Job Location : Berkeley,CA, USA
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (ABSMC), part of Sutter Health, is a nonprofit acute care hospital system serving the East Bay with three campuses in Berkeley and Oakland. Licensed for about 309 beds, it provides emergency, inpatient, outpatient, surgical, rehabilitation, and behavioral health services. (ABSMC) Herrick Campus in Berkeley is a vital component of its acute care hospital system, delivering comprehensive behavioral health services. Herrick enhances the hospital's continuum of care by focusing on mental health and substance use treatment. The campus features: A 64-bed inpatient psychiatric unit and a 24-bed Medically Supervised Detox (MPI) service for alcohol and drug withdrawal (Summit Campus). A full continuum of outpatient careincluding Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and interventional services.
The Senior Director of Behavioral Health provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the ABSMC's behavioral health service lines across inpatient and outpatient settings. This role is responsible for the development, coordination, and continuous improvement of behavioral health services ensuring alignment with the hospital's mission, regulatory requirements, and best operational practices. Working collaboratively with executive leadership and departmental heads, the Senior Director leads multidisciplinary teams to support evidence-based, patient-centered care while optimizing performance outcomes. The role drives quality improvement initiatives, supports workforce development, and manages departmental budgets in alignment with organizational goals. The Senior Director ensures that all behavioral health services operate with excellence, compassion, and in full compliance with state, federal, and accrediting body standards (e.g., Joint Commission). This leader fosters a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaborationmaximizing value for patients, staff, the organization, and the community.
Job Description
Education: Master's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration or related field. Typical Experience: 12 years of recent relevant experience.
Skills and Knowledge: Knowledge of administrative and clinical areas with special emphasis on hospital and/or other healthcare settings and standards of patient care. Excellent written and oral communications skills, along with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of regulatory requirements, including The Joint Commission (TJC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and Title 22 specifications. Knowledge of medical terminology to include diagnostic and operative procedures.
Knowledge of State, Federal, and Professional Industry Standards pertaining to healthcare practice.
Conceptual, analytical, and problem-solving skills in a complex environment. Strong interpersonal skills, presentation, and collaboration skills. Analytical and financial management skills with the proven ability to achieve sustainable and significant cost efficiencies on an organization-wide basis. Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with hospital executives, Boards, medical staff, clinical leaders, business leaders, vendors, and other key customers to ensure effective management of complex, multi-faceted business development projects is required. An ability to energize, mobilize, influence, and build accountability through effective communication of vision and the fostering of productive and supportive working relationships with internal and external constituencies. Ability to foster an interactive and collaborative environment, to influence individuals or groups with diverse opinions, and to enlist cooperation without direct control/authority while building high-performance teams committed to accomplishing initiatives in ecosystems that may be resistant to change. Analytical skills to resolve complex issues, drive through obstacles, develop optimal growth opportunities, and deliver effective business solutions that meet the goals of the foundation(s), medical groups, operating unit, and the enterprise. Ability and experience working across a wide range of care delivery environments and providers, and collaborating with essential business partners, with the ability to build consensus.
Job Shift: Days
Schedule: Full Time
Days of the Week: Variable
Weekend Requirements: As Needed
Benefits: Yes
Unions: No
Position Status: Exempt
Weekly Hours: 40
Employee Status: Regular
Sutter Health is an equal opportunity employer EOE/M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Pay Range is $85.74 to $137.19 / hour