Behavioral Health Planner / Design Expert

Description

• Develop evidence-based design solutions to support mental health treatment, recovery and reintegration
• Integrate trauma informed design strategies
• Apply sustainable design practices and WELL building standards to behavioral health spaces
• Ensure designs promote client and staff safety while maintaining a therapeutic environment
• Lead preliminary planning and design for behavioral health facilities within community, justice and civic environments
• Collaboratively work with integrated teams of architects, engineers and specialty consultants
• Create detailed space planning documentation and design guidelines
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate specialized security and safety features
• Conduct facility assessments and develop programming recommendations
• Mentor team members on behavioral health design principles
• Design adult crisis, sobering, substance use and residential treatment centers
• Create functional layouts integrating therapeutic design principles, de-escalation strategies, and security requirements
• Develop post-occupancy evaluation criteria for behavioral health spaces
• Support cost estimation and phasing strategies for behavioral health implementations
• Provide technical expertise on behavioral health design standards and best practices
• Contribute to research initiatives and thought leadership in justice behavioral health design
• Lead stakeholder engagement sessions and facilitate design workshops

Requirements

• Knowledge of trauma-informed design principles and evidence-based practice
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Crisis prevention intervention (CPI) certification
• Publication history in relevant professional journals
• Knowledge of behavioral healthcare design standards and building regulations
• Excellent written, verbal, and graphic communication skills
• Experience with secure facility design and planning
• Master's degree in psychology, behavioral science, architecture, planning, or related field
• Professional certification in healthcare planning or behavioral health
• Experience with grant writing and funding applications
• 5+ years of experience in behavioral health facility planning or related healthcare design
• Experience with public sector projects and stakeholder engagement
• Familiarity with Behavior Health system operations and procedures
• Knowledge of correctional healthcare standards and guidelines
• Mental Health First Aid certification
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, MS Office Suite, and Adobe Creative Suite
• Professional affiliation with behavioral health organizations
• Background in therapeutic environment design or clinical operations
• Bachelor's degree in architecture, planning, psychology, behavioral science, or related field
• Research experience in behavioral health environments
• Knowledgeable of Behavioral Health funding initiatives at state and local levels
• Understanding of clinical workflows and operational requirements
• Strong understanding of mental health treatment modalities and substance use programs
• AICP or other relevant certification
• Experience in behavioral health facility planning,
• Understanding of telehealth and technology supported treatment systems
• Understanding of behavioral health economics and facility operations

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance