Why CMHA?
Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA) is a private non-profit treatment provider headquartered in New Britain, with seven locations throughout the city and in Waterbury. We partner with clients and the community to promote recovery from mental illness and substance use, treating more than 7,500 adults and children each year. CMHA is Connecticut’s first fully Joint Commission accredited Behavioral Health Home and is a SAMHSA Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). Visit cmhacc.org to learn more.
Internal mobility and career pathing is a focus at CMHA with many employees growing from individual contributors to leaders.
CMHA is looking to hire a full-time, Senior Program Officer. This position will be located at 233 Main St. New Britain, CT 06051. Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Compensation Range: The salary range for this position starts at $130,000.00.
Compensation for each position is determined not only by years of relevant experience, education, and skills, but also by maintaining internal pay equity. CMHA also takes into consideration our benefits and paid time-off package to provide a well-rounded and competitive approach to the applicant’s overall compensation.
Summary:
The position of Senior Program Officer (SPO) leads the strategy, management, and evaluation of CMHA’s programs, and provides leadership for the programs. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the SPO plays a key leadership role in guiding CMHA’s mission and organizational success. This position provides overall clinical and administrative leadership for all program areas (residential, community support, adult, child and family and outpatient) to manage clinical risk and to ensure high program quality, compliance with accreditation and federal/state funding regulations/ requirements, and adherence to budget. Participates in strategic planning and plan implementation to ensure system integration between inpatient, outpatient and community support services.
Essential Responsibilities and Target Outcomes:
- Acts as Senior leader in directing and providing clinical oversight and consultation to all
agency programs working with all program managers to ensure integration of services
across divisions to facilitate quality client outcomes in a fiscally responsible manner. Is on
call and available for program and/or staff crisis, as appropriate.
- Provides guidance to Service Area and Regional Directors, being available for consultation,
job coaching, and mentorships as needed.
- Works with department managers in establishing program goals and objectives, budgets,
meeting revenue targets and managing expenses.
- Establishes measurable, achievable program area goals and objectives on an annual basis and
monitor progress.
- Remains abreast of and ensures compliance with the requirements/regulations of funders,
reviewers, licensors and accreditation bodies and 3rd party payers; develops positive
relationships with representatives from these entities.
- Develops, implements and maintains policies, procedures and protocol for high quality
client care.
- Develops and fosters a high-performance, inclusive, and accountability culture throughout
program teams, aligned with core values and organization commitments to equity and
inclusion.
- Recruits, orients, trains and supervises program directors and staff. Identifies ongoing staff
training needs and conducts staff performance appraisals.
- Develops and expands programs to meet community needs, participating in grant-writing as
needed.
- Ensures proper documentation of critical incidents and investigates and reports incidents to
appropriate state and/or federal agencies, as needed.
- Serves as the agency clinical risk management officer, overseeing clinical and administrative
audits, developing and ensuring compliance to agency policies/procedures, ensuring that
outcome measures are maintained, and results reported.
- Co leads, with Senior Operating Officer, agency strategic planning processes by working with
agency leadership to translate strategic plans into new programs, program redesigns,
training development, new or special projects/initiatives.
- Participates in Quality Improvement initiatives by working with the Performance
Improvement Department on setting performance improvement goals and strategies and
adjusting strategies based on outcomes.
- Chairs and/or participates in agency, system, regional and statewide committees as assigned
related to client care, funding issues and system development.
- Other duties as assigned.
Principal Customers:
Internal - President/CEO, CFO, COO,CHRO, other Senior leaders, administrative department
leads – for overall budget management, clinical risk management, quality assurance, corporate
compliance, public relations/fundraising, human capital, program and strategic planning, and
grant writing. Clinical staff of all programs for administrative and clinical consultation as
needed. Finance and budget staff for budgetary management.
External - State funders and licensing bodies, provider organizations, general public and private
hospitals and collaborating agencies for funding, administrative issues and clinical risk
management.
Education:
Master’s Degree in behavioral health (psychology, social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, alcohol and drug counseling).
Credentials and Licenses:
CT Licensure in behavioral health discipline (LCSW, LADC, LMFT, LPC, PhD, PsyD); CT Driver’s License
Experience:
Six (6) years of experience in behavioral health field inclusive of a minimum of four (4) years of behavioral health management experience within an adult
mental health service agency setting.
Experience developing and operationalizing a Strategic Plan for a multi-service behavioral health agency preferred.
At least two (2) years of clinical experience with adults and/or children with severe and prolonged mental illness.
Demonstrates intermediate to advanced experience with Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
Experience in or the willingness to learn how to use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system including: appointment scheduling, authorization
tracking, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
Competencies: Behavioral Skill Sets
- Ability to apply knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy and Security regulations and provisions
(HIPAA).
- Solid organizational ability to balance priorities according to workload constraints and conflicting timelines while maintaining composure under pressure.
- Ability to plan both in the long and the short-term considering the goals, challenges and changes that exist in the organization. This will
include projected decision-making on deployment of staff and resources.
- Knowledge and ability to establish appropriate courses of action to accomplish goals within realistic target dates.
- Demonstrated ability to efficiently use CMHA resources to initiate projects, anticipate changes or needs, set and meet priorities.
- Demonstrated competency in leading teams composed of internal staff or external collaborators.
- Extensive knowledge of community demographics, social service needs, community strengths, social service systems and non-profit
providers.
- Demonstrated clinical competencies to provide supervision to those completing clinical documentation, facilitating group and individual
therapy and crisis intervention to clients ages 18-64 with behavioral health diagnoses.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively provide administrative staff supervision to maximize staff performance and productivity.
- Knowledge and ability to establish appropriate courses of action for self and subordinates to accomplish goals within realistic target
dates.
- Demonstrated interpersonal/communication competency.
- Demonstrated ability to ensure the security and confidentiality of client information and records in a manner consistent with
professional and agency codes of ethics.
- Demonstrated awareness/sensitivity to all types of issues related to client diversity, including cultural, ethnic, language, gender, sexual
orientation, gender preference, physical handicap and spiritual diversity.
Leadership Competencies: Behavioral Skill Sets
Resource Management:
Ensures adherence to CMHA budget; through intentional utilization of external resources, grants, implementation of revenue generating projects, and collaborates interdepartmentally for best practice.
Staff Management:
Sets high, attainable standards and expectations for staff. Directs assigned departments by defining expectation. Responsible for talent acquisition. Provides team feedback through individual and group supervision. Models a collaborative culture and encourages discretionary effort. Addresses and resolves employee relations issues. Provides training consistent with current and future job requirements.
Quality & Compliance:
Ensures adherence to all policies and procedures and the organization’s Mission & Values. Maintains knowledge of and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements and includes information in ongoing employee education. Participates in the development and implementation of new programs, protocols, and processes.
Customer Service/Relationship Management:
Maintains a professional, courteous, and positive demeanor in all interactions. Works collaboratively, participates in achieving common goals, shares knowledge and expertise. Conveys information clearly, listens with empathy, and accepts constructive feedback.
Professional Development:
Engages in and sustains professional affiliations. Stays current with knowledge, skills, and credentials by participating in seminars, conferences, and other educational opportunities. Reinforces new learning and development in routine supervision and oversight. Actively seeks out new information and monitors industry trends to deepen expertise in their field. Cultivates a mindset rooted in continuous learning and growth.
Strategic Planning:
Drives organizational growth by setting innovative goals and evaluating operations, leveraging strong analytical and communication skills to implement adaptive, high-impact strategies and monitor performance outcomes.
Community/Public Image:
Acts as a visible and effective ambassador for CMHA, actively participating in community and industry affairs to promote and enhance the agency's public image. Coaches and empowers staff to engage meaningfully in local, state, and national initiatives relevant to the organization’s mission. Maintains a deep understanding of emerging trends, policies, and developments that impact the organization and the communities it serves. Approaches every interaction, internal and external, with knowledge, passion, and purpose.
Personal Leadership:
Guided by the ten (10) principles of personal leadership, fosters self-awareness, builds and maintains professional relationships. Focuses on continuous learning and development and strives for improvement and inspires others to do the same. Takes responsibility for one’s actions and outcomes.
1. Be in the Moment
2. Be Authentic & Humanistic
3. Volunteer Discretionary Effort Constantly
4. Model High Performance-Desired Behaviors that Drive Desired Results
5. Respect and Leverage Separate Realities
6. Be Curious vs. Judgmental
7. Look in the Mirror First - Be Accountable
8. Have Courageous Conversations
9. Provide Timely, Clear, and Specific Performance Expectations and Feedback, and
10. Teach, Coach, and Mentor - Spend at least half your time developing others.
We care about our employees by offering benefits that strike a harmonious work-life balance. We also care about your future. CMHA offers:
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Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance packages
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403(b)-retirement savings plan with CMHA matching starting after 1 year of service
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11 observed holidays
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3 Wellbeing days off on a Friday throughout the year to extend a long weekend
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2 CHMA/Personal days to use throughout the calendar year
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Up to 24 days of PTO that increases with years of service
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Paid agency closure between Christmas and New Year’s (except 24/7 programs) *must be approved annually
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Company paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers counseling, coaching, and wellness resources for staff as well as members of their household
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Higher education tuition discounts at participating schools through the Alliance’s academic partnerships
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Free ongoing professional development opportunities and continuous access to Continuing Education Units (CEUs), featuring comprehensive training in Evidence-Based Practices, such as EMDR, DBT, and CBT.
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Employee discounts for shopping, the New Britain YMCA, travel, and entertainment
- Free employee subscriptions to the calm app
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Annual Company Picnic
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CMHA-sponsored Loan Reimbursement Program and Scholarship Program
Free Student Loan Wellness for eligible employees and their family members access to:
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Student loan consolidation and refinancing
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Loan payoff projection dashboard
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Coaching and support via chat, email, and phone
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College cost calculator
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College financial planning
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3 NHSC-approved sites for federal student loan repayment
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Enhancement for eligible employees' access to:
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Automated Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) form management for past and present employers
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Automated reminders for annual (PSLF) recertifications to help you stay on track
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Resources and ongoing communications that make PSLF understandable
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The opportunity to receive the national average of $72,000.00 in forgiveness
Community Mental Health Affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer except in the case of a bon fide occupation qualification or as otherwise permitted or required by law, does not discriminate of the basis of race, color, age, disability, sec, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical condition including by not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familiar status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.
Any individual needing assistance in completing an online application should contact CMHA's Human Resources Department at [email protected].
