Psychologist 4

State of Louisiana•Baton Rouge, LA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves within the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) Medical Director’s Office and provides leadership over Louisiana’s statewide forensic and inpatient behavioral health systems, including oversight of East Louisiana Mental Health System and Central Louisiana State Hospital, as well as partner facilities. This Psychologist 4 position focuses on program oversight, coordination, and system-level impact and does not involve providing direct clinical services. The role drives key statewide initiatives. It ensures compliance with federal requirements, overseeing programs such as juvenile competency restoration and civil commitment processes, and monitoring clinical quality, safety, and patient placement across inpatient systems. The position also collaborates with multiple agencies and stakeholders to support a coordinated, effective system of care.

Requirements

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice psychology
Two years of experience in psychological research, testing, or counseling.

Responsibilities

Provides statewide leadership and oversight of forensic and inpatient behavioral health programs, ensuring quality, compliance, and effective service delivery across multiple facilities.
Serves as Divisional Supervisory Monitor for contracted hospitals, including East Louisiana Mental Health System and Central Louisiana State Hospital, overseeing continued stay approvals, clinical quality, and operational performance.
Leads complex case coordination for individuals with significant behavioral health needs, ensuring appropriate placement and access to care across Louisiana’s inpatient system.
Functions as a subject matter expert on judicial commitments, forensic services, and complex psychiatric cases, advising leadership, legal teams, and external stakeholders.
Reviews and evaluates judicial commitment petitions statewide, providing clinical guidance and recommendations to support appropriate patient placement and legal action.
Directs the statewide 648(b) civil commitment evaluation process, including oversight of court-ordered evaluations, physician coordination, and compliance with legal timelines and requirements.
Manages Louisiana’s juvenile competency restoration program, providing supervision, training oversight, and coordination of services across multiple regions and provider networks.
Collaborates with state agencies, local governing entities (LGEs), legal partners, and courts to resolve complex cases and improve coordination across behavioral health and justice systems.
Analyzes legislation, develops policy recommendations, and contributes to program development and implementation.
Represents OBH in meetings, legislative discussions, and interagency initiatives, while supporting contracts, grants, and special projects that expand and improve behavioral health services.