Kitsap Mental Health Services Careers

Cooperative Engagement Specialist

Hiring Range: $29.58 – $36.97 Per Hour

Benefits:
• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Coverage: Enjoy extensive health, dental, and vision benefits to support your well-being, with access to top-tier care and services.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Take advantage of up to 19 days of paid time off (PTO), plus 2 mental health days and 10 paid holidays in your first year, giving you the time you need to recharge and take care of yourself. (Pro-rated for part-time employees.)
• YMCA Membership: Take advantage of a fully employer-paid YMCA membership for you and your eligible family members (adult spouse/partner and children under 26). With waived joining fees, access to local facilities, and 24/7 virtual classes through Y360, it’s a powerful resource to support your health and wellness.
• Company-Paid Life & Disability Insurance: We’ve got you covered with short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance, all provided at no cost to you, so you can feel secure in every situation.
• Student Loan Assistance & Professional Development: Benefit from student loan repayment assistance and a commitment to your growth with extensive training and development opportunities to advance your career.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan: Take control of your future with a wide range of investment options in our 403(b) plan. Depending on eligibility, you could also receive generous company contributions to help grow your retirement savings.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access confidential support through our EAP, offering resources for personal and professional challenges, including counseling, financial advice, and more.
• Pets Best Pet Insurance: Keep your furry family members healthy with comprehensive pet insurance for your cats and dogs, covering a variety of treatments and services.
• 2MorrowHealth Behavioral Change App: Improve your mental and physical well-being with free access to 2MorrowHealth, a powerful app designed to support healthy behavior changes and wellness goals.
• Dynamic, Collaborative Team Environment: Join an incredible team that thrives on collaboration, creativity, and support, where every voice is heard and every idea valued.

Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) is hiring a Cooperative Engagement Specialist to strengthen our partnerships with colleges, universities, and community education programs by coordinating student placement opportunities and managing affiliation agreements. In this pivotal role, you’ll connect future professionals to hands-on learning experiences while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and agency policies. You’ll collaborate across departments to align intern and volunteer efforts with KMHS’s workforce needs, helping to build a sustainable and engaged talent pipeline that supports the mission of delivering exceptional behavioral health care to our community.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and oversee all student placement, intern, and volunteer programs, ensuring a high-quality, compliant learning experience.
• Manage Student Affiliation Agreements and act as the primary liaison with educational partners across Washington State.
• Develop session schedules, placement plans, and supervision assignments for all internship programs.
• Ensure documentation of intern sessions and training is complete, accurate, and submitted on time.
• Support the integration of evidence-based practices into day-to-day intern and volunteer activities.
• Maintain up-to-date program information, ensuring compliance with all RCWs, WACs, and KMHS policies.
• Track intern hours and training progress while ensuring data accuracy for reporting and compliance.
• Collaborate with higher education faculty, program directors, and internal KMHS leaders to promote strong partnerships and meaningful placements.
• Evaluate program performance through data collection, continuous improvement, and reporting.
• Partner with Recruiting and HR teams to align internship opportunities with agency workforce needs and create cross-training pathways into employment.
• Lead the vetting, onboarding, and compliance processes for volunteers and contract workers to ensure agency and state regulatory alignment.
• Participate in cross-training to gain familiarity with recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding practices to strengthen intern-to-employee transition processes.
• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and compliance with HIPAA, FERPA, and other privacy standards.

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Human Resources, or a related field.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 2 years of job-related experience in the mental health environment, or direct supervision of an intern program

Preferred Qualifications:

EXPERIENCE: Minimum 5 years of job-related experience, and or managing an intern program.

LICENSES/CREDENTIALS: SHRM-CP or PHR

Performance Requirements:

KNOWLEDGE:

1. Knowledge of medical terminology.
2. Knowledge of RCWs and WACs governing Mental Health Counselors.
3. Knowledge of general administrative and clerical procedures.
4. Knowledge of confidentiality standards including FERPA, HIPAA, and KMHS Oath of Confidentiality.

SKILLS:

1. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, clients, partner organizations, and the public.
2. Strong oral and written communication skills.
3. Strong interpersonal skills, including courtesy, tact, and diplomacy, with the ability to exchange information and resolve issues effectively.
4. Proficiency with computers, including the ability to navigate Microsoft Office and related software.

ABILITIES:

1. Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical and professional standards.
2. Ability to work effectively in stressful situations (e.g., supporting clients in crisis, managing multiple calls or requests).
3. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
4. Ability to adapt to changing demands, situations, and diverse populations with flexibility and professionalism.

Equipment Operated: Standard office equipment including computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, telephones, etc.

Work Environment: Frequent mobility and/or sitting required for extended periods.

Mental/Physical Requirements:  While performing the job duties, the employee must walk, sit, use hands and fingers, reach with arms, talk, or listen.

Our recruitment processes are designed to prevent discrimination against our people regardless of gender identity or orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any aspect which makes someone unique.