BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Job Description:

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Description

Position Description

Open Until Filled
Priority Screening Date: 04/12/2026

Exam # 26/54B87/03JH

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The County of Monterey Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau is seeking an experienced professional for the position of Behavioral Health Medical Director.

The County encompasses some of California’s most stunning scenery and offers an ideal year-round Mediterranean climate. Miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, redwood groves, low rolling foothills, and scenic valleys are characteristics that contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by over 430,000 residents and the thousands of tourists who visit year-round. Monterey County boasts world-renowned attractions such as the spectacular Big Sur Coast, Pinnacles National Park, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and the Steinbeck Center. It's also home to Laguna Seca Raceway and world-famous golf courses including Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, and Poppy Hills. The County hosts annual events including Monterey Jazz Festival, Sea Otter Classic, Concours d ’Elegance, and the California Rodeo.

Encompassing a total land area of 3,324 square miles, Monterey is the 16 th largest of California’s 58 counties and has an economy largely based on agriculture and tourism. It includes 12 incorporated cities and 16 unincorporated areas. The City of Salinas is the County seat and its largest municipality. Known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” the Salinas Valley is abundant with lush produce fields and thriving vineyards. There are several major educational institutions including California State University at Monterey Bay, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, the Defense Language Institute (DLI) and Presidio of Monterey, Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Monterey Peninsula College, and Hartnell College.

The County of Monterey has approximately 5,800 employees with an adopted budget of $2.23 billion for fiscal year 25/26. Monterey is a general law County, and the governing body is the Board of Supervisors which is comprised of an elected representative from each of the five voting districts within the County. The Board is elected to alternating four-year terms with elections conducted in odd numbered years. The Board appoints the County Administrative Officer who overseas County operations. The County also has five elected department heads including: Assessor/Recorder-County Clerk, Auditor-Controller, District Attorney, Sheriff-Coroner, and Treasurer-Tax Collector.

The Health Department is dedicated to community wellness and health protection for County residents. The Department provides a wide range of programs, services and administration within its various bureaus/divisions consisting of Administration, Animal Services, Behavioral Health, Clinic Services, Emergency Medical Services Agency, Environmental Health, Public Administrator/Conservator/Guardian, and Public Health. Currently, the Department oversees multiple programs with approximately 1,280 employees located at more than 30 sites throughout the County and has an adopted budget of $456 million for fiscal year 25/26.

The Behavioral Health Bureau is a progressive agency that serves children, youth, adults, older adults and their families with System of Care values of being community based, culturally relevant, client and family centered and using evidence-based practices to support clients in the wellness and recovery of their mental illness, substance use disorder, and co-occurring conditions. The Bureau has 510 employees, contracts with a large community-based provider network, and manages an adopted fiscal year 25/26 budget of $191 million. As the County Mental Health Plan (MHP) provider of Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS), and Substance Use Disorder Services provided by the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS), the Bureau provides a network of care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and the safety net population.

The Behavioral Health Medical Director reports directly to the Bureau Chief and is the leader of the Medical Services Team which is comprised of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, nurses, and medical assistants. This position oversees the provision of medical / psychiatry services provided by the Bureau’s network of care. In addition to overseeing and providing direct psychiatry services, the Medical Director provides consultation services, support and training internally to Bureau personnel as well as externally with contract agencies, Managed Care Plan (MCP), Social Services, and other health care providers in Monterey County. The Medical Director will work closely with the Bureau Chief, other members of Executive Leadership and Quality Teams on implementation of strategic initiatives and overall system improvements.

The new Medical Director must embody the values of a mission-driven leader that understands the County's role in the delivery of services equitably across the County. A sense of ethics and organizational loyalty are additional values expected in this role. This position requires exceptional leadership, management and administration skills, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and services that best meet the unique needs of clients, many with complex needs, in a way that maximizes revenue for services rendered with a focus on ensuring equitable care.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about serving the public and mission oriented in improving community wellness and overall health outcomes of clients served. The ideal candidate will also possess an operational style inclusive of effective communication with internal and external stakeholders, proven professional competence, effective leadership, collaboration and respectful conduct.

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.

Examples of Duties

• Directs BHB’s quality assurance program as required by state regulations to participate or delegate participation in all required review processes such as medication monitoring, quality assurance, utilization review, etc.
• Monitors the medical aspects of all directly operated and contract services as deemed necessary and/or appropriate by the Bureau Chief. Provides training and consultation support to internal and external health care providers in Monterey County.
• Advises and consults with the BHB Chief, Deputy Directors and Program Managers on routine functioning, problems and proposals related to all medical services team personnel.
• Develops appropriate medical protocols and procedures as deemed necessary.
• Receives, reviews, and responds to problems, complaints or proposals regarding clinical matters involving medical services as submitted by the staff or management personnel and consults with appropriate administrative personnel regarding such matters.
• Provides psychiatric care and treatment to clients served by the BHB.
• Prepares statistical reports, contract monitoring and quality assurance reports
• Leads recruitment efforts for and assists in the selection of staff psychiatrists.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices involved in diagnosing and treating psychiatric disorders.
• Current developments in the field of psychiatry.
• Principles and practices of modern medicine.

Some Knowledge of:

• Organization and procedures associated with SMHS and DMC-ODS.

Skill and Ability to:

• Analyze, evaluate and draw logical conclusions from extremely complex data.
• Treat psychiatric patients.
• Write to prepare comprehensive and concise reports and patient records.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with staff, patients and others contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate orally on a one-to-one basis or speak before groups.
• Read and gain a working knowledge of state laws governing behavioral health quality assurance programs.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Ability to speak, read, and write effectively in English and Spanish

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience:

• Two years of experience as a practicing Psychiatrist.

Additional Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.
• Pursuant to Section 2000 of the Business and Professional Code, the following licensure requirements must be met by incumbents of this class:
• License: Possession of a valid Physician and Surgeon Certificate issued by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California
• AND
• Current certification or eligibility for certification as a Psychiatrist issued by the American Board of Psychiatry (evidence of eligibility for certification may be provided by the Secretary of the American Board of Psychiatry).

BENEFITS:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the benefits available to County of Monterey employees. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.
• Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
• If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCEDURES
Apply on-line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty

or

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours,

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:

Monterey County Health Department

Attn: Human Resources Division

1270 Natividad Road

Salinas, CA 93906.

Phone: (831) 755-4519 Fax: (831) 796-8682

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

All application materials must be received by the priority screen date for a guaranteed review. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES:
The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses (i.e., surviving spouses of veterans, spouses of totally disabled veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members) and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To obtain a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application, please visit the Human Resources website or click on the following link: Click Here to View the Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application

To apply for veterans’ preference points, veterans or eligible military spouses must complete and email a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application with supporting documentation of their eligibility by the priority screen date to [email protected]

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Jeremy Hathaway, Human Resources Analyst I, at (831) 755 - 4749 or [email protected].

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/human-resources/human-resources/benefits/benefit-summary-sheet

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Salary:

$29,877.00 - $32,779.00 Monthly