Director of Psychology and Forensic Services

About the role

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of August 2027.

Central State Hospital is recruiting for a Director of Psychology and Forensic Services to provide executive leadership and administrative oversight for the hospital's psychological and forensic service lines. Serving as the hospital's chief clinical psychologist, this position is responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating comprehensive psychological and forensic programs that support the delivery of safe, effective, and evidence-based inpatient behavioral health services.

Responsibilities

The Director ensures compliance with applicable federal and state laws, Joint Commission and CMS standards, and professional practice requirements while promoting a recovery-oriented, person-centered, and trauma-informed model of care. As a member of the hospital's senior clinical leadership team, the Director provides strategic direction, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, oversees quality improvement initiatives, and leads the development of a highly skilled workforce dedicated to achieving positive patient outcomes and advancing the mission of Central State Hospital.

Requirements

• Comprehensive knowledge of applied behavior analysis, clinical psychological services, and psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the administration and delivery of mental health services within an inpatient behavioral health setting.
• Knowledge of current psychological theories, evidence-based practices, and emerging trends in the field of psychology.
• Knowledge of federal and state statutes, regulations, and professional standards governing the practice of psychology.
• Knowledge of research principles, program evaluation, and the application of research to improve clinical practice.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership skills, including the ability to direct, develop, and evaluate professional staff.
• Considerable skill in conducting and interpreting psychological evaluations for adult and forensic patient populations.
• Ability to apply advanced clinical judgment in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with complex behavioral health and forensic needs.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology from an accredited college or university. Licensure as a Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Progressive supervisory and/or managerial experience in the practice of clinical psychology. Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and evaluating behavioral intervention programs for individuals with complex behavioral health needs.

Skills

• Ability to develop and implement special projects that enhance the quality of psychological services, improve patient outcomes, and support a positive work environment for staff.
• Ability to serve as a designated representative of the Chief Clinical Officer, providing leadership, decision-making support, and administrative oversight as needed.

Benefits

Central State Hospital offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Enjoy a choice of health plans, employer-paid life insurance, retirement benefits, paid holidays, generous leave programs, employee discounts, and much more!

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $145,788.00 - $201,187.00, Pay Band: 6.

Schedule

This is a Monday through Friday, 8-hour shift position. While a typical schedule may be established (e.g., 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), the Director of Psychology must maintain flexibility to adjust their schedule as needed to support hospital operations, including coverage needs that may arise due to staffing changes, patient care demands, or unforeseen circumstances.