Director of Outpatient Navigation & Engagement
Job Location:
Lincoln, NE - USA
Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Position closes 8/21/26 or until position is filled.
If you require accommodations as an applicant please contact the Human Resources Department at.Equal Opportunity Employer
Why This Job Matters
The impact of this work is significant Coined the Outpatient Navigation & Engagement (ONE) Project the Director will lead a new groundbreaking regional initiative designed to improve outcomes for adultsunder Nebraskas Mental Health Board outpatient commitment orders. Every decision you make has the potential to improve lives. Youll influence policy strengthen community partnerships and build systems that ensure individuals receive the right care at the right time.
Who This Role is For
Are you a visionary leader who thrives at the intersection of behavioral health justice and systems innovation This is more than a leadership positionits an opportunity to shape the future of behavioral health services while improving outcomes for individuals living with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.
As Director youll lead the development of an integrated collaborative system of care that connects courts behavioral health providers hospitals and community partners. Your work will help increase treatment engagement strengthen communication across systems reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and create lasting meaningful change.
If youre passionate about collaborative leadership strategic thinking and creating lasting impact this is your opportunity to lead meaningful change across Nebraska.
Why Join Region 5 Systems apply today and experience the difference!
- Received 1st place award for 2026 Lincoln Best Places to Work (large employer category)
- Flexible supportive and inclusive workplace culture
- Meaningful work serving our community
The top 5 words our employees use to describe our work culture are: Flexible Supportive Caring Challengingand Inclusive.
We are committed to creating a professional environment where team members can reach their full potential while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Through flexibility collaboration and team-building opportunities we foster a workplace where employees feel valued supported and connected.
If youre looking to make an impact explore new possibilities and work alongside an exceptional team Region 5 Systems could be the place for you.
What Youll Do
- Serving a 16-county behavioral health region the Director is responsible for developing implementing and evaluating a coordinated system of care that promotes engagement in treatment enhance communication between courts and providers and reduces hospitalizations among individuals living with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders.
- Establish and maintain program infrastructure including policies procedures staffing performance measures and data systems.
- Develop and oversee project budgets fiscal resources contracts and required grant reporting.
- Monitor grant performance program fidelity service quality treatment engagement outcomes and overall achievement of project objectives using quantitative and qualitative data.
- Develop and maintain performance dashboards and implement continuous quality improvement initiatives to enhance program effectiveness.
- Identify funding opportunities and implement sustainability strategies to support long-term program success and expansion.
- Collaborate with Nebraska Mental Health Boards county attorneys courts behavioral health providers hospitals and community partners to strengthen outpatient commitment processes and cross-system coordination through the establishment of a steering committee and management board.
- Develop policies procedures and collaborative strategies that improve coordination across the behavioral health and justice systems.
- Assist local planning teams with conducting a comprehensive process analysis and services inventory to identify what exists capacity needs and what is working.
- Monitor trends identify service gaps and recommend policy operational and system improvements that strengthen the regional behavioral health continuum.
- Serve as the regional subject matter expert on outpatient commitment processes Nebraska behavioral health statutes and cross-system collaboration.
- Promote and support recovery-oriented trauma-informed person-centered and evidence-based behavioral health practices throughout the regional system.
- See job description for full range of responsibilities.
What Youll Have (Required)
- Education
- Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited college or university. A masters degree in Counseling Clinical Psychology Behavioral Health Public Health Public Administration Healthcare Administration Human Services or a closely related field will be considered an equivalent qualification.
- Leadership & Management Experience
- Five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in behavioral health.
- Experience supervising staff and teams.
- Experience managing grants/programs large-scale contracts budgets or other comparable administrative responsibilities.
- Behavioral Health Expertise
- Experience working with individuals living with serious mental illness co-occurring substance use disorders and community behavioral health services.
- Strategic Planning & Systems Leadership
- Experience with strategic planning program development and system-level initiatives.
- Experience developing and leading complex multidisciplinary teams to identify system gaps develop strategic action plans and build stakeholder consensus.
- Policy & Administrative Experience
- Policy and contract development/writing experience.
- Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
- Public speaking and presentation experience.
Preferred Experience
- Nebraska independent clinical licensure (LICSW LIMHP or LMHP).
- 3 years experience in emergency system or related field.
- Experience creating individualized plans for individuals with multiple morbidities.
- Experience collaborating with Mental Health Boards courts hospitals law enforcement
community providers and governmental agencies.
- Experience implementing evidence-based or evidence-informed behavioral health practices.
- Experience leading organizational or system-level change initiatives.
Other Requirements: Reliable personal transportation and satisfactory background investigation.
Additional Details: See the job description for full abilities and skills expectations.
What We Offer
- Competitive Pay:$80000 at hire.
- Health Benefits: Medical (United Healthcare) dental vision FSA and HSA options
- Retirement Plans: 457(b) and 401(a)
- Paid Time Off: Vacation (accrual based on years of service) 13 holidays sick leave bereavement leave and community service leave
- Insurance & Protection: Life insurance voluntary term life long-term disability and Aflac
- Support & Development: Training continuing education and strength-based performance reviews
- Work-life Balance: Flexible schedules and a casual fun work environment
- Employee Support: Employee assistance program
- Free parking
Who We Are
Region 5 Systems one of six Behavioral Health Regions in Nebraska is responsible for the development and coordination of publicly funded behavioral health services within its 16-county service area (southeast Nebraska).
Our Mission:
Support the wellness and recovery of people through the ongoing development and coordination of the behavioral health system of care.
Our Vision:
People experiencing affected by or at risk of mental health or substance use challenges receive care and enhance personal wellbeing.
Our Values Promote:
- Wellbeing embracing the four dimensions of recovery: health home purpose and community
- Collaboration and inclusion
- Access to a continuum of care where every door is the right door for welcoming people with behavioral health needs
- Innovation and flexibility
- Data and quality driven standards of excellence
- Multidimensional culture of learning
Required Experience:
Director
