DSHS CSTC Chief Clinical Officer

State of Washington•Pierce County – Lakewood, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is your chance to shape psychiatric care for Washington's most vulnerable youth. Child Study and Treatment Center (CSTC) is Washington's only state-operated psychiatric hospital for children and youth – and they're looking for a clinical leader ready to make a lasting difference. Located on a spacious campus in Lakewood and operated by DSHS's Behavioral Health Administration, CSTC serves youth ages 5-17 with severe emotional and behavioral disorders, often complicated by medical, social, legal, and developmental challenges. Youth live in one of four age-specific cottages for an average of 10-12 months, receiving culturally competent, evidence-based care from an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, recreational therapists, and psychiatric child care counselors – all united by a shared commitment to the kids they serve. As Chief Clinical Officer, you'll provide executive-level oversight of clinical programming across those four cottages, each currently operating uniquely for the population being served. This position has oversight to our Substance Use Disorder program and Psychology evaluators forensics clinic. Your mission: bring consistency, accountability, and a unified clinical vision across all of these areas – while managing the fast-moving priorities of a 24/7 facility. This role is for a leader who thrives in ambiguity, builds trust quickly, and knows how to align people and systems toward a common goal.

Requirements

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or PhD in Psychology
Active Washington State license to practice psychology
Five years of direct treatment experience with individuals with severe behavioral health conditions in a psychiatric hospital setting
Demonstrated success in supervising clinical staff and budget management
Proven track record of leading organizational change
Sound judgment and independent problem-solving – you balance competing priorities without losing sight of long-term goals
Clear, confident communication that builds trust across clinical, nursing, and executive teams
Composure in crisis – you lead with focus and professionalism under pressure
Working knowledge of evidence-based practices (CBT, DBT, trauma-focused approaches) in a youth inpatient setting
Experience in a collective bargaining environment
Familiarity with DSHS policies, Washington State licensing standards, WACs, and applicable statutes

Responsibilities

Oversee treatment and programming across CSTC's psychiatric wards and four residential cottages.
Supervise Psychology, Social Work, Treatment/Rehabilitative Services, and the Behavioral Management Team.
Collaborate closely with the CEO, Chief Medical Officer, and internal and external stakeholders to maintain quality patient care standards.
Standardize evaluation and treatment evidence-based practices across the hospital.
Lead all clinical based quality assurance activities to meet Joint Commission, CMS, and Washington State licensing standards.
Manage personnel investigations, incident reports, and patient rights concerns.
Drive short and long-term goal-setting.
Champion accountability systems and performance measures tailored to each cottage.
Support discharge prioritization and cross-division collaboration.