Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Oregon
Behavioral Health Specialist jobs in Oregon are among the most active in the Pacific Northwest, with steady demand across community mental health centers, tribal health programs, integrated care clinics, and state-run facilities. Portland, Salem, and Eugene account for the largest share of openings, and established employers like Oregon Health and Science University, Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, and Lines for Life maintain consistent hiring pipelines in the state. The most in-demand specialties include substance use disorder counseling, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care for youth populations. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 59+ Behavioral Health Specialist jobs











About Our Organization
This position supports one of the trusted behavioral health programs within the Advanced Recovery Systems family. Advanced Recovery Systems is the parent organization of Promises Behavioral Health, The Right Step, and The Ranch, bringing together established treatment brands with a shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based addiction and mental health care.
While you may work primarily with a specific facility or brand, you will be part of a larger, growing organization focused on improving patient outcomes, supporting our employees and strengthening the communities we serve.
Position Summary
The Behavioral Health Manager (BHM) provides supervision of around-the-clock Behavioral Health staff performing daily client activities in a large residential treatment facility, or for multiple smaller facilities. The BHM is responsible for oversight, monitoring, and tracking of services for clients and, in collaboration with the Behavioral Health Supervisor, the daily BH staff program responsibilities. They help to manage staff that support clinical and treatment goals and maintain a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment that encourages and supports clients in their recovery.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Provides management and support to the Behavioral Health Supervisor.
- Collaborates with the Behavioral Health Supervisor to conduct performance reviews and complete performance review documents.
- Makes final decision related to all disciplinary actions (CAF process) and performance improvement plans (PIP process) independently or following the recommendation and of the Behavioral Health Supervisor, including generating the appropriate written documentation.
- Works collaboratively with the Behavioral Health Supervisor to provide coaching to the BH staff.
- Makes final decision related to the hiring of all BH Technicians, BH Advocates, BH Specialists, and BH Supervisors.
- Attend and participate in all applicable local leadership meetings.
- Collaborate with Human Resources team on staffing related activities.
- Can and may perform all Behavioral Health staff (BHT, BHA, BHS, BH Supervisor) job duties as well as coordinate all daily responsibilities and shift functions as needed for coverage.
- Assist Clinical Director and acts as liaison between Behavioral Health Supervisor, Behavioral Health staff and other staff.
- Coordinate outside appointments and meetings with clients.
- Facilitates staff meetings.
- Collaborate and support the clinical and medical team and other staff and departments.
- Available, as needed, for alternate, evening, overnight, and weekend schedules/shifts that may be required to meet client needs, state, and regulatory agency requirements and business necessity.
- Provides appropriate oversight, review, and approval to Behavioral Health Supervisor to order client supplies (i.e., literature and basic hygiene products).
- Responsible for oversight, auditing, and quality assurance of BH team documentation.
- Any other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- A minimum of four years’ experience in substance use, mental health, or healthcare field or other relevant experience; OR Bachelor’s degree; OR a healthcare license (CNA, MAP, CHA, etc.); OR an equivalent combination of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies.
- Minimum of two years’ experience in a supervisory or leadership role preferred; or, equivalent combination of experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and competencies.
- High school diploma, preferred.
- Valid Driver’s License required.
- Ability to speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listen and get clarification; responds well to questions.
- Knowledge of organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgement, be attentive to detail, and maintain positive work attitude.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of all medical, financial, and legal information.
- Ability to complete work assignments accurately and in a timely manner.
- Ability to understand and utilize program knowledge, such as the disease model, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed approaches, experiential approaches, CBT, self-help approaches, and evidence-based practices in client care.
- Familiarity with acute intoxication and/or withdrawal potential, biomedical conditions that affect treatment, emotional/behavioral/cognitive conditions that complicate treatment, the stages of change model/readiness to change scale, relapse potentials, and supportive recovery environments for aftercare (the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria for levels of care)
- Ability understanding of how to utilize medical knowledge, complete medication observations, observe and assess detox clients, and complete and document vitals.
- Ability to document thoroughly in an electronic medical record.
- Ability to professionally interact and communicate with clients, client family members, referral sources, and vendors.
- Understands and respects cultural diversity.
- Screen for psychoactive substance toxicity, intoxication, and withdrawal symptoms
- Screen for danger to self or others
- Screen for co-occurring mental health issues
- Understands the benefits and limitation of toxicological testing procedures.
- Demonstrate adherence to accepted ethical and behavioral standards of conduct.
- Participate in continuing professional development.
- Follow organization policies and procedures addressing the care of individuals served identified as at risk for suicide, including requirements for screening, assessment, and monitoring.
- As applicable based on job role, knowledgeable about strategies for treating alcohol, cocaine, and other drug abuse.
- Knowledge of MS Office and office equipment such as copiers and scanners.
- Must meet pre-employment and maintain all applicable state and job-related guidelines for background screening, fingerprinting, drug test, health screening, DMV, insurance, CPR/Basic First Air, and license/credential verifications.
Benefits
Enjoy a range of benefits, including a 401(k) plan, paid time off, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, and so much more!
See All 59 Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Oregon
Find roles in Oregon that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsBehavioral Health Specialist Jobs by City in Oregon
Where Oregon roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Behavioral Health Specialist Job Market in Oregon
A snapshot from current Oregon openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Aviva Health11

- PeaceHealth7

- Legacy Health5

- Asante2

- Clarvida2

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
What Oregon Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in behavioral health specialist jobs across Oregon.
- Active Oregon QMHA registration or eligibility through the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a closely related behavioral health field
- Experience conducting behavioral health assessments and developing individualized treatment plans
- Knowledge of trauma-informed care practices and evidence-based intervention models
- Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team including case managers, clinicians, and peer support staff
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems and clinical documentation requirements
Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Oregon: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a behavioral health specialist in Oregon?
The most direct path in Oregon is earning a Qualified Mental Health Associate registration through the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon, which requires a relevant bachelor's degree and supervised hours working with adults or youth experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. Many Oregon employers will hire candidates who are QMHA-eligible and complete registration within a set timeframe after starting. Roles working with youth or in substance use treatment may require additional credentials through the same certifying body.
Which companies hire behavioral health specialists in Oregon?
Employers hiring behavioral health specialists in Oregon right now include Aviva Health, PeaceHealth, and Legacy Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Oregon's mix of federally qualified health centers, county mental health programs, and large integrated health systems means hiring is distributed across both urban centers and rural counties statewide.
Which Oregon cities have the most behavioral health specialist jobs?
Roseburg, Portland, and Eugene have the most behavioral health specialist openings in Oregon. Portland drives the largest volume given its concentration of community mental health agencies, hospital systems, and nonprofit providers, while Salem and Eugene reflect significant demand tied to state government behavioral health programs, university health services, and regional community health networks.
Are there remote behavioral health specialist jobs in Oregon?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields because many behavioral health specialist roles involve in-person client contact, crisis response, or site-based case management. About 14% of behavioral health specialist openings tied to Oregon are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with telehealth counseling support and care coordination being the functions most likely to qualify for remote arrangements.
How can I get hired as a behavioral health specialist in Oregon with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a peer support specialist or mental health technician role at a community mental health center or residential treatment program, then moving into a behavioral health specialist position once you have supervised hours. Large Oregon employers like Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare and county-run mental health programs regularly hire people pursuing QMHA registration and provide supervision toward that credential. A bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field and any volunteer or practicum experience with underserved populations will strengthen your application significantly.
Where can I find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in Oregon?
You can find and apply to behavioral health specialist jobs in Oregon on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, credentials, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 59 Behavioral Health Specialist Jobs in Oregon
Find roles in Oregon that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs