Behavioral Health Medical Director

Position Information

Starting salary up to $344,687/annually,
and a comprehensive benefits package, PLUS a $25,000 Signing Bonus^

View our recruitment brochure here.

Sonoma County offers an exceptional quality of life with its stunning landscapes, outdoor recreational opportunities, and proximity to San Francisco and Oakland. Known for its vibrant community, excellent schools, and affordable living, it is a perfect place to raise a family. Professionals will find career growth opportunities within a collaborative environment and benefit from generous perks, including a pension program. The County provides a unique chance to impact community health positively while enjoying a balanced and enriching lifestyle.

Department of Health Services

The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services (DHS) is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of Sonoma County residents. DHS consists of four divisions: Administration, Behavioral Health, Homelessness, and Public Health, and provides a wide range of services, including public health programs, behavioral health services, and environmental health initiatives. Key functions include disease prevention, health education, emergency preparedness, services to end homelessness, and support for mental health and substance use disorders. The department also ensures the safety of food, water, and the environment. Through these comprehensive services, DHS aims to enhance community health, prevent illness, and improve access to healthcare for all residents.

Behavioral Health Division

Our mission is to promote recovery and wellness to Sonoma County residents. We provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services across the service spectrum, from prevention, early intervention, and treatment to aftercare and recovery. These services are delivered directly or in partnership with community-based agencies, ensuring a holistic approach to wellness.

The Department of Health Services Behavioral Health Division provides the following Services:

• Crisis Services
• Mental Health Services
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment & Recovery Services
• Peer Run Self-Help Centers

The Position

The Behavioral Health Medical Director, for one of Sonoma County's largest departments, has a vital leadership role responsible for overseeing and managing a team of psychiatrists providing care to a diverse community. They are a member of management, supervising a team of approximately 20 psychiatrists, both full-time and part-time, within a large division of over 300 employees. The new director will be at the forefront of quality clinical care and will implement expanded services with a new Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS), which creates a continuum of care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Shaping the Division's direction and integrating primary care and behavioral health services.
• Clinical Oversight: Lead clinical services, ensuring high-quality care in the Crisis Stabilization Unit and medication support programs.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and oversee the peer review process for proper prescription practices.
• Team Management: Hire, supervise, and guide psychiatric providers, addressing personnel issues to maintain a high-functioning team.
• Crisis Management: Support the Crisis Stabilization Unit and provide after-hours consultations for urgent needs.
• Collaboration and External Relations: Enhance service delivery through partnerships with community organizations and external agencies.
• Organizational Development: Develop and refine procedures and workflows, and provide training in the use of electronic health records (EHR).
• Leadership and Advocacy: Advocate for mental health needs and contribute to policy development in alignment with state mandates and organization goals.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for the Behavioral Health Medical Director position will be a licensed psychiatrist with extensive clinical experience in behavioral health, preferably as a provider working with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders across various age groups, including youth, adults, and elders. Exceptional leadership, organizational, and administrative skills are essential to oversee a team of psychiatrists and fit into the broader organizational structure and strategy.

The ideal candidate should also possess a strong, diplomatic, team-oriented approach, as they will be joining an established and well-functioning team. The ability to maintain continuity while providing fresh perspectives and leadership will be crucial.

Key attributes and qualifications:

• Clinical Expertise: Extensive experience with serious mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders, trauma-informed care, and addiction medicine.
• Leadership and Management: Proven ability to manage medical teams, hire and supervise providers, and oversee compliance and peer review processes. Experience fostering a collaborative, trust-based team environment.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of relevant state mandates and regulatory requirements, including SB Bill 43, Proposition 1, and Care Court.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using EHR and supporting medical staff in their use.
• Collaborative and Diplomatic: Strong communication and diplomatic skills, maintaining a positive and inclusive work culture. Ability to handle high-pressure situations and manage crises effectively.
• Integrity and Accountability: Uphold high ethical standards, transparency, and accountability. Ability to build trust and use strengths-based leadership approach.
• Completed Coursework/Continuing Education in Addiction Medicine: Upon hire, candidate will be expected to complete five hours of continuing medical education in Addiction Medicine annually.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Behavioral Health Practices: In-depth knowledge of current practices, the Recovery Model, strength-based treatment, and the integration of primary care and behavioral health systems.
• Clinical and Operational Management: Expertise in diagnosis, treatment, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
• Strategic Planning and Evaluation: Ability to plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate services, implement treatment methods, and develop goals and objectives.

What We Offer

The Department of Health Services is currently offering a $25,000 signing bonus paid over three installments during the first two years of service.

Other incentives which may be offered, if applicable, include:

• Advanced paid vacation and/or sick leave (up to 24 hours per leave type)
• Relocation reimbursement up to $10,000

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework - A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Education: Graduation from an approved medical school and satisfactory completion of a three year psychiatric residency approved by the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association.

Experience: Five years of experience in clinical psychiatry, or community behavioral health services, of which three years experience is in a highly responsible administrative, teaching, or supervisory capacity. Public sector experience is desired.

Special Requirement: Possession of a valid license as a physician and surgeon issued by the State of California and a valid certificate in psychiatry issued by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or written evidence of successful completion of a psychiatry residency.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of: current practices in behavioral health including the Recovery Model, strength-based treatment, consumer/family-oriented services, and integration of primary care and behavioral health systems; principles and practices of general and preventive psychiatry; principles and practices in the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health and substance use disorders, including evidence-based practices in the behavioral health field; psychiatric medications and their interaction with other prescription drugs; general medicine and its relationship to mental illness and substance use disorders; research methods and practices in the behavioral health field; current practices in the field of quality assurance and quality improvement.

Considerable knowledge of: current laws, standards, and regulations that govern the provision of behavioral health services in the public sector, especially in California; the legal environment affecting psychiatric practice; principles and practices of clinical supervision and training; program planning and development principles; and general budgeting, monitoring, and cost accountability.

Knowledge of: community behavioral health program goals and limitations; community organizations as related to behavioral health and medical services; modern management principles and practices; organizational dynamics, conflict resolution, and behavior and performance management; and public administration practices related to personnel management.

Ability to: plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate behavioral health services; determine clinical and medical needs of community behavioral health programs; formulate, implement, and evaluate treatment methods and procedures; practice psychiatry in a community behavioral health delivery system; refer to local and regional providers of social, medical, and/or other specialized services; maintain currency in and apply knowledge of treatment modalities, medications, and laws governing psychiatric practice; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Health Services Division Director, the division's section managers, program managers, and staff, other County managers, community groups, other public agencies, medical professionals, behavioral health consumer and family advocacy groups, and the general public; provide clinical leadership and consultation to division staff and the staff of contracted organizations and partnering agencies; prepare clear and comprehensive reports; determine and evaluate levels of achievement and performance; secure cooperation and teamwork among professional and/or support staff; plan and conduct effective in-service training programs; maintain confidentiality of information; understand program objectives in relation to departmental goals and procedures; collect and analyze data to establish/identify needs and evaluate program effectiveness; develop goals and objectives; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: BH
HR Technician: RR

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

283,597

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