
Mental Health Program Specialist 2, Central Office;
Albany, NY · HybridFull-time$91–115K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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At a glance
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Job overview
The New York State Office of Mental Health seeks a Mental Health Program Specialist 2 for its Adult Community Care Group. The role supports the Safe Option Support program by coordinating with teams and community partners, reviewing program data and applications, and helping connect people experiencing homelessness with housing, health care, behavioral health care, and other supports. The position is based in Albany and allows telecommuting with management approval.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
NY HELPS Yes
55-b/c Eligible No
Agency Mental Health, Office of
Title Mental Health Program Specialist 2, Central Office;
Occupational Category Other Professional Careers
Salary Grade 23
Bargaining Unit PS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary Range From $90582 to $114585 Annually
Employment Type Full-Time
Appointment Type Contingent Permanent
Internship No
Jurisdictional Class Competitive Class
Travel Percentage 10%
Workweek Mon-Fri
Hours Per Week 37.5
Workday
From 8 AM
To 5 PM
Flextime allowed? No
Mandatory overtime? No
Compressed workweek allowed? No
Telecommuting allowed? Yes
County Albany
Street Address NYS Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Avenue
City Albany
State NY
Zip Code 12229
Duties Description The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is seeking qualified candidate to fill a Mental Health Program Specialist 2, G-23 position in the Division of Community Program Management & Managed Care, Adult Community Care Group, Bureau of Housing Development & Support. The Mental Health Program Specialist 2 will assist in the coordination of care for homeless individuals within relevant programs and maintain, analyze and share pertinent data across housing, healthcare, mental and behavioral health, and social services sectors to address the needs of this population.SOS is a high-priority Governor’s initiative to reduce street homelessness and improve access to housing and care. This position supports OMH’s core mission by helping the SOS program engage people experiencing homelessness and connect them to permanent housing, health care, behavioral health care, substance use services and other supports. The employee provides technical support, coordinates with regional offices and community partners and reviews program data. This work supports timely services, member safety and successful moves from street homelessness to stable housing.Duties include:• Monitor Safe Option Support Team (SOS) activities to identify best practices and evaluateprogram performance.• Act as a liaison to assigned teams to support implementation and operation of the SOS Teams.• Facilitate learning collaboratives where SOS teams members can review progress, outcomes, and develop best practices for SOS teams in collaboration with the medical director for homelessness and other complex populations.• Work collaboratively with other Division of Housing Development and Support staff to promoteOMH Initiatives and support development of targeted resources to decrease homelessness.• Participate in special projects associated with the Homeless Support Unit’s responsibilities as assigned by Unit/Bureau leadership• Review Request for Proposal (RFP) applications as assigned.• All other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications Under the NY HELPS Program:A bachelor's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education AND three years of professional clinical or administrative experience in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program.A master's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education can substitute for one year of specialized experience.Transfer Opportunity:Candidates must be permanent in the Mental Health Program Specialist 2 title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.Preferred Qualifications:The ideal candidate will have lived mental health experience from first-hand, personal knowledge and understanding gained from directly navigating and receiving services and supports as an element of their recovery. Preferred candidate will have experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of mental health. Preferred candidates will also hold a master's or higher degree in a field such as psychology, social work, counseling, or related areas. Experience in professional clinical, peer support, or administrative roles within a behavioral health program is preferred. Candidates with a solid understanding of behavioral health issues, treatment modalities, and relevant regulations are encouraged to apply. Generally speaking, this role requires strong clinical and administrative skills; excellent interpersonal skills; excellent communication and writing skills with professionals with both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds.
Additional Comments Employment with New York State offers unmatched benefits, individual support, and career mobility for motivated individuals including: NYS pension and retirement programs; annual cost of living and performance advance increases; comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care; paid time off, including thirteen paid holidays per year, and paid personal leave, vacation leave, and sick leave. The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. The Office of Mental Health embraces diversity and promotes a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected. The New York State Office of Mental Health is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.
Name Krystal Schools
Telephone
Fax 5184863897
Email Address [email protected]
Address
Street NYS Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Ave
City Albany
State NY
Zip Code 12229
Notes on Applying To be considered for this position, interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format to [email protected] that highlights how they meet the minimum and preferred qualifications for this position. Please include the title of the position and Vacancy ID #227865 in the subject line of your email when applying. You are advised that, should you accept a job offer with the Office of Mental Health, you may be required to be fingerprinted and pay a fingerprint fee.
How this job compares
Set against the 1,817 open Behavioral Health jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$91–115K/yr
- New York median$70–78K/yr65 salary ranges
- US median$70–101K/yr438 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $103K, is 41% above the New York median midpoint ($73K) — in the top quarter of Behavioral Health salary ranges in New York.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 202 open Behavioral Health jobs in New York and 1,817 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in New York
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Behavioral Health postings that state a minimum ask for 2 years at the median (921 postings).
- Education
- 690 of the 1,817 open Behavioral Health jobs (38%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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