A Public Health Program Director directs public health programs. Directs program planning and staff and manages program budgets. Coordinates outreach programs such as vaccine clinics. Monitors epidemiological data to identify and respond to health issues in a community.
Lincoln, NE Job Details Full-time $80,000 a year 14 hours ago Benefits 401(a) Free parking Health savings account 457(b) Disability insurance Health insurance Dental insurance Flexible spending account Paid time off Employee assistance program Vision insurance Flexible schedule Bereavement leave Life insurance Retirement plan Qualifications Public health program planning Contract management Strategic goal setting Fiscal management Program design Public policy development Managing healthcare project budgets Community partnership development strategy Clinical program policy development Interdisciplinary collaboration in health services social work Writing skills Presentations for conferences or internal meetings Social service program staff supervision Contract management experience in healthcare Policy analysis Supervising experience Policy & process development Social services policy development Project management experience in healthcare Contracts Leading team collaboration initiatives Interdisciplinary policy and procedure development experience Working with individuals with mental health conditions Healthcare policy development Experience working with individuals with substance use disorders Cross-functional team management Interdisciplinary behavioral health coordination experience Project stakeholder communication Policy Development Stakeholder relationship building Full Job Description Position closes 8/21/26 or until position is filled. If you require accommodations as an applicant, please contact the Human Resources Department at . Equal Opportunity Employer Why This Job Matters The impact of this work is significant — Coined the Outpatient Navigation & Engagement ("ONE") Project, the Director will lead a new, groundbreaking regional initiative designed to improve outcomes for adults under Nebraska's Mental Health Board outpatient commitment orders. Every decision you make has the potential to improve lives. You'll influence policy, strengthen community partnerships, and build systems that ensure individuals receive the right care at the right time. Who This Role is For Are you a visionary leader who thrives at the intersection of behavioral health, justice, and systems innovation? This is more than a leadership position—it's an opportunity to shape the future of behavioral health services while improving outcomes for individuals living with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. As Director, you'll lead the development of an integrated, collaborative system of care that connects courts, behavioral health providers, hospitals, and community partners. Your work will help increase treatment engagement, strengthen communication across systems, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and create lasting, meaningful change. If you're passionate about collaborative leadership, strategic thinking, and creating lasting impact, this is your opportunity to lead meaningful change across Nebraska. Why Join Region 5 Systems - apply today and experience the difference! Received 1 st place award for 2026 Lincoln Best Places to Work (large employer category) Flexible, supportive, and inclusive workplace culture Meaningful work serving our community The top 5 words our employees use to describe our work culture are: Flexible , Supportive , Caring, Challenging, and Inclusive. We are committed to creating a professional environment where team members can reach their full potential while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Through flexibility, collaboration, and team-building opportunities, we foster a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and connected. If you're looking to make an impact, explore new possibilities, and work alongside an exceptional team, Region 5 Systems could be the place for you. What You'll Do Serving a 16-county behavioral health region, the Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a coordinated system of care that promotes engagement in treatment, enhance communication between courts and providers, and reduces hospitalizations among individuals living with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. Establish and maintain program infrastructure, including policies, procedures, staffing, performance measures, and data systems. Develop and oversee project budgets, fiscal resources, contracts, and required grant reporting. Monitor grant performance, program fidelity, service quality, treatment engagement, outcomes, and overall achievement of project objectives using quantitative and qualitative data. Develop and maintain performance dashboards and implement continuous quality improvement initiatives to enhance program effectiveness. Identify funding opportunities and implement sustainability strategies to support long-term program success and expansion. Collaborate with Nebraska Mental Health Boards, county attorneys, courts, behavioral health providers, hospitals, and community partners to strengthen outpatient commitment processes and cross-system coordination through the establishment of a steering committee and management board. Develop policies, procedures, and collaborative strategies that improve coordination across the behavioral health and justice systems. Assist local planning teams with conducting a comprehensive process analysis and services inventory to identify what exists, capacity needs, and what is working. Monitor trends, identify service gaps, and recommend policy, operational, and system improvements that strengthen the regional behavioral health continuum. Serve as the regional subject matter expert on outpatient commitment processes, Nebraska behavioral health statutes, and cross-system collaboration. Promote and support recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, person-centered, and evidence-based behavioral health practices throughout the regional system. See job description for full range of responsibilities. What You'll Have (Required) Education Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited college or university. A master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Health, Public Health, Public Administration, Healthcare Administration, Human Services, or a closely related field will be considered an equivalent qualification. Leadership & Management Experience Five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in behavioral health. Experience supervising staff and teams. Experience managing grants/programs, large-scale contracts, budgets, or other comparable administrative responsibilities. Behavioral Health Expertise Experience working with individuals living with serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, and community behavioral health services. Strategic Planning & Systems Leadership Experience with strategic planning, program development, and system-level initiatives. Experience developing and leading complex, multidisciplinary teams to identify system gaps, develop strategic action plans, and build stakeholder consensus. Policy & Administrative Experience Policy and contract development/writing experience. Communication & Stakeholder Engagement Public speaking and presentation experience. Preferred Experience Nebraska independent clinical licensure (LICSW, LIMHP, or LMHP). 3 years' experience in emergency system or related field. Experience creating individualized plans for individuals with multiple morbidities. Experience collaborating with Mental Health Boards, courts, hospitals, law enforcement, community providers, and governmental agencies. Experience implementing evidence-based or evidence-informed behavioral health practices. Experience leading organizational or system-level change initiatives.
Other Requirements:
Reliable personal transportation and satisfactory background investigation.
Additional Details:
See the job description for full abilities and skills expectations.
What We Offer Competitive Pay:
$80,000 at hire.
Health Benefits:
Medical (United Healthcare), dental, vision, FSA, and HSA options
Retirement Plans:
457(b) and 401(a)
Paid Time Off:
Vacation (accrual based on years of service), 13 holidays, sick leave, bereavement leave, and community service leave
Insurance & Protection:
Life insurance, voluntary term life, long-term disability, and
Aflac Support & Development:
Training, continuing education, and strength-based performance reviews
Work-life Balance:
Flexible schedules and a casual, fun work environment
Employee Support:
Employee assistance program Free parking Who We Are Region 5 Systems, one of six Behavioral Health Regions in Nebraska, is responsible for the development and coordination of publicly funded behavioral health services within its 16-county service area (southeast Nebraska).
Our Mission:
Support the wellness and recovery of people through the ongoing development and coordination of the behavioral health system of care.
Our Vision:
People experiencing, affected by, or at risk of, mental health or substance use challenges receive care and enhance personal wellbeing.
Our Values Promote:
Wellbeing, embracing the four dimensions of recovery: health, home, purpose, and community Collaboration and inclusion Access to a continuum of care where every door is the right door for welcoming people with behavioral health needs Innovation and flexibility Data and quality driven standards of excellence Multidimensional culture of learning
