Director of Psychiatric Services

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• Functional Title: Director of Psychiatric Services
• Job Title: Psychiatrist IV
• Agency: Health & Human Services Comm
• Department: Hospitals Section
• Posting Number: 20897
• Closing Date: 11/01/2026
• Posting Audience: Internal and External
• Occupational Category: Healthcare Support
• Salary Range: $15,037.75-$25,432.58
• Pay Frequency: Monthly
• Salary Group: TEXAS-B-35
• Shift: Day
• Additional Shift: Days (First)
• Telework:
• Travel: Up to 20%
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Full Time/Part Time: Full time
• FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt
• Facility Location:
• Job Location City: AUSTIN
• Job Location Address: 909 W 45TH ST BLDG 552
• Other Locations:
• MOS Codes: 210X,44PX,60W,SEI12

Brief Job Description

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. Psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below.

The Director of Psychiatric Services of the State Hospital System (SHS) performs managerial (senior level) psychiatric work under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer of State Hospitals. The Director of Psychiatric Services provides clinical leadership that involves coordinating psychiatric treatment in the state hospitals. The Director of Psychiatric Services monitors trends, oversees the diagnosing and treating of all patients, and develops policies and procedures to admit, assess, and administer specialized psychiatric treatments. The Director of Psychiatric Services provides guidance to the 11-state hospital Medical Directors and serves as Vice Chair of the System Medical Executive Committee of the State Hospital Governing Body. The Chief Medical Officer and the Director of Psychiatric Services direct the activities of various other committees of the Governing Body. The Director of Psychiatric Services serves on Health and Specialty Care Division committees, other cross-division committees at HHSC, as well as committees in the larger community (including at state public universities) as needed. The Director of Psychiatric Services supports clinical quality assurance and performance improvement projects and initiatives at the system level. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. 25%

Vice Chair of the State Hospital System Medical Executive Committee (SMEC) and supports the Chair who oversees the 6 clinical subcommittees of that body: Infection Control; Patient Safety Evaluation System; Utilization Management; Pharmacy and Therapeutics; Forensic Services; and Clinical Operations. Develops and revises the charge of each subcommittee, appoints members, assigns data for analysis, and assigns policies and procedures for review and revision in a timely manner according to all regulatory and accreditation requirements. Reviews the work of SMEC and all its subcommittees and makes quarterly reports of all activities and recommendations of SMEC and its subcommittees which reviews and develops operational policies to the State Hospital System Governing Body as a full voting member of that body in accordance with hospital accreditation requirements. 20%

Performs a leadership role in state hospital patient safety systems, clinical quality assurance, and performance improvement programs by monitoring statewide identified performance improvement indicators and helping to identify when new indicators are required. Assists with developing system-wide plans of correction as problems are identified, which assures that all the hospitals maintain accreditation and certification. Provides direction and leadership to the state hospitals as a member of Patient Safety Organization (PSO) #79, a nationally accredited PSO that provides analysis of safety and other incident data, root cause analyses, and physician and nursing peer review processes. Through partnership with the PSO, provides national leadership in the development of standards in reporting and analyzing psychiatric safety data for benchmarking and improvement of care across the public mental health system. Performs ongoing professional peer evaluations on state hospital medical directors care when needed to assure quality of psychiatric care. 15%

Participates in psychiatric research and/or oversight of psychiatric research, as approved, by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and prepares reports. Monitors trends and activities in treatment options through the review of publications and research to increase the understanding of various psychiatric diagnoses and provides leadership in implementing new clinical programs and interventions appropriate to the state hospital population served. 15%

Supports implementation and administration of clinical contracts, including: 1) Psychiatric Residency Stipend Program through annual review of proposals from Medical Schools and Local Public Health authorities, review and revision of contracts annually, development of new rotations and statements of work (SOW), allocation of funds, tracking of program data, and approval of invoices for payment; 2) UTHealth Houston Telepsychiatry Program that involves placement of telepsychiatry resources, ongoing monitoring of the program through regular meetings with contractor, tracking program data, and approval of invoices for payment; and 3) contract with Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute for PSO services, nursing peer review, and physician peer review through annual review of program, determination of current needs, development of amendments to SOW, tracking program data, and ongoing meetings with contractor. 10%

Consults with other HHSC divisions and component agencies, as well as adult and juvenile justice agencies, on matters related to psychiatry and behavioral health in the state hospitals. Represents the SHS in the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Medical Directors Consortium, provides liaison to academic departments of psychiatry statewide, and attends statewide stakeholder workgroup meetings and other local and national forums as directed by the Associate Commissioner. 10%

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but is not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

Knowledge of: psychiatric principles and methods, general medicine methods and procedures, principles and practices in the development, implementation, and documentation of individualized care and recovery plans, statutes, regulations, and accreditation standards that apply to hospitals, quality improvement and patient safety principles.

Skill in: the care and treatment of patients, the interpretation of regulatory requirements, the development of policies and procedures, leading and managing committees to accomplish goals, conflict management, conducting psychiatric research, the use of a computer and applicable software, the management of large, complex medical systems, reading complex documents pertaining to regulation of medicine.

Ability to: direct complex psychiatric care activities, interpret complex medical, psychiatric, and psychological diagnostic studies and analyses, interpret regulatory requirements and develop policies and procedures based upon those requirements, develop Statements of Work for clinical contracts, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, assist in recruitment and retention of a qualified medical staff.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications

Must be licensed (unrestricted) as a medical doctor by the State of Texas and be Board Certified or Board eligible in Psychiatry in the state of Texas.

Must have a current registration certificate from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Must possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI#) as defined by Medicare Part B and enroll as a Medicaid and Medicare Part B provider.

Initial Screening Criteria

At least four (4) years of experience working as a psychiatrist is required.

At least four (4) years of experience working with people with psychiatric disorders is required.

Additional Information

Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE). Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility. Waco and Terrell Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.

Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours.

Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare workers are considered to be at significant risk for acquiring or transmitting hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and influenza. All these diseases are vaccine preventable. As a result, state hospital policy requires employees be vaccinated according to their level of contact with individuals. In the event you choose to not be immunized for the influenza virus, you may be required to wear a mask and take other protective measures.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited tothose listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions .

ADA Accommodations

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at View phone number on click.appcast.io. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer

This position may be eligible for telework. Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.