanding of the behavioral health continuum of care and best practices for transitions
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community members and service providers to reach shared goals and foster engagement
• Support culturally responsive services delivered by a culturally diverse workforce
• Have experience developing and managing comprehensive, multidisciplinary, multicultural mental health programs with countywide impact
• Demonstrate knowledge of wellness and recovery practices across mental health, substance use treatment and primary care
• Be experience developing program goals, objectives, policies and priorities; participating in RFP development and contract negotiations; and administering program budgets and performance outcomes
• Possess strong oral and written communication skills, analytical capability and data analysis skills
• Be trained in Evidenced Based Practices, i.e. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Functioning Therapy, Multi-systemic Therapy.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Licensure/Certification: 

• Requires possession of a clinical license in psychology, social work, nursing, marriage and family therapy or the equivalent.

Education and Experience: 

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to qualify is:

Clinical Services Manager I – Mental Health: Two years of experience in a mental health or related health services program that included responsibility for program planning, client services, program evaluation, budget administration, or community resource coordination, of which at least one year included responsible supervisory experience.

Clinical Services Manager II – Mental Health: Three years of increasingly responsible experience in a mental health or related health services program, including at least two years of significant responsibility for one or more of the following:  program and budget development, funding, utilization, coordination of community resources or program evaluation.

Knowledge of: 

• Principles and practices of public administration, and program management, including planning, implementation, evaluation and reporting.
• Principles and methods of community mental health services, including current trends in education, research, treatment, prevention and related issues.
• Laws, codes and regulations governing community mental health care and knowledge of County, state and federal legislative developments applicable to contemporary mental health issues.
• Organizational, personnel and fiscal management within a multi-faceted, community-based program setting.
• Community resources and public/private services and funding sources.

Skill/Ability to:  

• Identify and analyze complex community mental health issues and problems.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate programs and services on a comprehensive, county-wide level to meet community needs.
• Integrate a variety of activities and services to achieve program goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Apply principles and techniques of community organization.
• Speak effectively to diverse audiences, including clinical, professional, civic and citizen groups.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with other program managers and staff, other agencies and the community; enlist and mobilize community support for programs.
• Prepare complex and detailed written reports, program policies, procedures and contracts.
• Train staff and coordinate activities of contractors, volunteer groups and staff.

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. 

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.  

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%) which may include a performance exam. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further 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 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. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire. 

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Monday, December 29, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of December 29, 2025
Panel Interviews: Monday, January 12, 2025