Chief Psychiatrist Salary Depends on Qualifications Location Austin, TX Job Type Full Time Job Number 25-10155 Department Sheriff Opening Date 08/22/2025 Closing Date Continuous Description Benefits Questions Job Summary The Chief Psychiatrist provides clinical oversight and strategic leadership for psychiatric services within the Travis County Jail and Correctional Complex. This senior role is responsible for shaping a culture of patient-centered care, aiming to establish a new standard for excellence in correctional behavioral health.Working as a key member of a multidisciplinary team, the Chief Psychiatrist collaborates with:PsychologistsMedical providers and 24-hour nursing staffSocial Workers and Professional CounselorsCorrectional OfficersInmate Programming Staff and ChaplainsTravis County offers a premier Total Rewards package that is designed to support your long-term success and well-being. This comprehensive benefits program includes:A highly-rated retirement planGenerous paid time off, including vacation and sick leave, 3 personal holidays, and 12 company holidaysLongevity pay and tuition reimbursementFull medical, dental, and vision coverageAccess to a free employee health care clinicDistinguishing CharacteristicsThis is a job classification within the Medical job family. The incumbent must be licensed to practice as a medical doctor in the State of Texas. It is distinguished from the Psychiatrist in that it is a supervisory position for the Psychiatrist, contract partners, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and in the required education and preferred certifications. Duties and Responsibilities Provides strategic leadership for a team of psychiatric providers, ensuring alignment with the Travis County Sheriffs Office mission to deliver exceptional patient care and optimize clinical operations.Manages a patient caseload by conducting timely initial and follow-up psychiatric assessments, overseeing medication management, and developing comprehensive treatment plans.Serves as an expert witness by completing applications for court-ordered treatment and providing courtroom testimony as required.Maintains meticulous records of each patients visit in the electronic health record, ensuring compliance with all health information management standards.Provides hands-on leadership in all aspects of team management, including provider hiring, retention, coaching, and performance management.Supervises and guides the prescriptive authority of mid-level psychiatric providers.Ensures optimal clinical operations by managing provider schedules, advocating for their needs, and guaranteeing the delivery of excellent patient outcomes.Partners with the Director of Inmate Behavioral Health to strategically plan, implement, and evaluate clinical services, driving continuous operational improvements and efficiency.Creates and standardizes evidence-based treatment protocols to ensure the delivery of high-quality clinical care that aligns with or exceeds community standards.Manages court applications for outpatient, inpatient hospitalization and compelled medication.Drives professional growth across the organization by developing and presenting a minimum of two continuing education seminars annually for behavioral health, medical, and correctional staff.Actively participates in key departmental and clinical functions, including Treatment Team meetings, Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee, Medical Provider meetings and Trauma-Informed Care committeeServes as a key public ambassador for the Travis County Sheriffs Office, promoting a progressive and positive approach to inmate mental health.Actively partners with community organizations to expand and enhance services for inmates both during incarceration and upon their return to the community.Performs other related duties as assigned. Minimum Requirements Education and Experience:Graduation from an accredited school of medicine with a degree as a medical doctor including residency in the field of psychiatry, AND more than five (5) years practicing medicine as a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with increasing responsibility in clinical and administrative supervision of mid-level providers and overseeing clinical operations with a diverse population in a correctional facility, psychiatric outpatient clinic, or diagnostic clinic.Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:Licensed to practice medicine in the State of Texas.Current DPS and DEA license in the State of Texas.Board Certified in Psychiatry.Valid Texas Driver's License.Applicants are required to attach a resume with the online application.Preferred:Board Certified in Forensic PsychiatryBoard Certified in Addiction MedicineBilingual in SpanishKnowledge of:Psychiatric practices for inpatient and outpatient settings.Correctional Healthcare principles and practices.Legal and ethical standards of care, including use of emergency medications and court-ordered medications.Electronic Health Records (EHR) and standard office software packages.Trauma Informed Systems of Care.Planning and budgetary processes within a governmental frameworkSkill in:Leading and supervising a diverse team.Patiently caring and treating patients with mental illness.Mentoring and teaching clinical and non-clinical students.Attentive and authentic communication including use of de-escalation techniques.Fostering a culture of positivity and encouraging growth.Utilizing data to inform decisions and using results for quality improvement.Using technology to enhance workflow processes.Motivating and empowering patients and staff to work towards their best self.Ability to:Develop, present, and implement a long-term vision.Apply general rules to specific problems, identify innovative solutions and opportunities for improvement.Develop and cultivate respectful professional relationships.Network with community partners to solve problems and enhance community behavioral health services.Present complex and technical problems to lay decision makers and influencers.Advocate for policy and legislative change. Work Environment & Other Information Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry minimum of 35 pounds and may be required to lift/carry up to 50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to contact with communicable diseases, radiation, hazardous waste, human fecal matter, and foul odors. Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Rotating on-call. Occasional holidays, nights, and weekends.Location: Austin, TXDepartment: SheriffCriminal Background Check, Credit Check, Drug Test, Alcohol Test, Driving Record, Education, and Employment History Check Required. BenefitsEmployment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.FY2026 Travis County Benefit GuideIn this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.Credit UnionEmployees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.Deferred CompensationEmployees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.Direct DepositEmployees may sign up for direct bank deposit.Employee Assistance ProgramTravis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.Employee OrganizationsMembership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.Employee Health & Wellness ClinicEmployees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.HolidaysAn average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.The following benefits are employee paid:DentalVisionSupplemental Life, AD&DDependent LifeShort Term DisabilityLong Term DisabilityLong Term CareNew employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.LongevityLongevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.On the regular payday on or after the employees fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.ParkingA limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.Personal HolidaysRegular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:January - March3 personal holidays April - June2 personal holidays July - September1 personal holiday October - DecemberNoneNew employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.RetirementTravis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.Sick LeaveRegular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.Parental LeaveEach Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.Tuition RefundCertain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.VacationBased on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:0 to 5 years4.0 hours per pay period 6 to 10 years4.5 hours per pay period 11 to 15 years5.0 hours per pay period 16 to 20 years5.5 hours per pay period 21 plus years6.0 hours per pay periodPart-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.Workers CompensationThe county provides all employees workers compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work. 01 A detailed resume is required for the application to be considered. Have you submitted your resume with the online application? Yes No Required Question Employer Travis County Address 700 Lavaca Street Austin, Texas, 78701 Website https://www.traviscountytx.gov/human-resources/jobs