AHCCCS

Address:  150 N. 18th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $119,000 - $123,000  

Grade: 29

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the agency’s business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

This position reports directly to the Assistant Director for the Division of Behavioral Health and Housing and serves as a senior executive leader responsible for statewide oversight of Arizona’s behavioral health system of care. The Deputy Assistant Director provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to multiple system-of-care administrators responsible for adult behavioral health, child behavioral health, children’s justice initiatives, adult re-entry services, crisis services, and the State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA).

The position ensures Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) meet contractual, policy, and performance expectations for behavioral health service delivery across all populations. Key responsibilities include system oversight and monitoring, policy and contract development, legislative reporting, stakeholder engagement, cross-division collaboration, and partnership with grants teams to address service delivery gaps and maximize the effective use of grant funding. This position plays a critical role in advising agency leadership on system performance, emerging best practices, and strategic improvements to Arizona’s behavioral health continuum of care.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Behavioral Health System Oversight & MCO Monitoring: Directs and oversees the monitoring and evaluation of AHCCCS Managed Care Organizations for behavioral health service delivery across adult, child, justice-involved, crisis, re-entry, and opioid treatment populations. Ensures MCO adherence to contractual requirements, policy provisions, network adequacy standards, and performance expectations. Reviews system trends, performance data, and compliance findings to identify risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities. Guides administrators in development and implementation of corrective actions, remediation strategies, and system improvements.
• Executive Leadership and Staff Management: Provides executive leadership, direction, and supervision to system-level administrators responsible for adult behavioral health, child behavioral health, children’s justice initiatives, crisis services, adult re-entry, and opioid treatment systems. Oversees workforce planning, staff development, performance management, and succession planning within the Division of Behavioral Health and Housing. Establishes clear expectations for administrators regarding compliance oversight, system monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and strategic priorities. Promotes alignment and collaboration across units to ensure a cohesive, integrated behavioral health system of care.
• Policy, Contract, and Program Development: Leads and contributes to behavioral health policy development, review, and revision to support system goals, compliance, and best practices. Participates in contract development and amendments related to behavioral health services to ensure requirements are clear, enforceable, and aligned across systems of care. Advises agency leadership on the operational and system impacts of policy and contract changes. Supports change management efforts related to new requirements, system transformations, and evolving behavioral health priorities.
• Legislative Reporting and Data-Driven Accountability: Provides executive oversight for multiple legislatively required behavioral health reports involving Managed Care Organizations and AHCCCS data evaluation teams. Ensures timely, accurate, and consistent reporting year over year, including validation of data, narrative context, and trend analysis. Coordinates with MCOs and internal analytics staff to resolve data discrepancies and clarify reporting expectations. Supports leadership responses to legislative inquiries and information requests related to behavioral health system performance.
• Community Engagement, Grants Coordination and System Innovation: Oversees and supports meaningful community engagement efforts conducted by system administrators, including collaboration with providers, advocates, and partner agencies. Partners with grants teams to identify gaps in behavioral health service delivery and align grant funding strategies to system needs. Supports review of grant opportunities, subject matter expertise for grant development, and coordination with procurement as needed. Advises the agency on new and emerging behavioral health best practices, system innovations, and opportunities to strengthen outcomes statewide.
• Process Improvement and Operational Excellence: Supports the Assistant Director in identifying and implementing process improvement initiatives within the Division of Behavioral Health and Housing. Contributes to development of standard work, performance measures, and operational strategies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Supports use of AMS strategies and continuous improvement methodologies to strengthen division operations.

Knowledge:
• Arizona’s public behavioral health delivery system, including AHCCCS administrative rules, policies, and procedures, and the structure and oversight of contracted Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)
• Managed care behavioral health service delivery models across adult, child, crisis, justice-involved, re-entry, and opioid treatment systems
• State and federal regulatory frameworks governing behavioral health services, including CMS and SAMHSA requirements
• Behavioral health policy development, contract requirements, compliance monitoring, and performance accountability
• Network adequacy standards, access requirements, quality measures, and system-of-care principles
• Grant-funded behavioral health services, including financial and programmatic structures, funding streams, and alignment with Medicaid and non-Medicaid services
• Clinical service models for individuals with serious mental illness, substance use and misuse disorders, and co-occurring conditions
• Legislative reporting processes, data validation requirements, and public accountability for behavioral health outcomes
• Emerging best practices, national trends, and system innovations in behavioral health and crisis service delivery

Skills:
• Executive-level leadership and supervision of senior administrators and multidisciplinary teams
• Strategic planning and system-level problem solving within complex, highly regulated environments
• Oversight of managed care performance, contract compliance, and corrective action processes
• Policy analysis, development, and implementation to support system improvement and regulatory compliance
• Project and portfolio management across multiple, concurrent initiatives with competing priorities
• Data-informed decision-making, including interpretation of trends, performance metrics, and legislative reporting data
• High-level stakeholder engagement, collaboration, and coordination with internal and external partners
• Clear, concise oral and written communication with executive leadership, legislators, providers, MCOs, and community stakeholders
• Change management and implementation of system and operational improvements
• Workforce development, staff coaching, and leadership capacity-building

Abilities:
• Provide strategic direction and operational oversight for a statewide behavioral health system of care • Analyze and evaluate complex policy, contractual, clinical, and operational issues and develop effective solutions
• Coordinate and oversee multiple administrators and systems while maintaining alignment with agency priorities
• Ensure consistent and accurate legislative reporting through coordination with MCOs and data teams
• Balance system compliance requirements with innovation and continuous improvement
• Translate complex regulatory and performance information into actionable guidance for staff and stakeholders
• Anticipate system risks and proactively address emerging issues
• Prioritize and adapt in a fast-paced, highly visible environment with shifting demands
• Foster collaboration across divisions, agencies, and community partners
• Lead, motivate, and hold staff accountable for performance, outcomes, and professional growth
• Address employee relations issues with professionalism and sound judgment
• Support planning and implementation of process improvement initiatives, including analysis of employee engagement and operational effectiveness

Minimum:
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in managed health care, Medicaid, or publicly funded behavioral health systems, including programmatic and/or financial oversight. Demonstrated experience in system-level oversight, such as monitoring service delivery, compliance, performance, or funding across complex programs or initiatives. Two (2) or more years of direct supervisory or management experience, including oversight of professional-level staff or administrators. Experience working within highly regulated environments, including interpretation and application of policy, contract, or regulatory requirements.

Preferred:
• Bachelor's or master's degree in healthcare or a related field. Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: Senior-level leadership or oversight of publicly funded behavioral health systems. Direct experience overseeing or working with Medicaid-contracted Managed Care Organizations, including compliance monitoring, performance oversight, or corrective action processes.

• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child. Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.