Social Worker Program Manager (Deputy Chief) Huntsville
Huntsville, ALFull-time$146k–$190kPosted Jun 17, 2026
The Birmingham VA Health Care System is recruiting for a Social Worker Program Manager (Deputy Chief of Mental Health) located within Mental Health Service Line (MHSL). This position is located at the Huntsville Clinic with supervisory responsibility of staff at multiple locations. The incumbent reports to the Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) Mental Health the MHSL for all clinical, administrative, and quality performance matters.
The Social Worker Program Manager/Deputy Chief of Mental Health has programmatic responsibilities for the delivery of mental health services at the Huntsville Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and additional outpatient sites of care and for supporting and executing the mission and vision of the Chief (ACOS) of Mental Health for the Birmingham VA Health Care System (VAHCS). The incumbent assists the ACOS/MH with management of the MHSL including assessing program needs, allocating resources effectively and efficiently while monitoring their use, working with program managers to develop policies and procedures which are fitted to the needs of each program, and facilitating communication between MHSL programs. VA Careers - Social Work: https://youtube.com/embed/enRhz_ua_UU Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides support to the ACOS, MHSL in all areas of management, leadership, and oversight of mental health clinical, educational, and research activities at the Birmingham VAHCS. Ensures observance of federal, national, and local regulatory policy and accreditation requirements governing the medical center. Responsible for supporting strategic planning, budget oversight, staff recruitment and management, and quality assurance. May function as a liaison to the ACOS, MHSL for Education and affiliated health professional schools for undergraduate and graduate education issues. Ensures that mental health practitioners demonstrate effectiveness in teaching and comply with necessary trainee supervision requirements. May function as a liaison to the ACOS, MHSL for Research, to facilitate research grants and expand research opportunities and initiatives. Maintains all necessary credentials in his/her respective discipline to provide clinical care approximately ten percent (10%) of the time. Responsible for assisting the ACOS in planning, organizing, developing, implementing, coordinating, and refining a comprehensive patient management/clinical support/administrative program which provides services and technical counsel necessary to meet clinical, procedural, legal and administrative requirements relating to the care and treatment of inpatients and outpatients. Provides a climate in which clinicians can care for patients with an awareness of administrative implications of his/her actions, without feeling he/she is working under unnecessary constraints. Contributes to implementing VA Headquarters policies and regulations governing broad administrative aspects of the medical center. To affect the policies, incumbent must have skills in management theory, cost*benefit analysis, data gathering and statistical analysis. Serves on a variety of medical center planning committees, advisory groups and chartered action teams. Oversee clinical and administrative performance measures. Assists with service line strategic planning and resource management. Assist with developing formal, systematic improvement plans for quality measures, access and medical services delivery. Supports liaison with affiliated schools regarding medical teaching issues and provider appointments. Oversee the establishment of program monitors and outcome measurements using programs using data driven quality assurance processes. Assures all Mental Health programs are compliant with applicable Federal and State laws. Oversee the management of Veteran complaints and issues. Contributes to the development of program goals and objectives to meet VHA Mental Health requirements. Participates in performance appraisals of staff and addresses disciplinary issues. Participates in clinical teaching as assigned. Assists in overseeing appropriate training related to MH issues is completed for all Birmingham VAHCS staff involved in patient care activities. Contributes to the development of Mental Health Service policies and procedures consistent with VA Directives, as well as VA required accreditation by the Joint Commission, CARF and other MH accrediting organizations. Supervises the hiring of professional mental health staff. Directly supervises both clinical and administrative personnel. Actively participates, as needed, in the provision of clinical care services within the incumbent s credentials, privileges, and/or scope of practice. Maintains a clinical caseload including individual medication management patients within the MHSL. Clinical duties may also include consult management. Provides intervention and counseling to individual patients as needed in the course of resolving administrative matters within the program(s). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (subject to change based on agency needs) Telework: Available, Ad-hoc only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 61727F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized