Staff Psychiatrist

Salary : $249,329.60 - $303,555.20 Annually
Location : Merced County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Department 301 E 13th St. Merced, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2600557
Department: Behavioral Health & Recovery Services
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: 20C Management


Examples of Duties


Please Note: The Staff Psychiatrist is an at-will class under the direction of the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Medical Director and serves at the pleasure of the Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services/Public Guardian-Conservator.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provides general, acute and continuing psychiatric care to the patients in the mental health and alcohol and drug centers.
• Emergency on-call and call back consultations.
• Consults with other medical and substance abuse practitioners.
• May advise staff on appropriate treatment techniques for specific cases.
• Orders appropriate laboratory work and nursing follow-up care.
• Complete medical and court records in accordance with mandated standards.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team.
• Evaluates social support/rehabilitation needs.
• Reviews/oversees intake and treatment plans by multidisciplinary team.
• Conservatorship evaluations and court testimony.
• Provides jail-based psychiatric care and educates patients, families, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications

License:
Possession of a valid license to practice psychiatry issued by the California Medical Board.

Certification:
Board certified or Board eligible in Psychiatric Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

SOME POSITIONS IN THIS CLASSIFICATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECKS PURSUANT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECTION 2, B.

Essential Functions

• Operate a personal computer and other modern office equipment.
• Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.
• Analyze data, interpret policies, procedures and regulations, develop appropriate conclusions, and prepare reports.
• Provide psychiatric, medical, medication evaluations and crisis intervention.
• Meet deadlines under stressful conditions.
• Resolve conflicts and respond appropriately to complaints.
• Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.
• Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.
• Occasionally lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.
• Occasionally kneel, bend, twist, squat, balance and crawl.
• Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.
• Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.
• Sit, stand or walk for long periods of time.
• Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge of:

• The management of psychiatric patients with chronic disease and multiple problems.
• Psychiatric medicine and forensic psychiatry.
• Substance abuse issues.
• Mental Health Laws and Regulations.
• Psychosocial rehabilitation.
• Community support systems.

Ability to:

• Diagnose, treat, and manage psychiatric patients.
• Work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Work with seriously mentally ill and their families.
• Manage patient flow efficiently.
• Consult/collaborate with multiple systems.

Why Merced County? A message from the CEO

HOLIDAYS & LEAVES
MANAGEMENT LEAVE

May receive, depending upon classification, 96 hours per Fiscal Year.

VACATION

10 days the first 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 160 hours), 15 days in the second 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 240 hours), and 20 days after 10 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 320 hours). Optional annual sell back of a portion of accumulated vacation leave hours (maximum - 40 hours).

SICK LEAVE

0.0625 hours sick leave for each paid regularly scheduled work hour. 16 days (130 hours per year) with unlimited accumulation. Optional annual buy back of a portion of accumulated sick leave hours upon meeting certain criteria.

HOLIDAYS

Twelve paid holidays annually plus two optional holidays.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

Five (5) regularly scheduled consecutive workdays.

INSURANCE
HEALTH INSURANCE
Medical Insurance - Merced County offers multiple Medical Plans and contributes towards employee and dependent premiums.

• Anthem 500 EPO
• Anthem 1500 EPO
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) with Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) without Health Savings Account (HSA)

Dental Insurance - Delta Dental

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)

Vision Insurance - VSP

• County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)

DISABILITY INSURANCE

Management Disability Insurance - Unit 20 Unrepresented Management Levels A-E - 100% premium paid by employer

LIFE INSURANCE

County-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

• Unit 20 Unrepresented Management:
• Level A & B $85,000
• Level C $55,000
• Level D & E $35,000

Voluntary Term and Whole Life Insurance are available - premium paid by employee

RETIREMENT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION

The County offers a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Employees choose their investment funds and can make pre-tax or post-tax contributions to the plan up to the maximum allowable.

MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION
The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and other provisions of the California Government Code. MCERA members also pay into Social Security. The applicable benefit formula is dependent upon your hire date with an MCERA employer; your pension amount will be determined by your age, years of service and final compensation amount.

EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Anthem EAP services provide up to five face-to-face counseling sessions per incident and provides a toll-free "800" hotline available 24/7 for emergencies and crisis intervention. EAP services include counseling services, legal services, financial services and work-life resource services.


EMPLOYEE TICKETS, COUPONS, and DISCOUNTS

The County of Merced has partnered with Employee Savings Tickets to provide discounted coupons and tickets for all county employees to attractions throughout the state and out-of-state. The discounts and coupons are available for shopping, movies, sporting events, theme parks, zoos and aquariums and much more.

THIS BULLETIN IS NOT A CONTRACT AND DOES NOT CREATE CONTRACTUAL OR LEGAL RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF ANY EMPLOYEE. THIS BULLETIN IS SUBJECT OF BEING SUPPLEMENTED, MODIFIED, WITHDRAWN OR OTHERWISE CHANGED PENDING LABOR AGREEMENTS AND/OR AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEEM NECESSARY.
For answers to specific questions regarding employee benefits, please call Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
01


Can you provide proof a valid license to practice psychiatry issued by the California Medical Board?

• Yes
• No

02


Can you provide proof that you are Board certified or Board eligible in Psychiatric Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology?

• Yes
• No

03


Please provide your Medical Board of California number.
Required Question