Medical Director

CAYA Collaborative Care•Bowling Green, KY

About The Position

The Medical Director provides executive-level clinical and administrative leadership for psychiatric, medication-assisted treatment, and integrated services across LifeSkills, Inc.’s 18-county service area. The position is the clinical authority for services spanning mental health, substance use disorder, and intellectual and developmental disabilities, with direct oversight of prescribers and two Directors of Nursing. The role requires sustained expertise in compliance with operational standards, including Medicaid and Medicare requirements, agency accreditations, and regulatory requirements. The Medical Director provides medical and psychiatric leadership across service lines, supervises and evaluates approximately 15 prescribers, collaborates with nursing leadership, and consults on complex cases and high-acuity decisions. The role directs the OBOT program and medication management, supports CCBHC certification and CARF accreditation, oversees clinical quality and medical staff credentialing, and contributes to grant development and reporting. The position also aligns clinical workflows and documentation, represents LifeSkills in community partnerships and policy forums, and supports strategic planning and organizational committees. The position is based at LifeSkills Corporate in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Travel across the 18-county service area is required, with travel of up to 25%. Work takes place in clinical offices and community behavioral health settings; hybrid or telehealth arrangements may be available under organizational policy. Availability for urgent clinical consultation outside standard business hours is expected as operational needs arise. Employment is contingent on background screening, credential verification, and drug screening. Continued licensure, certification, DEA registration, and required continuing education are required.

Requirements

MD or DO from an accredited institution.
Board certification in Psychiatry (ABPN) or Addiction Medicine.
Active, unrestricted Kentucky medical license.
Current DEA registration, including buprenorphine prescribing authority.
At least five years of behavioral health clinical experience, including at least three years in an administrative or medical director role.
Demonstrated experience in SUD/MAT treatment and OBOT program oversight.
Working knowledge of CCBHC standards or equivalent regulatory frameworks.
Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle with adequate insurance.
Willingness to uphold the organization’s core values of integrity, teamwork, trust and respect, care and compassion, and ownership and accountability.
Employment is contingent on background screening, credential verification, and drug screening; ongoing maintenance of licensure, certification, DEA registration, and required CEUs is required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a CMHC or federally qualified behavioral health setting.
Familiarity with IDD populations.
Knowledge of Kentucky 202A involuntary hospitalization law and court-supervised outpatient treatment.
Experience with measurement-based care platforms, EHR systems, and SAMHSA grant programs.

Responsibilities

Provide medical and psychiatric leadership across all service lines and establish and maintain evidence-based clinical protocols consistent with applicable regulations.
Supervise and evaluate approximately 15 prescribers, including psychiatrists, APRNs, and licensed prescribing staff, through performance reviews, consultation, and credentialing oversight.
Collaborate with two regional Directors of Nursing and their nursing teams to align nursing practice with organizational and regulatory standards.
Serve as clinical consultant for complex cases, involuntary hospitalization determinations, and high-acuity decisions across the service area.
Maintain and oversee collaborative practice agreements with APRNs in accordance with state regulations and organizational policies.
Direct the OBOT program and ensure compliance with DEA regulations, SAMHSA guidelines, and Kentucky Administrative Regulations; monitor prescribing patterns, outcomes, and patient safety metrics.
Develop and maintain medication management protocols, eligibility criteria, and documentation standards, and integrate MAT within the broader SUD continuum of care.
Lead ongoing CCBHC certification compliance, including service standards, CQI processes, measurement-based care, and SAMHSA reporting; support CARF accreditation maintenance across programs and sites.
Monitor clinical quality indicators and adverse events; lead root cause analysis and corrective action as warranted.
Oversee credentialing, privileging, and peer review for medical staff.
Contribute clinical expertise to grant development and reporting, including SAMHSA CCBHC-IA applications.
Align clinical workflows, documentation standards, and practice guidelines across the organization with clinical directors, care coordination, and quality management.
Represent LifeSkills in community partnerships with hospitals, courts, primary care, and organizational stakeholders, and participate in state behavioral health policy forums as appropriate.
Support strategic planning and serve on organizational committees, including Quality Improvement, Medication Management, and Risk Management.
Travel across the 18-county service area and provide urgent clinical consultation outside standard business hours as operational needs arise.
Maintain licensure, certification, DEA registration, and required CEUs.