Consulting Medical Director

• Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Works Directly With: Medical Director/Nursing Staff
• Job Type: Consulting / Part-Time, Hourly to start

Position Summary

The Consulting Medical Director helps Zia Recovery Center stay clinically and medically sound, so that every client receives safe, high-quality, evidence-based care.

Working in close partnership with the Medical Director, this physician (MD) brings an additional clinical perspective to Zia's medical practices, policies, and most complex care decisions.

This position supports Zia's compliance with CARF accreditation standards, New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) licensing requirements, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2.

Within the Connection-First framework, strong clinical leadership is built on relationship.

The Consulting Medical Director is a peer and thought partner to the Medical Director — someone to think through complex cases with, to test clinical decisions against, and to share responsibility for the standards that guide Zia's medical care.

The partnership is collaborative by design and accountable by structure: it happens on a set schedule, it produces a written record, and it carries real weight in how Zia's medical policies are shaped and upheld.

This is a living job description. Once the Consulting Medical Director is on board, they will refine it together with the CEO and COO so that it reflects the work they actually do. The final version will be one that all three agree on as a group.

Partnership with the Medical Director

The Medical Director and the Consulting Medical Director work as a clinical leadership pair. Each role is distinct, and the two are designed to strengthen one another.

The Medical Director Leads

• Day-to-day medical direction across all levels of care, including clinical decisions on patient safety, level of care, and clinical risk.
• Leadership, development, and performance of medical and nursing staff.
• Drafting, maintaining, and implementing medical policies, standing orders, and treatment protocols.
• CARF survey preparation and accreditation readiness for the medical department.

The Consulting Medical Director Partners By

Meeting with the Medical Director on a consistent, scheduled basis for clinical consultation and case discussion.

Bringing a physician's perspective to complex, high-acuity, or uncertain clinical questions when the Medical Director requests it.

Reviewing and approving, together with the Medical Director, all policies related to medical and nursing care, and holding full physician accountability for them.

Keeping a written record of every partnership meeting, so the work is visible and meets CARF expectations for physician involvement and clinical consultation.

Essential Responsibilities

Clinical Partnership & Consultation

Hold regular, scheduled clinical consultation meetings with the Medical Director, at a frequency agreed on together.

Ask what support is most valuable to the Medical Director, and shape the partnership around those needs while meeting Zia's accreditation requirements.

Document each meeting — date, duration, topics, and any agreed follow-up — and keep records on file for CARF.

Medical Policy & Protocol Partnership

Review and approve, in partnership with the Medical Director, all policies and protocols related to the provision of medical and nursing care, including withdrawal management (detox) policies.

Hold full physician accountability for these policies. This responsibility comes with the role and is not carved out, in keeping with the medicolegal duties of a medical director.

• Recommend updates collaboratively with the Medical Director and leadership.
• Participate in the annual review of medical policies with the Medical Director.
• Serve as the named consulting physician on Zia's insurance contracts and credentialing documents.

Clinical Meetings & Case Review

• Join the monthly clinical meeting for all clinicians (first Tuesday of the month).
• Join the monthly staffing meeting.
• Take part in case reviews with the Medical Director and medical team, with written records kept on file.

Admissions Process & Provider Role Development

Provide input on changes to Zia's admissions process, so every client's first connection with Zia is timely, consistent, and welcoming.

Help Zia define and recruit for a new admissions provider role, informed by the Medical Director's preferences on where in the process clients transfer to her care.

Coordinate this work with Zia's incoming Admissions Director, with a target of Q1 2027.

Medical Department Role Development

Help create and refine job descriptions for other positions in the medical department as Zia grows.

Presence & Engagement

Begin with a review of Zia's medical policies and procedures and introductions to the Medical Director, Clinical Director, and nursing team, at a pace that builds trust.

Start from a baseline of about four hours of engagement per month, growing toward deeper integration with the organization and a regular on-site presence.

Be on site at least every couple of weeks for a few hours during the initial phase, moving to a steady, ongoing rhythm as the partnership is established.

Work on an hourly basis to start. Once monthly hours are clear, Zia and the Consulting Medical Director may move to a daily or half-day arrangement.

Connection-First Competencies

All Zia Recovery Center staff complete the Connection-First Initiative orientation and are expected to embody its principles. At Zia, compassion without accountability equals chaos. For the Consulting Medical Director, these competencies take on specific meaning:

Leads with compassion and holds high standards at the same time — compassion and accountability are partners, never opposites.

• Builds trust and relationship with the medical team before asking for change — connection before correction.
• Brings outside perspective as value added — strengthening what already works without taking anything away.

Practices partnership over hierarchy — honoring the Medical Director's license, clinical judgment, and professional boundaries.

Uses person-first language in all policies, documentation, and conversation — no stigmatizing terms such as 'addict,' 'junkie,' or 'user.'

Minimum Qualifications

• Physician (MD or DO) with a current, active, unrestricted license to practice in New Mexico.
• Active DEA registration.
• Demonstrated commitment to person-centered, trauma-informed, and dignity-centered care.

Physical Demands

This position combines remote document review with on-site time at Zia's Las Cruces office and program locations, and requires the ability to travel locally between sites and maintain extended concentration during policy and case review. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity & Employment Compliance

Zia Recovery Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal and New Mexico employment laws. Engagement is contingent upon license and credential verification and a successful background check.