Psychologist 4

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Louisiana, Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health in Baton Rouge, seeks a Psychologist 4 to provide statewide leadership over forensic and inpatient behavioral health systems. This role emphasizes program oversight, policy development, and collaboration with agencies to improve care quality and patient placement.

Qualified candidates hold a current Louisiana psychology license and at least two years of relevant experience in research, testing, or counseling;

Qualifications

• Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice psychology and two years of experience in psychological research, testing, or counseling.

Responsibilities

• Provides statewide leadership and oversight of forensic and inpatient behavioral health programs, ensuring quality, compliance, and effective service delivery across multiple facilities.
• Serves as Divisional Supervisory Monitor for contracted hospitals, overseeing continued stay approvals, clinical quality, and operational performance.
• Leads complex case coordination for individuals with significant behavioral health needs, ensuring appropriate placement and access to care across Louisiana’s inpatient system.
• Functions as a subject matter expert on judicial commitments, forensic services, and complex psychiatric cases, advising leadership, legal teams, and external stakeholders.
• Reviews and evaluates judicial commitment petitions statewide, providing clinical guidance and recommendations to support appropriate patient placement and legal action.
• Directs the statewide 648(b) civil commitment evaluation process, including oversight of court-ordered evaluations, physician coordination, and compliance with legal timelines and requirements.
• Manages Louisiana’s juvenile competency restoration program, providing supervision, training oversight, and coordination of services across multiple regions and provider networks.
• Collaborates with state agencies, local governing entities (LGEs), legal partners, and courts to resolve complex cases and improve coordination across behavioral health and justice systems.
• Analyzes legislation, develops policy recommendations, and contributes to program
• Represents OBH in meetings, legislative discussions, and interagency initiatives, while supporting contracts, grants, and special projects that expand and improve behavioral health

Skills

Psychology experience

Education

Louisiana psychology licensure

Job description

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

Learn more about the Louisiana Department of Health

Make a direct impact on behavioral health outcomes across Louisiana communities. Join a mission-driven team addressing critical mental health needs across the state. This position serves within the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) Medical Director’s Office and provides leadership over Louisiana’s statewide forensic and inpatient behavioral health systems, including oversight of East Louisiana Mental Health System and Central Louisiana State Hospital, as well as partner facilities.

This Psychologist 4 position focuses on program oversight, coordination, and system-level impact and does not involve providing direct clinical services.

The role drives key statewide initiatives. It ensures compliance with federal requirements, overseeing programs such as juvenile competency restoration and civil commitment processes, and monitoring clinical quality, safety, and patient placement across inpatient systems. The position also collaborates with multiple agencies and stakeholders to support a coordinated, effective system of care.

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice psychology followed by two years of experience in psychological research, testing, or counseling.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

• Provides statewide leadership and oversight of forensic and inpatient behavioral health programs, ensuring quality, compliance, and effective service delivery across multiple facilities.
• Serves as Divisional Supervisory Monitor for contracted hospitals, including East Louisiana Mental Health System and Central Louisiana State Hospital, overseeing continued stay approvals, clinical quality, and operational performance.
• Leads complex case coordination for individuals with significant behavioral health needs, ensuring appropriate placement and access to care across Louisiana’s inpatient system.
• Functions as a subject matter expert on judicial commitments, forensic services, and complex psychiatric cases, advising leadership, legal teams, and external stakeholders.
• Reviews and evaluates judicial commitment petitions statewide, providing clinical guidance and recommendations to support appropriate patient placement and legal action.
• Directs the statewide 648(b) civil commitment evaluation process, including oversight of court-ordered evaluations, physician coordination, and compliance with legal timelines and requirements.
• Manages Louisiana’s juvenile competency restoration program, providing supervision, training oversight, and coordination of services across multiple regions and provider networks.
• Collaborates with state agencies, local governing entities (LGEs), legal partners, and courts to resolve complex cases and improve coordination across behavioral health and justice systems.
• Analyzes legislation, develops policy recommendations, and contributes to program
• Represents OBH in meetings, legislative discussions, and interagency initiatives, while supporting contracts, grants, and special projects that expand and improve behavioral health

Position-Specific Details:

Location: Office of Behavioral Health/Executive/East Baton Rouge Parish

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a Probationary appointment.

Cost Center: 3301010102

Position Number(s): 50417940

This organization participates in E-verify, and for more information on E-verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218.

LDH supports Louisiana’s commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available here.

LDH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit a highly productive and diverse workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.