How to hire a Mental Health Program Manager

Mental health program manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring mental health program managers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a mental health program manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new mental health program manager to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a mental health program manager, step by step

To hire a mental health program manager, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a mental health program manager:

Here's a step-by-step mental health program manager hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a mental health program manager job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mental health program manager
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Mental Health Program Manager do?

A mental health program manager is in charge of creating and overseeing mental health programs in their organization. They are tasked with following up with patients, designing programs, monitoring program progress, working with other health professionals to ensure patient concerns are addressed, and meeting with patients' families to offer emotional and logistical support. They need to develop strict guidelines to help with mental health, develop policies with other company leaders to ensure patient needs are met, and manage the databases and patient charts.

Learn more about the specifics of what a mental health program manager does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a mental health program manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mental health program manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a mental health program manager that fits the bill.

    This list presents mental health program manager salaries for various positions.

    Type Of Mental Health Program ManagerDescriptionHourly Rate
    ascdesc
    Mental Health Program ManagerMedical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians... Show More$24-53
    Service DirectorA service director is responsible for managing and implementing customer service policies and ensuring that all staff strictly adhere to reach the highest customer satisfaction. Service directors' duties include identifying business opportunities to improve customers' experience, monitoring the performance of the customer service team, developing strategic procedures on service delivery, creating new promotional offers and services, and coaching the team to increase business productivity... Show More$33-90
    Nursing DirectorA nursing director's role is to oversee and evaluate all nurse staff in a hospital or organization, ensuring their efficiency at providing care towards patients. A nursing director's responsibilities mainly revolve around administrative tasks such as coordinating with physicians and other consultants, producing reports, conducting assessments, managing the budget and expenditures, and resolving issues... Show More$30-56
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Social Work
    • Behavioral Health
    • Mental Health
    • Substance Abuse
    • Family Therapy
    • Rehabilitation
    • Medicaid
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Clinical Supervision
    • Service Delivery
    • Program Planning
    • Community Resources
    • Social Services
    • Administrative Supervision
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Conduct daily clinical documentation audits, manage consumer financial accounts, provide oversight and approval for all treatment and discharge planning.
    • Conduct billing and coding through agency reimbursement funding through Medicaid.
    • Develop and maintain close liaison with local providers and drug rehabilitation facilities.
    • Chair and direct interdisciplinary teams in the development and evaluation of individualize habilitation, rehabilitation and treatment plans.
    • Coordinate and provide qualitative and quantitative review of all documentation to insure billing accuracy for Medicaid compliance and federal guidelines.
    • Implement process improvements and Medicare department reorganization that establish a foundation for improve member outcomes and satisfaction and increase product margins.
    More Mental Health Program Manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your mental health program manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A mental health program manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a mental health program manager in Kansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level mental health program manager usually earns less than a senior-level mental health program manager. Additionally, a mental health program manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average mental health program manager salary

    $74,778yearly

    $35.95 hourly rate

    Entry-level mental health program manager salary
    $50,000 yearly salary
    Updated March 15, 2025

    Average mental health program manager salary by state

    Rank
    ascdesc
    State
    ascdesc
    Avg. Salary
    ascdesc
    Hourly Rate
    ascdesc
    1California$112,636$54
    2Washington$101,151$49
    3Massachusetts$99,767$48
    4Minnesota$93,166$45
    5Illinois$87,425$42
    6New Jersey$85,164$41
    7Tennessee$83,463$40
    8New York$78,276$38
    9Arizona$78,010$38
    10Pennsylvania$75,573$36
    11Maryland$74,411$36
    12District of Columbia$72,027$35
    13Virginia$69,673$34
    14Colorado$63,039$30

    Average mental health program manager salary by company

    Rank
    ascdesc
    Company
    ascdesc
    Average Salary
    ascdesc
    Hourly Rate
    ascdesc
    Job Openings
    ascdesc
    1Fraser Ltd$103,961$49.9844
    2UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS$97,919$47.0844
    3Brigham and Women's Hospital$94,220$45.3020
    4Kaiser Permanente$94,046$45.21172
    5Massachusetts General Hospital$93,462$44.93
    6HMI$92,693$44.56
    7Massachusetts Institute of Technology$91,682$44.08
    8Wellpath$87,885$42.25329
    9People Encouraging People$83,285$40.049
    10University of California$81,563$39.2130
    11University of California-Berkeley$81,201$39.04
    12Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates$79,473$38.21
    13Wexford Health Sources$76,606$36.83109
    14Washington State University$71,680$34.461
    15San Bernardino County$71,200$34.2310
    16Maricopa County$70,960$34.1213
    17UPMC$69,154$33.2565
    18Diocese Of Scranton$68,729$33.04
    19City of El Dorado$66,164$31.816
    20The University System of Maryland Foundation$65,661$31.57
  4. Writing a Mental Health Program Manager Job Description

    A mental health program manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a mental health program manager job description:

    Mental Health Program Manager job description example

    • Retirement Saving Plan (403B) – agency matches up to 3% on 1st year workiversary


    • Staff Recognitions – Spot Awards, Employee of the Month


    • Business Casual Office Environment


    • Monthly Staff Gatherings / Team Culture


    • 501(c)(3) Designation – you’re able to apply for PSLF Loan Forgiveness


    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)


    • Employee Discounts – LifeMart


    JOB SUMMARY:

    Under general supervision, this position oversees multiple programs in the Clinical Department including: Children’s Outpatient, Adult Outpatient and School Based Prevention/Early Intervention. This position performs complex administrative work in the management of multiple funding contracts in the Clinical Services department. This includes but is not limited to overall program management, work prioritization and assignment, budgeting, staff supervision, reporting as required by laws and funding contracts, and direct services as assigned/required.

    As a member of the CAPC’s Cabinet Management Team, the Program Manager will demonstrate leadership, accountability, integrity, credibility, and an uncompromising commitment to the vision and mission of the agency.


    MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

    Education:

    Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with major course in social services or a closely related field. Master’s degree in related field and ACSW/AMFT/APCC required, LCSW/LMFT preferred; employment contingent upon active BBS registration at all times. For ACSW, APCC and AMFT registration, employee must show a continued commitment to completing hours and seeking licensure.

    Experience:

    Four years of relevant experience working with children and families or social work case management. School based experience preferred. Experience must include no less than at least two years of staff and/or volunteer supervision.

    Description of Duties:

    1. Have a solid working knowledge of all the rules, regulations, and laws that apply to the funding contracts and ensure that procedures are put in place for staff to meet the contractual obligations/requirements of the contract.

    2. Provide administrative supervision, scheduling, guidance/support/discipline to staff, clients and families (as needed) participating in either programs.

    3. Participate in clinical supervision as appropriate.

    4. Maintain ongoing dialogue with Clinical Consultant to address clinical supervision issues related to staff skills, training needs, etc.

    5. Actively participate in Cabinet level meetings and make contributions to discussions that support the overall vision and mission of the CAPC.

    6. Oversee and coordinate services provided at all school sites services are provided.

    7. Assure program continuity, quality and compliance as it relates to either funding stream’s regulations, policies, etc.

    8. Develop and implement policies & procedures to ensure smooth program operations. Consistently evaluate/re-evaluate processes to ensure efficiency in workflow.

    9. Maintain strong and consistent communication with Clinical Director regarding program staff, program successes, challenges and any other concerns; provide recommended solutions as appropriate.

    10. Develop and implement tools, trackers and other necessary documents to ensure smooth program operations that align with CACP and funding source requirements.

    11. Identify training needs and establish a plan to have those needs met to ensure that staff are adequately prepared and trained for their role. Demonstrate sound judgment related to all program requirements, staff supervision, contract management, etc.

    12. Provide overall daily staff supervision of those assigned to programs – including staff evaluations, schedule monitoring to ensure overall staff effectiveness in their assigned role; partner with Human Resources and Clinical Director to address any specific performance deficiencies with staff.

    13. Provide support to student interns assigned to programs.

    14. Strategically analyze any challenges within a program to ensure contract obligations are met financially, operationally and otherwise. Develop tools, trackers, procedures, spreadsheets and other strategies necessary to achieve contract compliance and achievement.

    15. Attend all partner and grant source meetings as appropriate & establish positive working relationships with grant sources, etc.

    16. Prepare all reports as required by funding sources, Executive Director, Program Director and Clinical Director in a timely and accurate fashion.

    17. Consistently evaluate strategies to improve staff productivity rates & performance.

    18. Promote and maintain a sense of teamwork between program staff, other CAPC staff, volunteers, Board members, and other individuals relevant to the successful operation of each program.

    19. Represent the agency in a consistently professional manner, always modeling a commitment to the agency’s Mission and Values.

    20. Work with other CAPC staff and community partners to develop programs consistent with the goals and objectives of the Council.

    21. Supervise direct client services, approve service and case plans, and reports for each client as appropriate/necessary.

    22. Provide direct services to clients as identified by budget needs, productivity expectations and/or while positions are vacant.

    23. Maintain case files on a daily basis and assist with any related statistical and/or evaluation components.

    24. Supervise the daily maintenance of program data bases to ensure successful audits, smooth operations of the programs, etc.

    25. Assist the Clinical Director as requested. Other duties, both program specific and CAPC related, as assigned.

    26. Monitor budget expenditures to ensure that all spending for either program is within the guidelines of the proposed scope, budget narrative, etc. Work with Executive level management to propose any budget modifications or address areas of financial deficit.

    27. Network with other community agencies and participate when requested, in community and health fairs and other events designed to promote CAPC programs.


    EOE:

    CAPC hires and promotes employees regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition or physical handicap or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. CAPC is an equal opportunity employer.

  5. Post your job

    To find the right mental health program manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with mental health program managers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit mental health program managers who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your mental health program manager job on Zippia to find and recruit mental health program manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit mental health program managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mental health program manager

    Once you've found the mental health program manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new mental health program manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a mental health program manager?

Hiring a mental health program manager comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting mental health program managers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of mental health program manager recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $74,778 per year for a mental health program manager, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for mental health program managers in the US typically range between $24 and $53 an hour.

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