DMHAS Local Mental Health Authority Medical Director

State of Connecticut • Norwich, CT

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA), part of the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is seeking a board-certified psychiatrist to lead medical, clinical, and behavioral health services at its Norwich facility. The role is accountable for administering designated agency medical, clinical, and behavioral health programs and operations, providing clinical oversight, supervising and mentoring medical staff, and ensuring high-quality patient care and compliance with applicable requirements.

SMHA is a state-operated community mental health agency serving adults with mental health and substance use disorders in New London County and surrounding towns. Its recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive services include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services. The agency emphasizes a collegial professional environment, professional growth, and work/life balance.

A comprehensive medical examination, including drug screening, is required after a conditional offer. State employees must follow Connecticut’s Policy for a Drug Free Workplace. Incumbents must hold a Connecticut license to practice medicine and surgery, maintain psychiatry board certification, and remain eligible to participate in federal health care programs. Additional certifications, faculty appointments, licenses, or bilingual ability may be required depending on the position.

Requirements

• Experience in a hospital, clinic, or correctional facility as a board-certified psychiatrist.
• License to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut.
• Maintain certification as a specialist in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
• Maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. 1320a-7b(f).
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of medicine and psychiatry principles, practices, and issues, particularly diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health patients, and recent developments in psychiatry and medicine.
• Knowledge of administration and clinical operations, functions, and systems involving medical service delivery.
• Interpersonal, oral and written communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Ability to teach and provide clinical supervision.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing clinical leadership in a healthcare or public health setting.
• Experience supervising medical or clinical staff.
• Experience ensuring compliance with state and federal medical regulations.
• Experience with quality assurance, clinical policy development, and medical oversight.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience providing medical oversight in a facility, program, or agency setting.
• Strong ability to manage clinical operations and support complex decision-making.
• Additional specialist certification, such as in geriatrics, ABI/TBI, forensics, or substance abuse, may be required.
• A faculty appointment at Yale School of Medicine or UConn School of Medicine may be required.
• Bilingual ability may be required.

Responsibilities

• Administer the staff and operations of a designated facility, regional medical area, or behavioral health services program.
• Provide continuous clinical oversight to support high-quality patient care and guide clinical staff in medical decision-making.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, goals, and objectives.
• Assist in developing programs and activities, including medical service standards and criteria.
• Implement new procedures and procedural revisions.
• Determine or assist in determining appropriate staffing levels and manage or coordinate staff.
• Implement performance review standards for staff.
• Recruit and hire staff, including outreach, interviewing, and selection.
• Maintain contact with people inside and outside the agency who may affect programs and services.
• Administer state and federal regulations related to medical and psychiatric health care programs, services, and operations.
• Conduct mandated clinical reviews and quality assurance activities; participate in quality assurance studies and investigations.
• Supervise and mentor medical staff to uphold standards of practice and provide clinical supervision and training as needed.
• Ensure timely clinical decisions that support operational stability and safeguard public health and safety.
• Monitor program integrity, clinical protocols, and facility compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Participate on committees and boards and, as needed, testify in court.
• Coordinate accreditation activities as needed.
• Serve as an agency liaison with external medical and behavioral health planning or advisory groups, courts, and other state medical and service agencies as needed.
• Monitor contracts with medical services vendors as needed.
• Develop processes and practices to improve the quality and cost of patient care.
• Perform related duties as required.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance.
• Opportunity to join a professional learning community of board-certified psychiatrists.
• State employee benefits are referenced through the State Employee Benefits Overview page; specific benefits are not listed in the posting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed