Program Manager For Member Employment and Mental Health Services

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) has been a pioneer in mental health service, advocacy, innovation, and training for nearly a century, working to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities. MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County, supporting over 19,000 low‑income and no‑income individuals annually with integrated services.

The agency impacts mental and physical healthcare, homelessness and housing, supported employment, wellness and financial services, with special programs for Veterans and transition‑age youth. MHALA also provides training programs for individuals joining the behavioral health workforce and for the larger community around mental health issues. Employees enjoy a 35‑hour workweek and a culture that values communication, collaboration, transparency, and self‑care, with a competitive salary, full benefits package, employee assistance program, and generous paid time off.

Under the general supervision of the Director of Employment, the Program Manager supervises the Employment Team, ensuring smooth and efficient delivery of all employment rehabilitation and allied services programs.

• Develop, implement, administer, coordinate, and monitor the effective delivery and outcomes of all services in compliance with grants or contracts.
• Track community placements, work adjustment, and subsequent support services.
• Oversee feedback loop to DOR counselors.
• Facilitate Employment Team meetings.
• Commit to continuous improvement in delivering AVES employment and work adjustment services.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, train, direct, evaluate, reward, discipline and terminate department staff in accordance with organizational policy and applicable laws and regulations.
• Assist and support program documentation standards of staff in accordance with MHALA, County Contracted Providers, and funding source standards and requirements, including 24‑hour turnaround documentation.
• Oversee analysis and monitoring of the program’s budget and billing goals, align with program funding streams, and manage team budget and expenditures, making timely adjustments as needed.
• Custodian of petty cash for program staff, if applicable.
• Ensure program’s monthly, quarterly, and yearly data reporting is accurate and timely.
• Participate in team, administrative, community and funding meetings; lead or delegate leadership of day‑to‑day operations of the team as needed.
• Actively participate in site management team, quality improvement, safety committee or designate other leadership team as needed.
• Lead site training efforts for staff and members.
• Provide timely information and feedback to the director of employment on emergent staff, team or member issues; work with executive management on intervention when objectives are not met.
• Assist with implementation of CARF standards throughout the agency, prepare for CARF survey, implement recommendations, and maintain service consistency with CARF standards.
• Support staff in designing and implementing activities that link members and other clients to work activities that meet member/client goals and needs.
• Assist with development and implementation of operating procedures for the employment department and for the agency‑owned and operated social enterprises.
• Oversee development of new work adjustment operations, group placements, and other innovations to provide employment opportunities for DOR clients.
• Negotiate, develop and oversee compliance with State DOR case service contract and fee‑for‑service program opportunities.
• Participate in contract‑related planning, monitoring, and evaluation meetings at state, county, and local level with DOR and DMH.
• Develop and maintain certifications for new and current DOR services.
• Assist with oversight and collaboration to Financial Planning and FSP team to support members in financial management with the accounting team/financial planner.
• Support staff in meeting DMH billing/productivity goal.
• Assist staff in maintaining and reviewing outcomes for DMH Pilot Program.

• Minimum 3 years of experience providing psychosocial rehabilitative services.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to provide supervision and leadership to diverse staff with a wide range of skills, abilities, and professional competencies.
• Good basic English writing skills, good basic computer skills, and high levels of organization.
• Team‑oriented approach to member services.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with mental health consumers, their family members or client advocates, vendors, and other staff.
• Ability to track and interpret complex data sets for program services and budget.
• Detail oriented, able to prioritize and juggle multiple projects without losing productivity.
• Driving with current Class C driver’s license, a vehicle for transportation, proof of valid automobile insurance, and the ability to be insured by MHALA liability insurance are conditions of employment.
• Flexible work schedule to include some evenings or weekends when necessary.
• TB clearance and re‑testing every year are conditions of employment.
• COVID‑19 vaccinations or booster shots are not currently required, however this may become a requirement in the future.
• Failure to abide by any agency policy, including those relating to a vaccine or booster shot may result in termination of employment.
• Employment verification directly from three (3) past employers within the most recent 7‑year period.