*This is a remote position; however, the employee must reside in the San Diego, California, area. The role requires less than 15% travel, including both local and domestic travel, based on project and business needs.
At Altarum, we’re driven by a simple but powerful mission: improving the health of individuals with fewer financial resources and populations underserved by the healthcare system. We partner with federal and state agencies to design and deliver solutions that make a real, measurable difference.
We’re looking for a Trainer & Technical Assistance Specialist who is passionate about strengthening behavioral health systems, supporting community-based organizations, and helping providers build the skills and confidence needed to deliver effective, culturally responsive care.
About the Role
As a Trainer & Technical Assistance Specialist, you’ll develop and deliver trainings on evidence-based practices for SUD, co-occurring mental illness, and integrated behavioral health care. You’ll also provide hands-on technical assistance to community-based organizations across San Diego County.
You’ll thrive here if you:
Enjoy training and coaching behavioral health providers
Have experience with SUD, co-occurring mental illness, and EBPs
Build strong relationships with community partners
Care about culturally responsive care and community impact
This role will begin primarily on the San Diego Behavioral Health CBO TTA Center project, with the potential to support other behavioral health projects over time.
What You'll Do
Training & Curriculum Development
Design, develop, and continuously update training curricula and materials focused on evidence-based practices for substance use disorder treatment, co-occurring mental illness, and integrated dual-diagnosis care
Tailor training content to the needs, capacity levels, service models, and populations served by community-based organizations
Deliver engaging, competency-based trainings and learning collaborative sessions in multiple formats, including in-person workshops, webinars, asynchronous modules, and communities of practice
Translate emerging evidence, state guidance, and best practices into practical, accessible training content for behavioral health providers and CBO staff
Incorporate training feedback, fidelity data, and outcome measures into ongoing curriculum improvement in partnership with the Evaluation & QI Lead
Technical Assistance & Capacity Building
Provide ongoing, individualized technical assistance to an assigned caseload of community-based organizations across San Diego County
Coach CBO staff on the practical application of evidence-based practices, clinical workflows, and quality improvement strategies
Conduct organizational and workforce needs assessments to identify training and TA priorities specific to each organization’s population, staffing, and service model
Support CBOs in strengthening clinical and organizational capacity to deliver effective, culturally responsive behavioral health services
Build and maintain trusted, collaborative relationships with CBO leadership and direct service staff to encourage sustained engagement with training and TA offerings
Behavioral Health Systems Support
Stay current on the evidence base and California-specific guidance for SUD and co-occurring disorder treatment, including ASAM Criteria, Medi-Cal/CalAIM requirements, and DHCS guidance
Support the integration of peer support specialists and community health workers into clinical teams, including role-specific training on scope of practice and supervision models
Represent the TTA Center at community meetings, coalitions, and provider convenings to promote available trainings and TA resources
Document training attendance, TA contacts, outcomes, and related activities in required tracking systems for funder reporting
Contribute to other behavioral health training and TA projects as organizational needs and opportunities evolve
What We're Looking For
We’re looking for someone who brings strong behavioral health expertise, excellent facilitation skills, and a relationship-centered approach to training and technical assistance.
The ideal candidate is:
A strong trainer and facilitator who can make complex behavioral health content practical, engaging, and accessible
Experienced in substance use disorder treatment, co-occurring mental illness, and evidence-based practices
Comfortable coaching providers and CBO staff through real-world implementation challenges
Skilled at building credibility and trust with community partners, clinical teams, and organizational leaders
Responsive, collaborative, and organized in managing multiple relationships, trainings, and deliverables
Able to adapt communication and facilitation style for varied audiences, roles, literacy levels, and organizational contexts
Professionally mature, emotionally intelligent, and thoughtful in navigating complex community and behavioral health systems
Committed to continuous learning, feedback, and contributing to a positive, collegial, high-performing team culture
What You'll Bring
Master’s degree in social work, counseling, public health, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, licensure, and direct experience in SUD/co-occurring disorder treatment
Minimum of 5 years of direct clinical or programmatic experience in substance use disorder treatment and co-occurring mental illness
Hands-on experience applying evidence-based practices in behavioral health settings
Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating trainings, workshops, or learning collaboratives for behavioral health providers or CBO staff
Working knowledge of California’s Medi-Cal and CalAIM behavioral health delivery systems and how they apply to CBOs providing SUD and mental health services
Familiarity with California’s peer support specialist certification requirements and community health worker benefit and role structures
Strong facilitation, coaching, public speaking, relationship-building, and communication skills
Existing credibility within San Diego’s behavioral health or community-based organization community
Ability to be based in San Diego County and travel locally to CBO sites
Flexibility and interest in contributing to other behavioral health training and TA projects as capacity and organizational needs evolve
Preferred qualifications include:
Licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or similar, or certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor, CADC, or equivalent
Bilingual or multilingual skills, particularly languages relevant to San Diego’s behavioral health populations
Prior experience providing technical assistance or capacity-building support to CBOs, FQHCs, or county behavioral health providers
Experience with instructional design principles and adult learning theory
Familiarity with the ASAM Criteria and dual-diagnosis treatment models
Existing relationships with County Behavioral Health Services, Managed Care Plans, 211 San Diego/the Community Information Exchange, or San Diego behavioral health coalitions and provider associations
Lived experience related to behavioral health, substance use recovery, or the communities served
Why Join Our Team?
At Altarum, your work will support community-based organizations that are helping individuals and families access critical behavioral health services across San Diego County.
In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Lead meaningful training and technical assistance efforts that strengthen behavioral health systems
Help community-based organizations build the capacity to deliver effective, culturally responsive care
Translate evidence-based practices and California behavioral health guidance into practical tools providers can use
Build trusted relationships with CBOs, providers, and community partners
Collaborate with a mission-driven team that values integrity, accountability, humility, continuous growth, and excellence
Contribute to broader behavioral health initiatives as Altarum’s work continues to grow
If you’re an experienced behavioral health trainer, coach, and capacity-builder who wants to help strengthen services for underserved communities, we’d love to hear from you.
Where You'll Work
Remote in San Diego, CA
If you’re near one of our offices (Arlington, VA; Silver Spring, MD; or Novi, MI), you’ll be Hybrid and will join us in person one day every other month (6 times per year) for a fun, purpose-driven Collaboration Day. These days are filled with creative energy, meaningful connection, and team brainstorming.
Non-local employees will join these days virtually and may be asked to join us occasionally in-person.
Work Eligibility & Requirements
Candidates must be currently eligible to work in the United States; sponsorship is not available.
All work must be performed within the continental U.S. for the duration of employment, unless required by contract.
Ability to work core hours aligned with Eastern Time, unless otherwise approved by your manager.
Remote employees must maintain a dedicated, ergonomically appropriate workspace free from distractions, with reliable internet and a mobile device that supports efficient work.
Travel Requirements: <15%
Altarum is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the health of individuals with fewer financial resources and populations disenfranchised by the health care system. We work primarily on behalf of federal and state governments to design and implement solutions that achieve measurable results. We combine our expertise in public health and health care delivery with technology development and implementation, practice transformation, training and technical assistance, quality improvement, data analytics, and applied research and evaluation. Our innovative solutions and proven processes lead to better value and health for all.
Altarum is an equal opportunity employer that provides employment and opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
