Behavioral Health RN

Behavioral Health RN
- New York State (Statewide) (#25336)

• Location:
  New York State (statewide), covering all NYS counties and boroughs
• Employment Type:
  Contract / 1099 / Hybrid role (16 hours a week (0.4 FTE)
• Hourly Rate: $53 per hour

The Behavioral Health RN 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. The BH SME leverages RN licensure and clinical experience to support development of tools, resources, and best practices, and contributes to report writing and grant deliverables for the statewide Center for Health Systems Improvement.

• Competitive Compensation: Earn $53 per hour providing specialized behavioral health expertise.
• Work Schedule: 1099 position / Hybrid role (16 hours a week (0.4 FTE)
• Professional Growth: Gain valuable experience in a collaborative, innovative, and supportive environment while shaping evidence-based practices for behavioral health systems statewide.
• Impactful Work: Contribute to a mission-driven organization dedicated to improving patient outcomes by integrating tobacco use disorder treatment into behavioral health care systems serving priority populations.

• 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 nursing and behavioral health providers.
• Commitment to health equity, culturally responsive care, and advancement of tobacco-free policies in behavioral health settings

• Provide RN-level subject matter expertise on behavioral health and TUD, including guideline-concordant assessment, diagnosis, nursing care planning, 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 development of educational materials, training content, and technical assistance tools tailored for behavioral health providers, nursing staff, 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, work groups, and partner convenings as the behavioral health and TUD clinical nursing resource for the project

Job qualifications & certifications:

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in New York State (or eligibility for NYS licensure within a defined timeframe).
• Advanced clinical training or experience in psychiatric/behavioral health nursing or closely related field (e.g., prior work in inpatient psychiatry, integrated behavioral health, substance use treatment, or community mental health).
• 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).
• Familiarity with evidence-based guidelines for treating Tobacco Use Disorder and related clinical practice guidelines for behavioral health populations.
• Experience contributing to written reports, proposals, or program deliverables in public health, behavioral health, or health systems projects.