Behavioral Health Senior Manager

Altarum is seeking a highly skilled and mission-driven Behavioral Senior Project Manager to lead complex projects across the full continuum of behavioral health care, including prevention, crisis services, outpatient and inpatient treatment, substance use services, integrated care, workforce development, financing strategy, and quality improvement initiatives.

Reporting directly to the Program Director, the Senior Manager oversees a portfolio of large-scale client projects, supervising project managers and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring high-quality execution, and serving as a trusted advisor to clients. This role partners closely with the Program Director on portfolio planning, business development, and organizational growth.

We are seeking a collaborative, team-oriented leader who values professional integrity, accountability, and continuous growth. The ideal candidate balances confidence and initiative with humility, is receptive to feedback, and demonstrates a commitment to supporting a healthy, collegial culture.

What You'll Do

Portfolio & Project Oversight :
• Lead multiple concurrent behavioral health research, training, and technical assistance projects, ensuring deliverables meet quality, timeline, and budget expectations.

• Translate strategic direction from the Program Director into actionable project plans and coordinated workstreams.

• Anticipate challenges and implement solutions that protect client outcomes and organizational reputation.

Written & Analytical Excellence :
• Produce and oversee high-quality client-ready written deliverables, including strategic plans, assessments, policy analyses, executive summaries, and proposals.

• Translate complex systems, policy, and operational information into clear, actionable recommendations.

• Ensure all products reflect accuracy, clarity, and professional polish.

Supervision & Team Leadership :
• Supervise and mentor project managers and project staff, providing clear expectations, coaching, and constructive feedback.

• Foster a team-oriented, collaborative environment that encourages respect, accountability, and shared success.

• Model alignment with leadership priorities and uphold organizational values in all interactions.

Client Engagement :
• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for clients, managing expectations and building durable, trust-based relationships.

• Facilitate meetings, presentations, and strategic discussions with professionalism and diplomacy.

Strategy & Business Development :
• Partner with the Program Director on portfolio strategy, performance monitoring, and growth planning.

• Contribute to business development, including proposal preparation and scopes of work.

• Identify opportunities to enhance existing engagements and responsibly expand client relationships.

What You’ll Bring :
• Minimum of Master’s degree in Public Health, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Administration, Social Work, Public Policy, Business, or related field.

• 8+ years of progressive experience in behavioral health systems, healthcare consulting, public sector services, and/or nonprofit systems work.

• Demonstrated success managing large, complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

• Strong supervisory experience, including developing managers and multidisciplinary teams.

• Exceptional writing skills, with experience producing executive-level reports, proposals, and strategic documents.

• Proven client management skills and ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders.

• Experience managing project budgets, contracts, and performance metrics.

• Knowledge of Medicaid, public behavioral health systems, and regulatory environments.

• Experience supporting business development efforts.

• High emotional intelligence, professional maturity, and sound judgment.

• Willingness to receive feedback, reflect, and continuously strengthen leadership effectiveness.

• Commitment to fostering a positive, collegial, and high-performing team culture.

• Dedication to advancing behavioral health systems that improve outcomes for communities.

Work Eligibility & Requirements:
• Candidates must be currently eligible to work in the United States; sponsorship is not available.

• All work must be performed within the continental U.S. for the duration of employment, unless required by contract.

• Ability to work core hours aligned with Eastern Time, unless otherwise approved by your manager.

• Remote employees must maintain a dedicated, ergonomically appropriate workspace free from distractions, with reliable internet and a mobile device that supports efficient work.

Where You'll Work:
• Remote (with occasional in-person collaboration days)

• If you’re near one of our offices (Arlington, VA; Silver Spring, MD; or Novi, MI), you’ll join us in person one day every other month (6 times per year) for a fun, purpose-driven Collaboration Day. These days are filled with creative energy, meaningful connection, and team brainstorming!

• Non-local employees may be asked to join us on these days at an approved co-working space.

Altarum is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the health of individuals with fewer financial resources and populations disenfranchised by the health care system. We work primarily on behalf of federal and state governments to design and implement solutions that achieve measurable results. We combine our expertise in public health and health care delivery with technology development and implementation, practice transformation, training and technical assistance, quality improvement, data analytics, and applied research and evaluation. Our innovative solutions and proven processes lead to better value and health for all.

Altarum is an equal opportunity employer that provides employment and opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.