Director of Training & Community Engagement

The pay range for this role is $119,017 - $136,870 annually.

About Didi Hirsch

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been a national leader in whole-person mental health, crisis care, and substance use services since 1942 and is home to the nation's first Suicide Prevention Center. We are a nonprofit organization providing care to about 270,000 people annually across our programs. Didi Hirsch has deep roots in community-based mental health and a commitment to providing culturally responsive services that are just and equitable. More than 1,000 dedicated employees and volunteers make Didi Hirsch's work possible.

Summary

As a Director of Training & Community Engagement, and under the general direction of the Senior Director, you will be responsible for leading and developing the agency's 988 crisis line, community training programs, and outreach initiatives that advance the agency's mission. You will also oversee internal and external training efforts, strengthening community partnerships, and ensuring that national and state 988 training standards, and best practice.

Primary Duties

• Support the Senior Director in developing processes, establishing partnerships, creating community engagement opportunities, and managing collaborative initiatives.
• Oversee SPC's crisis line training operations, ensuring successful delivery, adherence to national 988 Lifeline training standards, and the development of highly effective crisis counselors.
• Lead and expand SPC's community outreach and training program by integrating partnership development with strategic outreach initiatives and innovative training approaches.
• Supervise, mentor, and support training and outreach managers in forming highly effective teams and collaborate across divisions to accomplish the program's short- and long-term goals.
• Work cross-functionally with crisis services, research, and advocacy teams to integrate suicide prevention education into broader organizational efforts.
• Develop and strengthen policies and protocols for training delivery, ensuring consistency and quality across all programs.
• Ensure all training content aligns with current best practices, research, and national guidelines for suicide prevention.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through feedback, assessments, and program impact analysis.
• Provide leadership to program staff ensuring that the client services meet or exceed contractual performance goals; ensure delivery of services in accordance with contracted guidelines and Didi Hirsch philosophies.

Management Duties

• Use human resource best practices to select and retain the department's consistent and high performing team members. This includes evidenced based interviewing and assessment techniques to select team members; using flexible and supportive feedback and management styles that foster open communications.
• Coach staff in the development of their work plans, assigned duties, responsibilities, and scope of authority.
• Complete management related documentation such as timekeeping records and performance evaluations, in a timely manner.
• Effectively hold staff accountable for meeting contractual requirements through frequent and regular feedback during administrative supervision sessions held on at least a monthly basis.
• Perform managerial duties to include interviewing applicants for employment; assigning and reviewing progress of assignments; conducting performance appraisals; recommending salary increases; and developing staff expertise.
• Attend, participate, lead and/or facilitate routinely scheduled meetings as requested or required for the program, division, or agency.

Program Quality, Compliance and Reporting

• Measure progress against plans and stated goals as it applies to program documentation.
• Review reports prepared by program staff to ensure all legal, contractual, and revenue-generating reports meet or exceed required agency and applicable regulatory agencies' standards.
• Ensure all administrative documentation, including data submission, is accurate and submitted within the established timeframe, and analyze information and prepare routine reports including those used to assess performance.

Financial Duties

• Efficiently utilize financial resources while maintaining commitment to quality service when requesting and purchasing quality assurance program supplies.
• Assist Senior Director in the development of program budgets and ensure expenditures comply with approved budgets.

Position Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, public health, or related field. Master's preferred.
• Minimum 5 years in training development and/or provision.
• 5 years in program leadership in a social service, behavioral health agency or crisis center.
• Working knowledge of suicide prevention and crisis care services.
• Experience leading and participating in appropriate task forces, committees, workgroups and advisory panels related to behavioral health policy and program development and implementation.
• Background and expertise in behavioral health, social work, the criminal justice system, and/or multi-system involved work.
• Knowledge of established research and emerging trends in suicide prevention and intervention work.
• Knowledge of HIPAA, DMH policies and documentation guidelines, and other state, federal regulations relating to quality assurance and improvement.
• Demonstrated effective leadership and management skills. Able to work under stressful situations.
• Ability to present ideas, information, and viewpoints clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Competence in the use the personal computer including word processing, spreadsheets, and other related software programs.
• Strong presentation, public speaking, and media skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing needs by acquiring new skills and knowledge.
• Current California driver's license and a driving record acceptable to the Agency's insurance carrier.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to build and steward positive relationship with diverse community groups including communities of color, immigrant groups, the disability community, and other traditionally marginalized and non-dominant culture groups.
• Knowledge of federal and state funding and reporting systems.
• Demonstrated familiarity with 988, crisis hotlines, and 24/7 crisis care settings.
• Background and expertise in suicide prevention and crisis line training development and provision.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Managerial responsibility for a professional and support staff of two or more, some directly and some through program coordinators.

Our Vision

A future where everyone has equitable access to care and is empowered to achieve optimal mental health and well-being.

Our Mission

Didi Hirsch provides compassionate mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention services to individuals and families, especially in communities where discrimination and injustice limit access.

CORE VALUES

Excellence: We are constantly innovating, learning from the communities we serve, and applying the latest research to advance best practices. We uphold the highest ethical standards to ensure we are providing compassionate and excellent care.
Diversity & Inclusion: We value diversity of background, experience, and ideas, committing to a workforce representative of the communities we serve. We celebrate differences and prioritize creating a sense of belonging.
Equity: We are dedicated to maintaining equitable practices in our healthcare delivery and workplace culture, and we work to dismantle disparities and discrimination within both systems of care and society.
Well Being: We are devoted to the well-being of our staff, volunteers, and communities, and believe healthy teams lead to healthy clients.
Advocacy: We advocate across all levels of government and use our voice to reduce barriers to care, including stigma, systemic racism, and parity across payers, with the goal of access to high quality, integrated healthcare for all.
Community Engagement: We build partnerships in the community and across sectors to create a more inclusive and responsive mental health ecosystem and enhance greater accessibility to care and support.

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