The County Behavioral Health Directors Association ofCalifornia (CBHDA) is the statewide, nonpartisan,membership association representing the public mentalhealth and substance use disorder program authorities in allof California's counties. The association was restructuredand renamed in 2014 as a result of the merger of theCalifornia Mental Health Directors Association and theCounty Alcohol and Drug Program AdministratorsAssociation of California. CBHDA represents its members atthe State Legislature, before state executive branch andregulatory agencies, in statewide ballot measurecampaigns, and in the courts. On the state level CBHDA isan affiliate of the California State Association of Counties,and on federal issues it is affiliated with the NationalAssociation of County Behavioral Health and DevelopmentalDisability Directors. CBHDA also provides an array of otherservices to counties and county officials.

The CBHDA mission is to assure the accessibility of quality,cost-effective, culturally competent behavioral health care(mental health and substance use treatment) for the peopleof California through the provision of leadership, advocacy,and support to public mental health and substance usedisorder programs. Its purpose is to advocate for the publicbehavioral health system, including recovery and socialjustice principles, by assuring access and delivery of care topersons receiving, or in need of mental health or substanceuse disorder services. Additionally, CBHDA promotes thereduction of individual and community problems related tounaddressed mental health and substance use disorderissues, and convenes behavioral health professionals for thepurpose of informing public policy and improving thedelivery of mental health and substance use disordertreatment services. CBHDA divides its representation inCalifornia into the following five regions: Bay Area,Southern, Central, Superior California and Los Angeles

CBHDA is seeking well qualified candidates with significantassociation or local government management experience, orother relevant experience, for the Executive Director position.

This is an exceptional opportunity to become the chiefexecutive officer of an active, effective, progressive andrespected non-profit advocacy association representing thebehavioral health directors from each of California’s 58counties, in addition to the City of Berkeley and the Tri-CityMental Health Center (Cities of Pomona, Claremont & LaVerne). The CBHDA Executive Search Task Force andGoverning Board Members are seeking a results-orientedentrepreneurial leader and effective manager, with a strongappreciation for good local government and significantexperience with public policy issues and governmentaldecision-making processes.

The next Executive Director will work closely with the CBHDAGoverning Board Members, made up of the BehavioralHealth Directors of California, as well as other leaders withinthe membership. It is the expectation of CBHDA that theirnew Association leader will ensure that CBHDA is consideredthe leading organization Statewide for behavioral healthpolicy, planning, and future strategic initiatives.

The Executive Director will administer a $2.5 million budget,and serve as the chief executive officer responsible for theday-to-day operations and management of the organization.He or she will provide leadership and direction to an 11member staff who are talented and capable in advocatingfor the membership’s policy goals and delivering a broadrange of beneficial services to member counties and cities.

This is an exciting time to join CBHDA as the counties arecurrently working to negotiate a new waiver (or contractwith the federal government) that will substantially redesignthe service delivery system of behavior health services inCalifornia. The Executive Director is appointed by the 61member Governing Board Members of the Association

More information: • County Behavior Health Directors Association of

California: www.cbhda.org

• National Association of County Behavioral Health andDevelopmental Disability Directors: www.nacbhdd.org

THE CANDIDATECBHDA is seeking an innovative, resourceful and dynamicleader and effective manager, with considerable experienceacting as a lobbyist.

The successful Executive Director candidate must engagestakeholders and be a visionary leader with high energy and greatenthusiasm who takes a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach to theposition. The successful candidate must have a demonstratedcommitment to professionalism and the mission and success ofCBHDA. She or he must be able to represent and advocate for allmembers who represent a diverse group of counties and cities ofall sizes. The Executive Director must also be able to assess thecurrent state and county government environment and lead ourstaff in working productively with constituent groups, the StateLegislature and congressional delegation, state and federalagencies, other associations and other potential partners. Thesuccessful candidate must be able and willing to work with theGoverning Board Members to establish priorities, refine andimplement our CBHDA strategic plan, and enhance our workingrelationships with and service offerings to our membership.

THE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA (CBHDA) — AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY

The successful candidate should have a Master’s degree froman accredited institution, with a minimum fifteen years ofprogressively higher levels of responsibility in administration ofgovernmental or association programs and services,demonstrated supervisory and organizational developmentability, and relevant experience with intergovernmental issuesand processes, or an equivalent combination of education,skills and experience.

Desired background, qualifications, experienceand characteristics: • Demonstrated strong organization, budgetary and

management skills

• Very skilled at relationship building, able to buildcredibility and work productively with municipal, county,state and federal elected officials and professional staffmembers, including the Governor’s Office and legislators

• Able and willing to make sound, timely decisions afterconsideration of relevant information and alternatives,including evaluation of results of prior decisions, andadequate consultation with the Governing BoardMembers and knowledgeable staff members

• Politically astute but non-partisan, with demonstratedsound professional judgment and thorough understandingof the appropriate respective roles of elected officials andCBHDA staff

• Demonstrated ability to work productively with and forelected or appointed governing bodies

• Able and willing to lead active and effective CBHDAadvocacy efforts on significant county issues, includingballot issues, based on the membership’s adoptedpolicies, maintaining the scrupulous non-partisan role ofCBHDA

• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, initiative,tact and discretion in assisting the membership indeveloping policies, in presenting recommendations toresolve challenging issues, and bringing the membership’sgoals to fruition

• Ability to understand a broad range of public policyissues and look for opportunities for the CBHDAmembership, in the interests of good local government

• Understanding of and appreciation for the forms ofcounty government in California, and for the traditions ofcharter and general law counties

• Willingness to embrace the challenges of overseeing abroad range of services and functions, including ageneral working knowledge of insurance and riskmanagement services, and health benefits

• Ability to emphasize to the membership the value of theircounty association, and willingness to encouragecapable county and municipal officials to becomeactively involved

• Able and willing to provide leadership and supervisionto a diverse group of talented staff professionals withdiffering viewpoints and opinions, assuring that theyfunction collaboratively as valuable, accessible andhelpful resources to county and municipal officials, witha strong culture of service, creativity and excellence

• Leadership style that delegates authority and responsibility,motivates staff, encourages employees to offer constructiveinput with meaningful consideration, and empowers staffmembers to make productive contributions to serving ourmembership based on clear communication of generalexpectationsLwithoutLmicromanagement,mbutLwithaccountability and recognition of achievements

• Strong appreciation for the character and diverse cultureof our counties, with a realization that continuingchanges present new opportunities and needs

• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills to addressfuture opportunities, needs and challenges

• Strong public presentation and written communicationsskills and ability to address complex county behavioralhealth issues clearly and persuasively, in the media andotherwise

• Ability and willingness to oversee planning forproductive CBHDA annual conferences, trainingworkshops and other meetings, for the benefit of themembership

• Impeccable integrity, committed to high ethical standardsand transparent government operations, ability to sustainconsistent compliance with legal requirements andestablish a high level of credibility with citizens, countyofficials and CBHDA employees

• Able and willing to seek productivity, member service andcitizen information improvements through cost-effectiveinformation technology enhancements and innovation

• Commitment to maintaining productive workingrelationships with other associations and institutions,and influential citizen groups and business leaders, andall potential partners, to advance the interests of goodcounty government

• Demonstrated sound personnel management experiencewith willingness and ability to make timely and fairpersonnel decisions

• Commitment to productive personal and staffprofessional development, and sound successionplanning

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE9/10/18 Closing Date for Submissions

Week of 9/10 Completion of Review and Screening of Submissions and Consultant Interviews,Supplemental Questionnaires and Background Checks of the More Qualified Candidates

Week of 9/17 Screening of Recommended Semi-Finalist Candidates with Executive Recruitment Task Force

9/27 – 10/1 Interviews of Executive Director Finalists with Executive Recruitment Task Force in Sacramento, Possible Selection of Executive Director

Week of 10/1 Consultant Completes References Checks

Week of 10/8 Negotiation of Terms of Employment With Selected Candidate

To Be Determined Executive Director Reports to Work

CBHDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity across the work force, in order to serve our membership andthe citizens of our counties well.

COMPENSATION ANDBENEFITSThe Executive Director's compensation will be part of acontract which includes a severance provision. A startingsalary will be negotiated with the successful candidate in thelow to mid-$200,000 range, based upon experience andqualifications for the position.

Excellent benefits include: • Retirement Plan • Medical Insurance (or health buy-out option) • Vision • Dental • Life Insurance/AD & D • Short/Long Term Disability Insurance • EAP • Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical & Dependent Care) • Generous Vacation/Sick Leave/Personal Leave Time

TO APPLYTo apply for this exceptional opportunity, please send apersuasive letter of interest explaining why you feel you area good candidate for the Executive Director position, resumeand at least four professional references (references will notbe contacted without permission of candidate) by email to:

Clark Wurzberger, Senior Vice President, The Mercer Group, Inc., P.O. Box 546, Weimar, California 95736Email: cwurzberger@mercergroupinc.com Cell voice and text: (530) 637-4559Fax: (650) 240-3933

Website: www.mercergroupinc.com

The Mercer Group, Inc., is a firm that provides executivesearch and other consulting services to local governments andother public and private sector clients nationwide, is assistingthe CBHDA Executive Director Search Task Force with thisrecruitment.

Receipt of applications will be acknowledged by email. Iftimely acknowledgement is not received, please reach out toMr. Wurzberger.

Applicant submissions are due by September 10, 2018,and there may not be an opportunity to consider applicationssubmitted after that date. Following a process and timetableapproved by the Committee, resumes will be screened andinterviews with selected finalists are expected to be conductedin September.