Director of State Operations

Salary: $186,000.00 - $353,000.00 Annually
Location : Lexington County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: 188753
Agency: Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Division: Central Office
Opening Date: 05/22/2026
Closing Date: 6/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Agency Specific Application Procedures:: Please complete the online application.
Class Code:: UA03
Position Number:: 60023027
Normal Work Schedule:: Other
Pay Grade: Unclassified
Hiring Range - Min.: $186,000.00
Hiring Range - Max.: $353,000.00
Opening Date: 05/22/2026
EEO Statement: Equal Opportunity Employer
Normal Work Schedule (Other):: This position is located at headquarters in Cayce, SC. and requires extensive statewide travel. Occasional out-of-state and overnight travel. As needed, required to work outside of a regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays to respond to needs or ensure service continuity.
Veteran Preference Statement: South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.


Job Responsibilities


As the state's behavioral health and developmental disabilities agency, BHDD provides services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and substance use disorders through a holistic, streamlined and coordinated approach.


The Director of State Operations leads, directs, and manages all operations across the largest division of BHDD, including Mental Health Inpatient Hospitals (Civil/Adult, Adolescent, and Forensic), Substance Use Disorder Facilities, Mental Health Residential Facility and Long-Term Care, Regional Centers (Intermediate Care Facilities), State-Operated Autism Homes, Outpatient Mental Health Centers, Public Safety, and a Specialty Clinic. The Director of State Operations ensures high-quality patient-centered care.

Job Responsibilities

• Maintains an effective organizational team and creates an innovate climate to motivate staff to accomplish mission-critical operations and objectives. Promotes staff accountability, communication, workforce planning, and workforce engagement.
• Assists with the development of programmatic policies impacting the daily operation of state facilities and leads the development of operational policies.
• Oversees all aspects of the state's regional centers and state operated autism homes.
• Oversees all aspects of the state's inpatient hospitals, substance use disorder facilities, specialty clinic, outpatient mental health facilities, and community mental health facilities.
• Develops and sustains stable financial practices. Ensures no deficit spending. Consults with and advises executive management, legislative committees, and legislative staff on budget requests trends, and significant changes impacting service delivery and the financial position of state facilities.
• Stays current with health care issues, trends, technology, factors impacting the Division.
• Serves as a BHDD liaison with external stakeholders.
• Leads or participates on various internal and external committees and project teams, as required.
• Responds to the Governor's Office and legislators regarding constituent concerns and needs.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• Master's or doctoral degree in public administration, public health, social sciences, or a directly related field
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in a healthcare delivery system, healthcare management, or healthcare administration.

Additional Requirements

• Knowledge of BHDD's mission, vision, and services.
• Ability to analyze and interpret broad health and human services issues, federal and state laws, rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of complex billing, budgeting, contract, and healthcare finance systems.
• Thorough knowledge of management principles, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to understand, set, and execute priorities, strategic plans, key performance indicators (KPIs) and daily operations.
• Must be able to lead, delegate, and manage effectively.
• Must be able to function in a cross-functional matrix management organization.

Additional Comments


This position is located at headquarters in Cayce, SC. and requires extensive statewide travel. Occasional out-of-state and overnight travel. As needed, required to work outside of a regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays to respond to needs or ensure service continuity.
The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.


Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.


Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.


Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.


Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
01


Do you have a master's or doctoral degree in public administration, public health, social sciences, or a directly related field?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in a healthcare delivery system, healthcare management, or healthcare administration?

• Yes
• No

Required Question