H-1B Visa Director of Behavioral Health Jobs
Director of Behavioral Health jobs attract H-1B visa sponsorship from health systems, community mental health centers, and integrated care organizations that need licensed clinical leaders with a master's or doctoral degree. This role qualifies as a specialty occupation, and employers file a certified LCA plus an I-129 petition with USCIS before your status begins.
Find H-1B Visa Director of Behavioral Health JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 134+ Director of Behavioral Health jobs










See all 134+ Director of Behavioral Health Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Director of Behavioral Health roles.
Get Access To All Jobs
Position Purpose:
Assist the Chief Medical Officer to direct and coordinate the medical management, quality improvement and credentialing functions for the business unit.
This is a remote BH Medical Director role providing medical leadership for Utilization Management (UM) and cost containment. The focus of this role is on strategic planning and optimization of UM processes. The Medical Director will evaluate completed work, analyze data, and make decisions on strategic process improvements. This role will directly support the CMO while working closely nursing leaders. Ideal candidate will have in-depth knowledge in the UM space who is passionate about strategic planning and data analysis. Applicants must be board certified in Psychiatry, including board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and hold a current state medical license as an MD or DO without restrictions, limitations, or sanctions from government programs. Payer/ Managed Care experience is heavily preferred.
- Provides medical leadership of all for utilization management, cost containment, and medical quality improvement activities.
- Performs medical review activities pertaining to utilization review, quality assurance, and medical review of complex, controversial, or experimental medical services, ensuring timely and quality decision making.
- Supports effective implementation of performance improvement initiatives for capitated providers.
- Assists Chief Medical Director in planning and establishing goals and policies to improve quality and cost-effectiveness of care and service for members.
- Provides medical expertise in the operation of approved quality improvement and utilization management programs in accordance with regulatory, state, corporate, and accreditation requirements.
- Assists the Chief Medical Director in the functioning of the physician committees including committee structure, processes, and membership.
- Conduct regular rounds to assess and coordinate care for high-risk patients, collaborating with care management teams to optimize outcomes.
- Collaborates effectively with clinical teams, network providers, appeals team, medical and pharmacy consultants for reviewing complex cases and medical necessity appeals.
- Participates in provider network development and new market expansion as appropriate.
- Assists in the development and implementation of physician education with respect to clinical issues and policies.
- Identifies utilization review studies and evaluates adverse trends in utilization of medical services, unusual provider practice patterns, and adequacy of benefit/payment components.
- Identifies clinical quality improvement studies to assist in reducing unwarranted variation in clinical practice in order to improve the quality and cost of care.
- Interfaces with physicians and other providers in order to facilitate implementation of recommendations to providers that would improve utilization and health care quality.
- Reviews claims involving complex, controversial, or unusual or new services in order to determine medical necessity and appropriate payment.
- Develops alliances with the provider community through the development and implementation of the medical management programs.
- As needed, may represent the business unit before various publics both locally and nationally on medical philosophy, policies, and related issues.
- Represents the business unit at appropriate state committees and other ad hoc committees.
- May be required to work weekends and holidays in support of business operations, as needed.
Education/Experience:
Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy. Utilization Management experience and knowledge of quality accreditation standards preferred. Actively practices medicine is preferred, but not required. Course work in the areas of Health Administration, Health Financing, Insurance, and/or Personnel Management is advantageous. Experience treating or managing care for a culturally diverse population preferred.
License/Certifications:
Board certification in a medical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialists or the American Osteopathic Association’s Department of Certifying Board Services. (Certification in Psychiatry specialty is required.) Current state license as a MD or DO without restrictions, limitations, or sanctions from government programs.
For Behavioral Health only - Board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Current state medical license without restrictions.
Pay Range: $215,000.00 - $408,500.00 per year
At Centene, we connect people to the care they need to live healthier lives — and the work you do here makes that impact real every day. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that directly support individuals, families, and communities, building your skills while making healthcare more accessible and effective. It’s work with a purpose you can see, backed by a team committed to improving lives well beyond the workday.
Centene offers a comprehensive benefits package including: competitive pay, health insurance, 401K and stock purchase plans, tuition reimbursement, paid time off plus holidays, and a flexible approach to work with remote, hybrid, field or office work schedules. Actual pay will be adjusted based on an individual's skills, experience, education, and other job-related factors permitted by law, including full-time or part-time status. Total compensation may also include additional forms of incentives. Benefits may be subject to program eligibility.
Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the LA County Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.
See all 134+ H-1B Visa Director of Behavioral Health Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Director of Behavioral Health Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Director of Behavioral Health
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree field and the role. A master's in social work, clinical psychology, counseling, or public health typically satisfies this. If your degree is in a adjacent field, gather transcripts and a credential evaluation before applying.
Verify your license transfers across state lines
Behavioral health directors must hold state licensure, and each worksite state may require its own credential. Confirm reciprocity or endorsement timelines before committing to a role, since your LCA is tied to a specific worksite location.
Target employers with active behavioral health LCA filings
Use Migrate Mate to search employers with verified H-1B LCA sponsorship history in behavioral health and mental health services, so you're applying to organizations that have already navigated the filing process for clinical leadership roles.
Request premium processing for time-sensitive start dates
If your offer has a firm start date tied to a program contract or grant cycle, ask the employer to file for premium processing with USCIS. This upgrades adjudication to 15 business days and reduces onboarding risk for both sides.
Check prevailing wage before salary negotiations begin
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your role and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search using the correct SOC code before negotiating, so you understand the wage floor the employer is legally required to meet.
Account for multi-site LCA requirements in leadership roles
Directors of Behavioral Health often oversee programs across multiple clinic or hospital sites. Each worksite requires its own certified LCA before you work there. Confirm the employer understands this during offer discussions to avoid compliance gaps after you start.
H-1B Visa Director of Behavioral Health: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Director of Behavioral Health role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, this role typically qualifies. It requires a master's or doctoral degree in clinical psychology, social work, counseling, or a related behavioral health field, and USCIS recognizes that connection as satisfying the specialty occupation standard. The employer must document the degree requirement in the LCA and petition to support the classification.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for behavioral health directors?
Health systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers, community mental health organizations, and integrated care networks are the most active sponsors for this title. These employers regularly file LCAs for clinical leadership roles and have internal HR processes for managing H-1B petitions. You can browse verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate by role and location.
How does state licensure affect my H-1B petition as a behavioral health director?
State licensure is typically required to perform clinical oversight duties, and USCIS may treat it as a condition of the specialty occupation classification. If your license is pending, some employers will file the petition with a contingency, but you'll need to demonstrate active licensure before your start date. Each state has its own endorsement or reciprocity process, so factor that timeline into your job search.
What happens to my H-1B status if the employer restructures or eliminates the behavioral health program?
If your position is eliminated or materially changed, your H-1B status is tied to that employer's petition and effectively ends. You have a 60-day grace period after involuntary termination to find a new H-1B sponsor, change status, or depart. H-1B status is granted for up to three years and can be extended to a six-year maximum, but it's always employer-specific.
Can my employer sponsor me if I'll be working across multiple clinic locations?
Yes, but each worksite where you'll regularly work requires its own certified LCA filed with DOL before you work there. This is a common compliance issue for directors who oversee geographically distributed programs. Confirm during the offer process that your employer is prepared to file separate LCAs for each location rather than a single filing for your primary site.