Medical Director, Substance Use Programs

Physician Pivot; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 134,000 - 227,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Defined benefit pension plan

Generous time off

Career advancement

Job summary

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) seeks a Medical Director to lead Substance Use Programs within Behavioral Health Services. This senior role advises on clinical standards, service design, and cross-system coordination, reporting to the Associate Commissioner.

You will engage with staff, committees, and external partners to ensure high-quality, compliant care. The position emphasizes leadership, policy interpretation, and strategic guidance across programs, with opportunities for

Qualifications

• Clinical practice in addiction medicine or related behavioral health setting.
• Experience with public health, Medicaid, or government systems preferred.
• Ability to lead cross-system collaboration and advise executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide systems-level input on SUD matters and program design.
• Interpret clinical standards and regulatory requirements for SUD services.
• Collaborate with policy, quality, and operational staff to implement guidance.
• Lead cross-system committees and advisory groups related to substance use.
• Contribute expert input on training materials and clinical workflows.

Skills

addiction medicine

leadership

policy knowledge

clinical standards

Education

MD/DO

Board certification preferred

Job description

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Functional Title

Medical Director, Substance Use Programs

Job Title

Physician III

Agency

Health & Human Services Comm

Department

BH-MHSA Division Management

Posting Number

20958

Closing Date

12/03/2026

Posting Audience

Internal and External

Occupational Category

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Salary Range

$12,030.20- $20,346.06

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Salary Group

TEXAS-B-35

Shift

Day

Travel

Up to 5%

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Full Time/Part Time

Part time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt

Exempt

Job Location City

AUSTIN

Job Location Address

4601 W GUADALUPE ST

Other Locations

210X,42EX,42FX,42NX,44AX,44BX,44DX,44EX,44FX,44GX,44HX,44JX,44KX,44MX,44NX,44OX,44RX,44SX,44TX,44UX 44YX,44ZX,45AX,45BX,45EX,45GX,45NX,45PX,45SX,45UX,48AX,48GX,48OX,48RX,48VX,60A,60B,60C,60D,60H,60J 60K,60L,60N,60P,60S,60T,60V,61E,61F,61G,61H,61J,61K,61L,61M,61N,61P,61Q,61R,61U,61W,61Z,62A,62B,62Z 67F,67G,SEI12

Brief Job Description

The Substance Use Medical Director serves as a senior clinical advisor within Behavioral Health Services, applying addiction medicine expertise to issues affecting Substance Use services and reports to the Associate Commissioner of Substance Use Programs. Areas of focus include clinical standards, service design, provider expectations, program operations, quality and utilization considerations, policy implementation, and related regulatory matters. The work is collaborative, and the position supports organizational decision-making rather than serving as the owner of a single program or portfolio. The Substance Use Medical Director provides clinical interpretation and practical guidance on matters that affect service design, standards of care, provider expectations, program operations, and cross-system coordination. The position requires interaction with internal and external stakeholders, including program staff, formal workgroups, standing committees, leadership teams, contractors, and external partners. Activities include direct clinical input, participation in ongoing projects, review of materials and proposals, and engagement in committees, workgroups, and leadership activities.

Requirements

The position operates within Behavioral Health Services - Substance Use Programs and requires ongoing collaboration with the Community Mental Health Medical Director on shared Behavioral Health priorities, cross-system initiatives, and matters that benefit from coordinated medical leadership. The Substance Use Medical Director uses addiction medicine expertise, institutional knowledge, and leadership experience to promote consistent interpretation and application of clinical standards, policy requirements, program expectations, and operational practices. The position's scope extends beyond SU services when addiction medicine, behavioral health, or broader medical expertise is relevant. Examples include participation in, and support for, bodies such as the e-Health Advisory Committee, Institutional Review Board, Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee, cross-agency medical director collaborations, policy and rulemaking discussions, and other related initiatives.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

EJF1. Systems Support: Provides systems-level input on SUD-related matters, initiatives, and projects, including clinical standards, service design, provider expectations, implementation challenges, and broader program or leadership considerations. Reviews documents, training materials, presentations, policies, proposals, and related materials when clinical interpretation, addiction medicine expertise, or programmatic perspective is needed. Responds to discrete clinical, programmatic, or standards-related questions from staff, leadership, program areas, and partners, and helps clarify options, risks, and practical implications. (30%)

EJF2. Policy and Standards: Provides clinical interpretation of policies, rules, standards, program requirements, and regulatory matters affecting SUD services. Collaborates with policy, program, quality, regulatory, Medicaid, and operational staff to support the development, revision, implementation, and consistent application of SUD-related guidance. Contributes to policy, program, and operational guidance involving areas such as SUD rules, confidentiality requirements, telehealth, medication-related services, assessment and placement standards, provider guidance, and service delivery. (20%)

EJF3. Cross-System Collaboration: Participates in committees, workgroups, and cross-system activities that require substance use clinical expertise, addiction medicine perspective, or broader behavioral health medical input related to prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, and related system priorities. Contributes to these activities through discussion, review, interpretation, coordination, and collaboration with Substance Use Programs and other Behavioral Health Services areas, including Mental Health Programs, Behavioral Health Medicaid Programs, quality, policy, information technology, research, and related domains. Examples include participation in or support for the e-Health Advisory Committee, Institutional Review Board, Psychiatric Executive Formulary Committee, cross-agency medical director discussions, behavioral health integration efforts, and substance use or other behavioral health-related workgroups. (20%)

EJF4. Leadership Contribution: Participates in Substance Use Programs leadership activities and broader Behavioral Health Services or cross-program discussions when addiction medicine, substance use, or behavioral health medical perspective is relevant. Provides addiction medicine, clinical standards, programmatic, and operational perspective to support planning, prioritization, issue resolution, and decision-making. Uses institutional knowledge and prior leadership experience to help identify practical considerations, historical context, potential unintended consequences, and areas requiring coordination across programs. Supports responses to legislative, governmental, other government entities, providers, stakeholders, and external inquiries, including briefings, advisory support to executive leadership, and testimony-related preparation or participation when appropriate and when addiction medicine expertise or Substance Use Programs perspective is needed. (15%)

EJF5. Subject Matter Expertise: Maintains current knowledge of addiction medicine and related behavioral health and medical developments affecting Substance Use services across prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery, including evidence-based practices, clinical standards, service-delivery models, emerging substances and trends, and issues involving co-occurring conditions or primary care interfaces. Supports education, technical assistance, presentation development, training material review, and knowledge sharing for staff, leadership, workgroups, providers, contractors, and other stakeholders when addiction medicine expertise, clinical standards interpretation, clinical workflow perspective, or Substance Use Programs perspective is needed. Provides input on clinical workflows and related subject areas such as screening, assessment, referral and engagement pathways, ASAM-related standards and placement considerations, medications for substance use disorders, withdrawal management, overdose prevention, co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions, behavioral health integration, primary care and behavioral health interfaces, special populations, recovery supports, and emerging substances or trends. (15%)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

Knowledge Of

• Knowledge of publicly funded behavioral health and healthcare systems, including how substance use services intersect with mental health, Medicaid, quality, policy, regulatory, contract, and operational functions.
• Knowledge of addiction medicine principles and evidence-based approaches across the substance use prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery continuum.
• Knowledge of clinical standards, service design, quality management, utilization standards, clinical workflows, assessment, screening and placement practices, and related service-delivery expectations.
• Knowledge of medications for substance use disorders, withdrawal management, overdose prevention, emerging substances and trends, special populations and recovery supports.
• Knowledge of co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions, behavioral health integration, and primary care and behavioral health interfaces.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, policies, confidentiality requirements and program requirements affecting substance use and behavioral health services.

Skill In

• Skill in analyzing complex clinical, programmatic, operational, policy, regulatory and system issues and developing practical recommendations.
• Skill in interpreting and applying clinical standards, service delivery expectations, laws, regulations, policies and program requirements.
• Skill in providing expert addiction medicine analysis, clinical standards interpretation and subject-matter support on complex substance use and behavioral health matters.
• Skill in developing, reviewing and presenting training materials, presentations, guidance documents and related educational or technical assistance materials.
• Skill in facilitating collaboration, consensus building and issue resolution among multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Skill in communicating complex medical, clinical standards, program and policy information to executive leadership, staff, providers, contractors, legislative or governmental entities, outside organizations and external stakeholders.

Ability To

• Ability to apply physician credentials, addiction medicine expertise, and leadership experience to establish credibility and provide informed recommendations on substance use and behavioral health matters.
• Ability to synthesize complex clinical, operational, programmatic and policy information and identify practical implications for programs, providers and stakeholders.
• Ability to support strategic planning, policy development, program implementation, clinical standards interpretation and organizational decision-making.
• Ability to work effectively across program, policy, operational, clinical, administrative, legislative, governmental, provider, contractor and external stakeholder environments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with leadership, staff, providers, contractors, governmental entities, outside organizations and external partners.
• Ability to communicate with clarity, credibility and professional judgment in written materials, presentations, technical assistance, briefings, meetings, legislative or governmental inquiries and stakeholder discussions.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements Or Certifications

Current unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Texas.

Board certification in at least one medical specialty relevant to the duties of the position, or ability to obtain board certification within a specified period after hire as determined by the hiring manager is required. Board certification in Addiction Medicine through the American Board of Preventive Medicine, legacy certification through the American Board of Addiction Medicine, or board certification in Addiction Psychiatry is preferred.

Initial Screening Criteria

Clinical practice experience in addiction medicine, substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health, primary care, emergency or acute care, public health, preventive medicine, or another relevant medical practice setting required. Experience providing direct substance use disorder services and/or programmatic oversight in an addiction treatment, behavioral health or related service delivery setting preferred. Experience working in government, Medicaid, publicly funded behavioral health, managed care or other systems responsible for substance use or behavioral health policy preferred.

Additional Information

n/a

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, And Veterans

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks And Work Eligibility

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer

This position may be eligible for telework. Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.