BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Behavioral Health Medical Director

The County of Monterey Health Department's Behavioral Health Bureau is seeking an experienced professional for the position of Behavioral Health Medical Director.

The County encompasses some of California's most stunning scenery and offers an ideal year-round Mediterranean climate. Miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, redwood groves, low rolling foothills, and scenic valleys are characteristics that contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by over 430,000 residents and the thousands of tourists who visit year-round. Monterey County boasts world-renowned attractions such as the spectacular Big Sur Coast, Pinnacles National Park, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and the Steinbeck Center. It's also home to Laguna Seca Raceway and world-famous golf courses including Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, and Poppy Hills. The County hosts annual events including Monterey Jazz Festival, Sea Otter Classic, Concours d'Elegance, and the California Rodeo.

The County of Monterey has approximately 5,800 employees with an adopted budget of $2.23 billion for fiscal year 25/26. Monterey is a general law County, and the governing body is the Board of Supervisors which is comprised of an elected representative from each of the five voting districts within the County. The Board is elected to alternating four-year terms with elections conducted in odd numbered years. The Board appoints the County Administrative Officer who oversees County operations. The County also has five elected department heads including: Assessor/Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, and Treasurer-Tax Collector.

The Health Department is dedicated to community wellness and health protection for County residents. The Department provides a wide range of programs, services and administration within its various bureaus/divisions consisting of Administration, Animal Services, Behavioral Health, Clinic Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, Environmental Health, Public Administrator/Conservator/Guardian, and Public Health. Currently, the Department oversees multiple programs with approximately 1,280 employees located at more than 30 sites throughout the County and has an adopted budget of $456 million for fiscal year 25/26.

The Behavioral Health Bureau is a progressive agency that serves children, youth, adults, older adults and their families with System of Care values of being community based, culturally relevant, client and family centered and using evidence-based practices to support clients in the wellness and recovery of their mental illness, substance use disorder, and co-occurring conditions. The Bureau has 510 employees, contracts with a large community-based provider network, and manages an adopted fiscal year 25/26 budget of $191 million. As the County Mental Health Plan (MHP) provider of Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS), and Substance Use Disorder Services provided by the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS), the Bureau provides a network of care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and the safety net population.

The Behavioral Health Medical Director reports directly to the Bureau Chief and is the leader of the Medical Services Team which is comprised of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, nurses, and medical assistants. This position oversees the provision of medical / psychiatry services provided by the Bureau's network of care. In addition to overseeing and providing direct psychiatry services, the Medical Director provides consultation services, support and training internally to Bureau personnel as well as externally with contract agencies, Managed Care Plan (MCP), Social Services, and other health care providers in Monterey County. The Medical Director will work closely with the Bureau Chief, other members of Executive Leadership and Quality Teams on implementation of strategic initiatives and overall system improvements.

The new Medical Director must embody the values of a mission-driven leader that understands the County's role in the delivery of services equitably across the County. A sense of ethics and organizational loyalty are additional values expected in this role. This position requires exceptional leadership, management and administration skills, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and services that best meet the unique needs of clients, many with complex needs, in a way that maximizes revenue for services rendered with a focus on ensuring equitable care.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about serving the public and mission oriented in improving community wellness and overall health outcomes of clients served. The ideal candidate will also possess an operational style inclusive of effective communication with internal and external stakeholders, proven professional competence, effective leadership, collaboration and respectful conduct.

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans' preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.

Examples of Duties

• Directs BHB's quality assurance program as required by state regulations to participate or delegate participation in all required review processes such as medication monitoring, quality assurance, utilization review, etc.
• Monitors the medical aspects of all directly operated and contract services as deemed necessary and/or appropriate by the Bureau Chief. Provides training and consultation support to internal and external health care providers in Monterey County.
• Advises and consults with the BHB Chief, Deputy Directors and Program Managers on routine functioning, problems and proposals related to all medical services team personnel.
• Develops appropriate medical protocols and procedures as deemed necessary.
• Receives, reviews, and responds to problems, complaints or proposals regarding clinical matters involving medical services as submitted by the staff or management personnel and consults with appropriate administrative personnel regarding such matters.
• Provides psychiatric care and treatment to clients served by the BHB.
• Prepares statistical reports, contract monitoring and quality assurance reports
• Leads recruitment efforts for and assists in the selection of staff psychiatrists.

The Successful Candidate

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices involved in diagnosing and treating psychiatric disorders.
• Current developments in the field of psychiatry.
• Principles and practices of modern medicine.

Some Knowledge of:

• Organization and procedures associated with SMHS and DMC-ODS.

Skill and Ability to:

• Analyze, evaluate and draw logical conclusions from extremely complex data.
• Treat psychiatric patients.
• Write to prepare comprehensive and concise reports and patient records.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with staff, patients and others contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate orally on a one-to-one basis or speak before groups.
• Read and gain a working knowledge of state laws governing behavioral health quality assurance programs.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Ability to speak, read, and write effectively in English and Spanish

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience:

• Five years of increasingly responsible experience providing clinical and administrative leadership within behavioral health settings.

Additional Information

Conditions of Employment:

• Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver's license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.
• Pursuant to Section 2000 of the Business and Professional Code, the following licensure requirements must be met by incumbents of this class:

1. License: Possession of a valid Physician and Surgeon Certificate issued by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California
2. AND
3. Current certification or eligibility for certification as a Psychiatrist issued by the American Board of Psychiatry (evidence of eligibility for certification may be provided by the Secretary of the American Board of Psychiatry).

Benefits:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the benefits available to County of Monterey employees. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract