SUD Treatment Counselor, Behavioral Health Specialist , Qualified Mental Health Associate; Salem

About the Job – Your Role

The Oregon Department of Corrections provides several levels of mental health treatment along with individualized case management. Behavioral health services are targeted to adults in custody (AIC) with severe or persistent mental illness. Short-term services are available to AICs who are not mentally ill, but who show high suicide potential, or who are experiencing other emotional distress. Behavioral Health Services also provides Substance Use Disorder treatment to AICs that meet qualification for available programs.

The purpose of this position is to deliver gender-inclusive and trauma-informed substance use disorder treatment services utilizing a chronic disease framework to adults in custody (AICs) at an outpatient level of care. The QMHA staff function as the primary service providers for this program.

Services provided include ASAM assessment, treatment planning, group facilitation, individualized SUD treatment counseling, psychosocial skills development, case management, and discharge planning. This position works closely with AIC Peer Recovery Mentors. This position has contact with all levels of institution staff, as well as other agencies, individuals, and groups that interface with the ODOC. This position is supervised by a designated SUD Treatment Program Manager.

Initial Posting Date: 09/14/2026 Final date to receive applications: 09/24/2026 Agency:
Department of Corrections

Position Type:
Employee

Position Title:

SUD Treatment Counselor, Behavioral Health Specialist 1, Qualified Mental Health Associate (Salem)

Salary Range: $6,895 - $9,140

The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date.

Workday will timeout after 15 minutes of inactivity. You may lose progress on your application. Workday performs weekly maintenance Friday evenings, and the system may be down for several hours.

DOC employee benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic employee life coverage through the Public Employees' Benefit Board (PEBB) and retirement benefits through the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Paid vacation leave and sick leave are accrued monthly and wage increases are awarded in accordance with the applicable labor contract. Additional applicable incentives: 5% for leader worker QMHAs This position is represented by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

This position may be eligible for Police & Fire (P&F) benefits through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), as defined by statute.

The salary range listed above is for non-PERS qualifying applicants. PERS qualifying applicants may be eligible for an adjusted range to reflect an additional 6.95%. The State of Oregon provides a generous benefit package, which includes:

• Family health, vision, and dental insurance
• Vacation, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays
• 21 days paid military leave for national guard and reserve components
• Optional short and long-term disability
• Term life insurance
• Fully paid retirement program
• Oregon Saving Growth Plan
• Flexible spending accounts for health and childcare
• And more

The Oregon Department of Corrections is responsible for over 12,000 adults in custody in 12 state prisons throughout Oregon. It advises and evaluates counties regarding administration of probation and parole programs supervising more than 24,000 offenders in Oregon communities. The mission is to protect communities, promote accountability, and transform lives. The Oregon Department of Corrections serves a diverse and changing population of people who are incarcerated and on supervision.

We commit to creating an organization both reflecting the diversity of the population we serve and ensuring all employees thrive in a culture of safety, trust, and belonging. We strive to be an anti-racist corrections system. Welcoming, inclusive, and respectful of all people. Free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The Department offers a variety of programs and opportunity to create a safe and healthy environment to for our staff, volunteers, and adults in custody.

Joining the Oregon Department of Corrections is joining a team working for the benefit of our communities through innovative and proven correctional practices.

• A Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field
• A combination of at least three years of relevant work, education, training, or experience
• Possession of a current Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) certification
• A…