Director Behavioral Health

This position provides strategic direction and enterprise-wide leadership for behavioral health across all lines of business, including Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and D-SNP. The Director will drive innovation in behavioral health delivery, with a focus on ensuring compliance, improving health outcomes, and supporting whole-person care through integrated physical and behavioral health services. The role shapes policies, programs, and partnerships to help members with behavioral health needs, collaborating across the enterprise to establish a comprehensive approach to cultural competence and behavioral health transformation.

“This position is eligible to work onsite or hybrid (9 or more days a month on site) in accordance with our Telecommuting Policy. Applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri or be willing to relocate as a condition of employment.”

Are you ready to make a difference? Choose to work for one of the most trusted companies in Kansas.

Why Join Us

• Make a Positive Impact: Your work will directly contribute to the health and well-being of Kansans.

• Family Comes First: Total rewards package that promotes the idea of family first for all employees.

• Professional Growth Opportunities: Advance your career with ongoing training and development programs.

• Dynamic Work Environment: Collaborate with a team of passionate and driven individuals.

• Trust: Work for one of the most trusted companies in Kansas

• Stability: 80 years of commitment, compassion and community

• Flexibility: options to work onsite or hybrid available
   

What you’ll do

• Provide strategic and operational leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of behavioral health programs and services that promote access.

• Direct and oversee behavioral health operations for the enterprise, including network management, utilization management, case management, and quality improvement.

• Develop and implement behavioral health strategies to address disparities, coordinate models, and advance whole-person care.

• Lead enterprise-wide behavioral health initiatives that align with risk adjustment strategies, care coordination, and population health goals.

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement behavioral health policies and procedures.

• Serve as a key liaison with state and federal regulatory agencies.

• Direct and oversee behavioral health compliance programs with MHPAEA (Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act) and other state and federal requirements.

• Provide clinical and strategic leadership to behavioral health teams, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other behavioral health professionals.

• Monitor and evaluate behavioral health program performance and outcomes, and make recommendations for improvement.

• Develop and manage behavioral health budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships.

• Represent the organization in behavioral health-related meetings, conferences, and workgroups.

• Collaborate with other departments to ensure integration of behavioral health services into overall care delivery.

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including state agencies, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups.

• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.

• Work closely with Enterprise Population Health, Quality, Medical Care, Compliance, Data Analytics, and other departments to support behavioral health.

What you need

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Deep knowledge of behavioral health systems, regulations, and compliance requirements (including MHPAEA and state/federal standards).

• Strong understanding of integrated care models and population health strategies.

• Expertise in behavioral health program development, implementation, and evaluation.

• Ability to lead enterprise-wide initiatives and manage cross-functional teams.

• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate policy data into actionable behavioral health initiatives.

• Strong financial acumen for managing budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships.

• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills for engaging internal and external stakeholders.

• Ability to interpret and apply data analytics to improve behavioral health outcomes.

• Knowledge of cult