2026 Project Manager, Behavioral Health

OVERVIEW

We seek highly driven, entrepreneurial, and equity-focused professionals passionate about working with government, philanthropy, and communities to create a more just and inclusive society. You will lead client engagements focused on transforming how public systems connect with and work for the people they serve. The length of a project typically ranges from about 6 to 18 months.

Successful Managers are outcomes-motivated, solution-oriented, creative team players who can successfully manage client projects, consistently produce and deliver high-quality client deliverables, and forge high-touch, meaningful relationships between our clients, partners, and the communities they aid in order to unlock the possibility that our government systems can listen, learn, and deliver for the people they serve.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project Delivery Leadership: Responsible for simultaneously leading two client projects and teams, delivering technical assistance to government and philanthropic clients, and ensuring timely delivery and client satisfaction. Projects range in size, timeline, and scope complexity.

• Responsible for leading project workplanning and management, including workplan development, coordinating work across team members to complete high-quality deliverables, and leveraging organizational tools and resources to ensure project success.
• Leadership and facilitation of team and client meetings to coordinate efforts and discuss project progress, challenges, and learning opportunities.
• Responsible for managing project costs in line with project budget parameters and organizational guidelines, and coordinating client invoicing with the Finance Team.

Organizational Support, including Partnership and Project Development (PPD): Responsible for supporting organizational goals and objectives, including providing input on new project opportunities, participating in learning and evaluation efforts, and contributing to the culture and work environment at Third Sector.

• Supporting Directors in identifying new partnership and project development opportunities with a focus on active projects for which they are the Project Lead, including related work in those geographies/jurisdictions.
• Playing a vital role in the organization's impact and learning efforts, including sharing reflections on project work and learnings to shape future work, and contributing to knowledge management efforts and goals.
• Contributing to developing and implementing training for team members and fostering a culture of continuous learning, including onboarding new team members and ensuring a smooth integration into teams and the organization.
• Actively participating in initiatives to enhance overall team experiences and create a positive work environment.

Communications: Writing and editing web content, including blog posts, social media posts, and other marketing materials about Third Sector projects and efforts. Contributing insight and learnings from project delivery to developing verbal and written communication, like blog posts, op-eds, conference panels, case studies, and practice area or project-specific messaging in support of organizational spokespeople.

Note: This listing represents the majority of day-to-day responsibilities in this role, but other duties may be assigned as needed.

EXPERIENCE

Project Managers must have at least 3 years of experience in project management, consulting, or a related field. They must have a proven track record of successfully leading project teams, managing client/partnership engagements with diverse stakeholders, and providing coaching and mentorship to team members. Other required experience includes:

• Serving as the primary point of contact on client or partner engagement(s) while developing strong relationships and collaborative working environments with clients/partners, their stakeholders, and teams. Experience anticipating client/partner needs, directing collaborative efforts, addressing concerns promptly, and providing strategic recommendations to enhance the overall partnership experience.
• Creating and managing work plans and successfully leading teams and clients/partners from the start of the engagement to completion. Employing strategic thinking by developing comprehensive work plans that outline tasks and anticipate potential roadblocks and mitigation strategies.
• Designing and delivering well-structured quantitative and qualitative analyses and drawing key insights and actionable conclusions from data, including contextualizing quantitative and qualitative analyses within the broader strategic objectives of the client and organization.
• Communicating persuasively to diverse audiences using verbal and written formats (e.g., PowerPoint, memos, emails, virtual meetings) and tailoring communication styles to diverse audiences. Adapting messaging to align with strategic objectives.
• Providing feedback to and coaching team members and supporting their professional growth. Exhibits strategic thinking by aligning feedback and coaching efforts with team members' professional growth goals and the organization's strategic needs.
• Working within or with state, local, or federal government agencies in the United States, their contracted service providers, and their other key partners or stakeholders (ideally familiar with one or more of Third Sector's practice areas: Early Childhood, Diversion and Reentry, Workforce Pathways, Postsecondary Opportunity, and/or Behavioral Health).
• Experience (professional or lived) with the delivery of social services (for example, housing or food assistance, financial aid, legal systems, health care services, supportive services for families, and services for people with disabilities) or in a government agency.
• Directly supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial equity efforts in previous work experiences and understanding the role that race and racism play in power dynamics, privilege, and access, both within our organization and within public agencies and systems.

For the October 2026 search process, we are seeking Manager candidates with experience in Behavioral Health. The desired qualifications are detailed below:

• Background in Behavioral Health/health systems of care
• Experience engaging with communities to better understand met/unmet health needs and wellness outcomes, while guiding systems of care in improving services based on community input
• Basic understanding of California county Behavioral Health departments and the populations served
• Experience leading/facilitating group processes in spaces composed of local/community leaders, service recipients, service providers, etc.
• Experience successfully facilitating meeting spaces and reaching decision points across leaders with divergent interests and competing priorities
• Experience working with data processes and outcomes to drive Behavioral Health/health improvements
• Proficient in creating digestible materials illustrating client journeys, service delivery workflows, and community processes
• Comfortable and relationally skilled when engaging with service recipients, including behavioral health clients living with severe mental illness and substance use challenges
• Experience guiding program teams, supervisors, and managers in designing operational processes to promote alignment with state/local requirements
• Highly Preferred: Basic working knowledge of Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) changes and Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs

VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Our team of 30+ team members is united by our mission and commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization. We have been working to acknowledge, understand, and dismantle the White dominant structures we uphold internally and with our partners. We are identifying and implementing strategies to change our organizational culture and external relationships, including creating space for both multi-racial and affinity-based conversations about our journey and the work ahead.

All team members rely on a competency model rooted in our core values of Results, Racial Equity, Relationships, Respect, and Reflection to steer our growth and evaluate our performance. For Project Managers, the highlighted competencies—Planning and Execution, Team Management, Relationship Building, and Emotional Agility—are emphasized for their crucial role in guiding successful project management. While all the competencies in the model are essential, these have been highlighted for their significance to Project Managers in ensuring effective leadership and supporting project outcomes.

The Project Manager must be proficient in the following competencies:

• Planning and Execution: Establishes a clear approach for developing content, managing projects, and engaging all stakeholders inclusively. Aligns and is accountable for deliverables, actions, and timelines for project objectives. Manages internal and external expectations in anticipation of workflow changes and their impact on individuals.
• Team Management: Identifies ways to work across teams and initiatives that impact each other. Adapts style to fit the needs of their teams. Delegates to and leverages team members effectively to advance team objectives. Creates space to set and adjust team working norms and dynamics. Upholds internal policies and procedures in their work.
• Relationship Building: Strengthens internal relationships with team members across the organization. Builds and strengthens collaborative relationships with external partners.
• Emotional Agility: Develops awareness of one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and their impact on others. Addresses own feelings and behaviors so that they facilitate positive team dynamics. Focuses on engaging with people rather than reacting.

START DATE

The required start date for this position is as soon as possible. All applicants must be prepared to start employment no later than December 1, 2026.

LOCATION

All applicants must provide proof of authorization to work in the United States. Please be advised that Third Sector does not offer visa sponsorship. Residency in the state of California is required for this position. This role is remote, with anticipated periodic travel to client sites in California.