Behavioral Health Medical Director

Voices for Voices; Salinas, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 333,000 - 366,000; Full time

Job summary

Monterey County Health Department is seeking a Behavioral Health Medical Director to lead the Medical Services Team and oversee psychiatry services for the Behavioral Health Bureau. The role requires directing medical care, providing consultation, and ensuring high-quality behavioral health services across the county.

The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership in behavioral health, strong psychiatry expertise, and the ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to improve

Qualifications

• Five years of progressive leadership in behavioral health settings.
• Clinical and administrative leadership experience required.
• Strong knowledge of psychiatry and modern medical practice.

Responsibilities

• Direct the medical services team and oversee psychiatry services.
• Provide consultation, training and support to internal and contract staff.
• Develop medical protocols and procedures as needed.
• Review medical issues, respond to clinical matters, and advise leadership.
• Provide psychiatric care and treat patients served by the bureau.
• Prepare statistical, contract monitoring and quality assurance reports.
• Lead recruitment for staff psychiatrists.

Skills

Leadership

Psychiatry knowledge

Program management

Communication skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

MD/DO

CA Medical License

Board Certified Psychiatry

Tools

SMHS knowledge

DMC-ODS familiarity

Job description

A Drug- Free Workplace

Invites your interest for the position ofBehavioral Health Medical Director $29,877 – $32,779 per Month

The County of Monterey Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau is seeking an experienced professional for the position of Behavioral Health Medical Director.

The County encompasses some of California’s most stunning scenery and offers an ideal year-round Mediterranean climate.Miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, redwood groves, low rolling foothills, and scenic valleysarecharacteristicsthatcontributetothequalityoflifeenjoyedbyover430,000residentsandthethousandsof tourists who visit year-round.Monterey County boasts world-renowned attractions such as the spectacular Big Sur Coast, Pinnacles National Park, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and the Steinbeck Center. It's also home to LagunaSecaRacewayandworld-famousgolfcoursesincludingPebbleBeach,SpanishBay,andPoppyHills.TheCounty hostsannualeventsincludingMontereyJazzFestival,SeaOtterClassic,Concoursd’Elegance,andtheCaliforniaRodeo.

Encompassing a total land area of 3,324 square miles, Monterey is the 16th largest of California’s 58 counties and has aneconomylargelybased onagricultureand tourism.Itincludes12incorporatedcitiesand16unincorporatedareas. TheCity ofSalinasis theCountyseatanditslargestmunicipality.Knownas the“SaladBowl of theWorld,”theSalinas Valley is abundant with lush produce fields and thriving vineyards.There are several major educational institutions including California State University at Monterey Bay, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, the DefenseLanguageInstitute(DLI)andPresidio ofMonterey,NavalPostgraduateSchool(NPS),MontereyPeninsula College, and Hartnell College.

The County of Monterey has approximately 5,800 employees with an adopted budget of $2.23 billion for fiscal year 25/26.Monterey is a general law County, and the governing body is the Board of Supervisors which is comprised of an elected representative from each of the five voting districts within the County. The Board is elected to alternating four-year terms with elections conducted in odd numbered years.The Board appoints the County Administrative Officer who oversees County operations. The County also has five elected department heads including: Assessor/Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, and Treasurer-Tax Collector.

The Health Department is dedicated to community wellness and health protection for County residents. The Department provides a wide range of programs, services and administration within its various bureaus/divisions consisting ofAdministration, Animal Services, Behavioral Health, Clinic Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, Environmental Health, Public Administrator/Conservator/Guardian, and Public Health.Currently, the Department overseesmultipleprogramswithapproximately1,280employeeslocatedatmorethan30sitesthroughouttheCounty and has an adopted budget of $456 million for fiscal year 25/26.

The BehavioralHealthBureauisaprogressiveagencythatserveschildren,youth,adults,olderadultsandtheirfamilies with System of Care values of being community based, culturally relevant, client and family centered and using evidence-basedpracticestosupportclientsinthewellnessandrecoveryoftheirmentalillness,substanceusedisorder, and co-occurring conditions. The Bureau has 510 employees, contracts with a large community-based provider network, and manages an adopted fiscal year 25/26 budget of $191 million. As the County Mental Health Plan (MHP) provider of Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS), and Substance Use Disorder Services provided by the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS), the Bureau provides a network of care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and the safety net population.

The Behavioral Health Medical Director reports directly to the Bureau Chief and is the leader of the Medical Services Team which is comprised of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, nurses, and medical assistants. This position oversees the provision of medical / psychiatry services provided by the Bureau’s network of care. In addition to overseeing and providing direct psychiatry services, the Medical Director provides consultation services, support and training internally to Bureau personnel as well as externally with contract agencies, Managed Care Plan (MCP), Social Services, and other health care providers in Monterey County. The Medical Director will work closely with the Bureau Chief, other members of Executive Leadership and Quality Teams on implementation of strategic initiatives and overall system improvements.

The new Medical Director must embody the values of a mission-driven leader that understands the County's role in the delivery of services equitably across the County. A sense of ethics and organizational loyalty are additional values expected in this role. This position requires exceptional leadership, management and administration skills, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and services that best meet the unique needs of clients, many with complex needs, in a way that maximizes revenue for services rendered with a focus on ensuring equitable care.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about serving the public and mission oriented in improving community wellness and overall health outcomes of clients served. The ideal candidate will also possess an operational style inclusive of effective communication with internal and external stakeholders, proven professional competence, effective leadership, collaboration and respectful conduct.

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.

Examples of Duties:

• Directs BHB’s quality assurance program as required by state regulations to participate or delegate participation in all required review processes such as medication monitoring, quality assurance, utilization review, etc.
• Monitors the medical aspects of all directly operated and contract services as deemed necessary and/or appropriate by the Bureau Chief. Provides training and consultation support to internal and external health care providers in Monterey County.
• Advises and consults with the BHB Chief, Deputy Directors and Program Managers on routine functioning, problems and proposals related to all medical services team personnel.
• Develops appropriate medical protocols and procedures as deemed necessary.
• Receives, reviews, and responds to problems, complaints or proposals regarding clinical matters involving medical services as submitted by the staff or management personnel and consults with appropriate administrative personnel regarding such matters.
• Provides psychiatric care and treatment to clients served by the BHB.
• Prepares statistical reports, contract monitoring and quality assurance reports
• Leads recruitment efforts for and assists in the selection of staff psychiatrists.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Willhavea proventrackrecorddemonstratingthefollowingknowledge,skills,andabilities:

ThoroughKnowledgeof:

• Principlesandpracticesinvolvedindiagnosingandtreatingpsychiatricdisorders.
• Currentdevelopmentsinthe fieldofpsychiatry.
• Principlesandpracticesofmodernmedicine.

SomeKnowledgeof:

OrganizationandproceduresassociatedwithSMHSandDMC-ODS.

Skill andAbilityto:

• Analyze,evaluateanddrawlogicalconclusionsfrom extremelycomplexdata.
• Treatpsychiatricpatients.
• Writetopreparecomprehensiveand concisereportsandpatientrecords.
• Establishandmaintain effectiveworkrelationshipswithstaff, patientsandotherscontactedinthecourseof work.
• Communicateorallyonaone-to-onebasisorspeakbeforegroups.
• Readandgainaworkingknowledgeofstatelawsgoverningbehavioralhealthqualityassuranceprograms.

DesirableQualifications:

• Ability tospeak,read,andwriteeffectivelyinEnglishandSpanish

EXAMPLESOFEXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/TRAINING

Anycombination oftraining,educationand/or experiencewhichprovides theknowledge,skillsandabilitiesand requiredconditionsofemploymentisqualifying.Anexampleofawaytheserequirementsmightbeacquiredis:

Experience:

• Fiveyearsofincreasinglyresponsibleexperience providingclinicalandadministrativeleadershipwithin behavioral health settings.

CONDITIONSOFEMPLOYMENT:

• Successfullycompleteabackgroundchecktoincludefingerprinting.
• PossessandmaintainavalidCaliforniaClassC driver’slicenseor theabilitytoprovidesuitabletransportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Beavailabletowork aflexibleschedule,includingevenings,weekends, holidays, andduringtimesofdisaster and/or emergency.
• PursuanttoSection2000oftheBusinessand ProfessionalCode, thefollowinglicensurerequirementsmust be met by incumbents of this class:
  • License: Possession ofavalidPhysicianand SurgeonCertificate issued bytheBoardofMedical Examiners of the State of California
  • AND
  • Current certification or eligibility for certification as a Psychiatrist issued by the American Board of Psychiatry (evidenceofeligibilityforcertificationmaybeprovided by the SecretaryoftheAmerican Board of Psychiatry).

BENEFITS:

TheCounty of Monterey offersanexcellent benefits package.Pleasevisitourwebsitetoviewthebenefitsavailable to County of Monterey employees. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review whichmay includeareviewofinformationconcerningpresentand/or prior employment,drivingrecord,and record of any criminal convictions.

Employment iscontingentupon acceptabledocumentationverifyingidentityandauthorizationfor employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.

Ifyouarehiredintothisclassificationina temporaryposition,yourrateofpay willbe hourly,andyou will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

EQUALOPPORTUNITYANDREASONABLEACCOMMODATION:

MontereyCounty isadrug-freeworkplaceandan equal opportunityemployer.TheCounty seekscandidates whocan make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity.Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Jeremy Hathaway, Human Resources Analyst I, at (831) 755 – 4749 or [e-mail].