Director of Behavioral Health (Psychiatrist - MD/DO)

About the role

The Director of Behavioral Health is a physician, board certified in psychiatry, who leads Central Health's Behavioral Health service line. This role oversees care for adults with mental illness and co‑occurring disorders (substance abuse, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and medical illness) within the Central Health system and provides direct patient care via face‑to‑face visits or telehealth video visits.

Responsibilities

• Leads Central Health's Behavioral Health service line.
• Oversees care provided to adults with mental illness and co‑occurring disorders throughout the Central Health system.
• Works closely with the clinical leadership team to review, recommend, and implement clinical protocols, performance objectives, productivity benchmarks, compliance measures, provider workflows, and best practices for the Behavioral Health service line.
• Collaborates with partner organizations to create a progressive integrated system of care.
• Provides direct patient care to referred patients via face‑to‑face visits or telehealth video visits.
• Supervises advanced practice providers, residents, fellows, and students in mental health in accordance with Texas Medical Board regulations and Central Health policy.
• Ensures optimal patient care that follows federal, state, and local requirements.
• Develops partnerships to ensure staff deliver care within their scope of practice and adhere to regulatory requirements and evidence‑based practices.
• Demonstrates expertise in relevant medical practices, protocols, trends, and best practices in mental health care.
• Coordinates with primary care service lines and multidisciplinary team members to establish information and referral systems.
• Ensures care is provided through an integrated medical model.
• Coordinates with other departments, agencies, councils, and community organizations to create and maintain an integrated system of care.
• Oversees the development and maintenance of policies and procedures to meet various goals and objectives.
• Monitors metrics to ensure services meet or exceed quality, access, patient/staff safety, and efficiency targets.
• Conducts ongoing program evaluations and assesses the effectiveness of programs, clinical protocols, and member/patient satisfaction surveys.
• Evaluates professional clinical practice of supervised advanced practice providers, residents, fellows, and students.
• Monitors staff performance, sets goals, and provides tools, coaching, and feedback to maintain a high‑functioning team.
• Analyzes departmental volume and workload indicators, improves staff utilization and productivity, and manages resources effectively.
• Shares best practices, identifies opportunities for cost restructuring to improve fiscal performance, and performs other assigned duties.
• Directs service line operations and execution of initiatives, goals, and programs.
• Manages implementation of new service line initiatives, ensuring strategic coordination.
• Supervises and trains the clinical team, including advanced practice providers, nurses, medical assistants, counselors, and community health workers.
• Provides oversight and direction to Central Health's departmental efforts.
• Develops and oversees departmental strategy to support the organization’s strategic plan.
• Creates a recruiting model for a superior candidate experience and supports employees in living the company’s mission.
• Builds and maintains a departmental support team aligned with the company’s Core Beliefs.
• Leads complex organizational change efforts.
• Selects personnel, takes appropriate actions regarding personnel matters, and supports and coaches direct reports.
• Responds proactively to employee needs and concerns.
• Develops “experts” throughout the department and seeks employee input.
• Facilitates consensus among diverse groups, minimizes staff turnover, and acknowledges and rewards employee strengths and accomplishments.
• Evaluates assigned staff performance and competency, provides direct feedback, assesses learning needs, develops competency plans, and provides learning opportunities.

Education

M.D. or D.O. in Psychiatry from an accredited educational institution.

Experience

1 year in a leadership position.

Licenses and Certifications

• Unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Texas (required upon hire).
• Board Certification in Psychiatry or passage of the board certification examination within two (2) years of employment (required).
• DEA license for the purpose of writing prescriptions (required upon hire).
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for healthcare providers through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross (required upon hire).