Behavioral Health Subject Matter Expert

Job Description

Job Description

Behavioral Health Subject Matter Expert - New York State (Statewide) (#R10229)

Location: New York State (Statewide, Remote)
Employment Type: Part-Time Contract (0.5 FTE)
Hourly Rate: $25.00/hour

Position Overview:

The Behavioral Health Subject Matter Expert (BH SME) provides specialized clinical and systems-level expertise on Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD) within behavioral health settings, with a focus on integrating evidence-based guidelines into health systems that serve people living with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. 

Why Join Us?

• Competitive Compensation: $25.00/hour.
• Work Schedule: Part-time (0.5 FTE) with long-term contract stability (5-year term).
• Professional Growth: Shape statewide behavioral health initiatives.
• Impactful Work: Reduce tobacco-related disparities in vulnerable populations.

Qualifications:

• Education: Advanced clinical degree in psychology, social work, psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, or related behavioral health field (e.g., PhD, PsyD, MD, DO, DNP, LCSW, LMHC, or equivalent).
• Experience:
  • Demonstrated experience working in behavioral health settings serving individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders, preferably within health systems or community-based organizations.
  • Experience implementing or advising on evidence-based practices or systems-level interventions in behavioral health or chronic disease care (e.g., tobacco cessation, substance use treatment, or integrated care).
  • Experience contributing to written reports, proposals, or program deliverables in public health, behavioral health, or health systems projects.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with evidence-based guidelines for treating Tobacco Use Disorder and related clinical practice guidelines for behavioral health populations.
• Soft Skills:
  • Strong subject matter expertise in behavioral health, TUD, and health disparities, including understanding of the needs of populations disproportionately affected by commercial tobacco.
  • Ability to translate clinical and scientific evidence into practical tools, workflows, and policies for health care organizations.
  • Excellent written communication skills for contributing to reports, guidance documents, and educational materials.
  • Strong interpersonal and consultation skills for working with program leads, QI advisors, health system leaders, and front-line providers.
  • Commitment to health equity, culturally responsive care, and advancement of tobacco-free policies in behavioral health settings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide subject matter expertise on behavioral health and TUD, including guideline-concordant assessment, diagnosis, and treatment approaches, with attention to priority populations disproportionately affected by commercial tobacco use.
• Contribute to the design and refinement of clinical workflows, protocols, and decision-support tools that embed evidence-based TUD treatment into behavioral health care systems, including screening, counseling, medication use, and follow-up.
• Advise on best practices for implementing systems-level strategies identified in the PHS Clinical Practice Guideline (screening systems, provider training/resources/feedback, and dedicated staffing) in behavioral health organizations.
• Collaborate with QI, program, and data staff to interpret behavioral health system data and identify gaps, barriers, and opportunities to improve TUD treatment delivery and health equity.
• Assist with the development of educational materials, training content, and technical assistance tools tailored for behavioral health providers and organizational leaders.
• Provide expert input into written reports, proposals, and other contract deliverables, ensuring technical accuracy, alignment with the RFA scope of work, and clear linkage to project outcomes.
• Support the identification and dissemination of best practices related to emerging nicotine delivery products and their impact on behavioral health populations, including strategies to counter industry disinformation.
• Participate in internal and external meetings, workgroups, and partner convenings as the behavioral health and TUD clinical resource for the project.