OPERATIONS MANAGER C-SES - 60043214

Requisition No: 887508 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: OPERATIONS MANAGER C-SES - 60043214

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 60043214 

Salary:  $60,000 - $70,000 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 11/17/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida’s social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency’s mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

THIS IS NOT A TELEWORK POSITION.  CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK IN THE TALLAHASSEE (HQ) OFFICE.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the State Mental Health Treatment Facilities Programs Administration Manager. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

This position provides managerial leadership and strategic direction for statewide State Mental Health Treatment Facility (SMHTF) program administration, admissions and discharge coordination, policy and legislative initiatives, and specialized programs.

The incumbent supervises professional staff, ensures compliance with applicable laws and requirements, directs program improvements, coordinates funding requests, and prepares executive communications. The position serves as a liaison among treatment facilities, judicial and community partners, county jails, legislative offices, and agency leadership.

• Program Management and Supervision:
  • Supervise, evaluate, coach, and develop professional staff responsible for statewide program operations and administrative functions. Establish priorities, distribute workloads, and monitor performance, quality assurance, and accountability measures.
  • Provide leadership and technical guidance and ensure compliance with applicable statutes, administrative rules, agency policies, and federal requirements. Direct process improvements to strengthen operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Admissions and Discharge Coordination:
  • Oversee statewide forensic and civil admissions processes, including packet review, tracking systems, and coordination with courts, county jails, treatment facilities, and community providers. Oversee competency evaluator compliance, training, and related systems. Monitor patient movement, bed utilization, and operational trends to guide resource management.
  • Direct improvements to admissions, discharge planning, and continuity of care.
• Legislative Affairs, Policy Development, and Budget Initiatives:
  • Lead legislative research and analysis; coordinate legislative proposals, bill analyses, issue briefs, and policy recommendations.
  • Direct the development and management of SMHTF policies and assess the operational impact of emerging laws, regulations, and trends. Manage the preparation and submission of legislative budget requests, funding proposals, and related financial initiatives. Advise agency leadership on legislative, policy, and funding matters.
• Specialized Program Administration:
  • Direct statewide Interstate Compact activities and assigned programs, including, but not limited to, Juvenile Incompetent to Proceed, Behavioral Health Teaching Hospitals, and Jail-Based Competency Restoration. Develop program procedures and coordinate implementation with internal and external partners. Monitor outcomes, identify service gaps, and recommend improvements to program effectiveness and accountability.
• Executive Communications and Correspondence Management:
  • Oversee responses to executive correspondence, legislative inquiries, constituent concerns, investigations, public records requests, and other information requests. Direct the preparation and review of executive summaries, briefing papers, issue analyses, talking points, presentations, and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and policy compliance.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Initiatives:
  • Lead collaboration with treatment facilities, judicial partners, advocacy organizations, community providers, and governmental entities and other interested parties, to address operational and policy issues. Represent the agency on statewide committees, workgroups, task forces, and interagency initiatives. Advance strategic initiatives and communication efforts that support program goals and organizational priorities.
• Disaster Deployment:
  • In response to emergency events, the incumbent may be required to work irregular hours, to work more than 8 hours per day, to work extended periods (including weekends and holidays), to work at locations other than their official headquarters, and to perform duties in addition to those outlined in the position description.  Deploy to communities affected by natural disasters within 24-48 hours of impact to represent the organization to promote and implement post-disaster services.
  • This team member understands the conditions necessary to launch substance use and mental health interventions and services when appropriate and builds the pathways and partnerships to achieve established goals. This leader will be responsible for the following activities while on deployment:
    • Assess the impact, needs and assist with the development of a response strategy and goals for the impacted community and implement disaster response plans.
    • Recommend deployment strategies to provide direct assistance.
    • Coordinate psychological and mental health resources and services for individuals, first responders, and communities impacted by disasters.
    • Provide critical information to the Department and stakeholders.
• Other duties as Assigned.
  • Perform related duties and special projects, as assigned, including but not limited to, emergency response, continuity of operations, strategic planning, and organizational improvement activities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of Chapter 916 and 394, Florida Statutes.
• Knowledge of behavioral health systems.
• Knowledge of forensic and civil mental health programs and treatment facility operations.
• Knowledge of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing mental health services.
• Knowledge of legislative processes, policy development, and government budgeting.
• Knowledge of program administration, strategic planning, and performance management.
• Knowledge of supervision and personnel management.  
• Ability to supervise, coach, and develop professional staff
• Ability to analyze complex operational, legislative, and policy issues and recommend effective solutions.
• Ability to interpret and apply legal, regulatory, policy, and administrative requirements.
• Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively and prepare executive reports, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Ability to establish productive working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in sensitive and complex matters

 Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Health Administration, Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, or a related field is preferred; and
• Six years of professional experience in behavioral health, healthcare administration, public policy, governmental operations, program management, or a related field; and
• Three years of supervisory or management experience. 

Preference will be given to applicants who have:

• Extensive experience with forensic mental health programs or state-operated treatment facilities.
• Experience in legislative affairs, policy development, or government budgeting.
• Experience managing statewide programs or complex administrative operations.
• Experience working with executive leadership, legislators, judicial partners, and external stakeholders.

Candidate Profile (application) Requirements:

Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.

• Work History - entered with the most recent/current listed first:
  • Any and all State of Florida jobs
  • Any and all Florida University jobs
  • All periods of employment
  • Periods of unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more*
  • Education
  • Volunteer Experience
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers including current place of employment.
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.