SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (SPECIALIST)

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 127,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment bonus

Retention stipend

Referral bonus

Job summary

California Correctional Health Care Services seeks a Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (Specialist) at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, CA. The role oversees suicide prevention efforts, training, risk evaluations, and audits to improve mental health services in the institution.

Travel is required; the position is a 12-month limited term full-time assignment with potential extension. Applicants must pass the required examination and meet MQs for the classification.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates the institution's suicide prevention program, including training and risk evaluations.
• Performs internal reviews of suicide attempts and completed suicides, and conducts audits to improve practices.
• Oversees the Mental Health Program's training activities and the psychological assessment program.
• Maintains order and safety of the incarcerated, with some travel required.

Job description

Job Posting:Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (Specialist) - Pelican Bay State Prison

California Correctional Health Care Services

JC-534697 -

JC-534697 - Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (Specialist) - Pelican Bay State Prison
SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (SPECIALIST)

$11,369.00 - $14,633.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/22/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 19, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 hours PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes.

Limited Term 12 months; may be extended up to 24 months or become permanent.

Please be advised of the following additional pay benefits individuals may be eligible for:

• Recruitment and Retention Bonus may be available for clinicians newly hired with California Correctional Health Care Services.
• Please note: Individuals may be eligible to receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend should they meet the eligibility criteria, including but not limited to remaining employed with CCHCS for six months. Additionally, individuals may be eligible to receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year with CCHCS (totaling $20,000), should they meet the eligibility criteria.
• IMPORTANT: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus should you be selected for hire, and remain employed with CCHCS for 90 days. For a CDCR/CCHCS employee to be considered, a questionnaire must be completed to the best of your knowledge, including the referring employee’s name, classification, PERNR, and work location. The questionnaire will be provided to the selected candidate during the pre‑employment process.

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Chief Psychologist, Correctional Facility (CF) or Chief of Mental Health Services, the Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist), Suicide Prevention, Training and Assessment Coordinator coordinates the institution’s suicide prevention program, including training, suicide risk evaluations, internal reviews of suicide attempts and completed suicides, and institutional audits, reviews, and improvement of suicide prevention practices. The Senior Psychologist, CF, (Specialist) also coordinates and monitors the Mental Health Program’s training activities and has oversight of the psychological assessment program. The Senior Psychologist, CF (Specialist), maintains order and supervises the conduct of the incarcerated and protects and maintains the safety of persons and property. Some travel is required.

To obtain list eligibility for the Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (Specialist), before applying for the position, you must first take and pass the examination:

Exam Bulletin - Senior Psychologist, CF (Spec)

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (SPECIALIST)

Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (Specialist) - Pelican Bay State Prison

Classification:

SENIOR PSYCHOLOGIST, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (SPECIALIST) $11,369.00 - $14,633.00 P New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

Telework:

In Office

Job Type:

12 Month Limited Term - Full Time

Facility:

Pelican Bay State Prison

Department Information

This advertisement is for aSenior Psychologist, Correctional Facility(Specialist),position located atPelican Bay State Prison (PBSP)inCrescent City, CAlocated inDel Norte County.

Please Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure you have a valid email address on your application.

This advertisement is for aSenior Psychologist, Correctional Facility(Specialist),position located atPelican Bay State Prison (PBSP)inCrescent City, CAlocated inDel Norte County. You must indicateJC-534697and position number on your application:394-220-9287-XXX. Please Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure you have a valid email address on your application. Located along the Pacific coast, among redwoods and pristine rivers, and just 20 miles from the Oregon border, Pelican Bay State Prison's (PBSP) mission is to provide constitutional medical, dental, and mental health care, in a timely, safe, and efficient manner, while addressing preventative health services, chronic disease management, and public health issues, to reduce unnecessary morbidity and mortality, and protect public health by providing patients timely access to safe, efficient, medical care and coordinate the delivery of medical care with mental health, dental, and disability programs. Primary care services are delivered to the outpatient population through six primary care clinics that operate daily. PBSP has a Correctional Treatment Center (CTC) for inpatient services, and an Urgent Treatment Area (UTA) both operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Vision

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission

To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug‑free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to transforming the correctional landscape to create safer, more professional, and more fulfilling environments for our employees, the incarcerated population, and those supervised in our communities. Through systemwide improvements grounded in proven and emerging practices, we aim to strengthen rehabilitation, enhance workplace satisfaction, and support successful reentry into the community through our institutions, parole, and community partnerships. Our shared mission is to promote safety, wellness, and human dignity while fostering positive change for all those who live and work within our institutions and communities.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to building an inclusive respectful workplace. We are determined to attract and hire candidates from all communities and empower employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts at all levels of the Department.

Across our organization, our programs work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR and CCHCS mission.

Do not include any confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your State application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility, examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver’s license number will automatically be redacted upon submission.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board.

Candidates new to CCHCS are required to submit to a background investigation process utilizing Live Scan Fingerprinting.

Tuberculosis (TB) testing is required for candidates new to CCHCS prior to appointment followed by department annual TB testing/evaluation thereafter.

When submitting supporting documents, PDF file format is preferred.

CCHCS utilizes E-Verify to confirm candidate’s identity and employment authorization. For more information about E-Verify, you may go to www.e-verify.gov .

Employment History on the STD 678must be complete and include dates, accurate hours per week, total time worked, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors.

To prepare for the State Application process, please visit Work4CA: State Application Checklist .

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://cchcs.ca.gov/careers

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s)to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
CCHCS EEO Office
(000) -
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Information

Priority consideration will be given to Reemployment, Departmental Restriction of Appointment (DROA), State Restriction of Appointment (SROA), and Surplus candidates.

All methods of appointments may be considered.

CCHCS accepts electronic applications. If interested, please submit an electronic application (STD 678) and resume through your CalCareer account at www.jobs.ca.gov. Your application must be submitted on or before the above Final Filing Date.

Paper App (If unable to submit an electronic application): To apply for this position, you may submit a Standard State Application (STD 678) and resume, along with copies of your most recent performance report, college transcripts/college diploma (if applicable) and license/certification (if applicable) to the contact person listed above.

PLEASE NOTE: All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications (MQ's) of the classification, per SPB Rule 250. Possession of MQs for list eligible applicants will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet MQs, the necessary steps will be taken to have the applicant's name withheld from the eligibility list.

This advertisement may be used for other LIMITED TERM/FULLTIMEvacancies that may occur at this location during the life of this recruitment.

Resumes will be accepted in addition to the required STD. 678.

The term VAR and/or XXX in the position number indicates that multiple vacancies may exist for this classification.

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug‑free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.