Mental Health Medical Director / Psychiatrist

Position Summary

The Mental Health Medical Director serves as the lead psychiatric clinician for Family Centers Health Care’s mental health service offerings.

This role provides psychiatric services, clinical leadership, consultation, quality oversight, and administrative support across outpatient and school-based behavioral health programs.

Working collaboratively with organizational leadership and multidisciplinary teams, the Medical Director ensures delivery of high-quality, culturally responsive, integrated behavioral health care.

Essential Responsibilities

Clinical Care & Psychiatric Services

• Conduct psychiatric evaluations, diagnoses, treatment planning, and medication management for adolescents and adults.
• Provide psychotropic medication prescribing, counseling, monitoring, and education.
• Offer psychiatric consultation to clinicians, APRNs, primary care providers, and families.
• Collaborate with internal and external providers to support integrated, coordinated care.
• Provide crisis assessment, risk evaluation, and clinically appropriate referrals.
• Document services clearly and in a timely manner per policy and regulatory standards.
• Deliver in-person and telehealth care in compliance with HIPAA and all state/federal requirements.

Clinical Leadership & Medical Direction

• Serve as the primary psychiatric resource across programs.
• Provide clinical leadership, mentorship, and best‑practice guidance to behavioral health staff.
• Collaborate with leadership on priorities, quality measures, workflows, performance expectations, and program operations.
• Support a culture of accountability, clinical excellence, collaboration, and service quality.
• Represent Family Centers in internal/external meetings and partnerships.

Quality Assurance, Improvement & Compliance

• Participate in all quality assurance and improvement activities.
• Develop, update, and implement clinical protocols, policies, and workflows.
• Monitor quality indicators, provider performance, and clinical outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations, licensure laws, accreditation standards, DPH, HRSA, and Joint Commission requirements.
• Support readiness for audits, regulatory reviews, and accreditation processes.

Provider Consultation, Supervision & Development

• Provide consultation, mentorship, and supervision to psychiatrists, APRNs, therapists, and trainees.
• Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and professional development for staff and community partners.
• Support staff meetings, QA/QI initiatives, and implementation of best practices.

Program Development & Operations

• Assist in developing clinical protocols, productivity benchmarks, and provider workflows.
• Identify and resolve operational barriers affecting access, quality, or continuity of care.
• Participate in planning and expansion of behavioral health and integrated care initiatives.
• Participate as subject matter expert on government, foundation, and private grant writing.

Community & Professional Collaboration

• Build partnerships with healthcare systems, schools, community agencies, and service organizations.
• Represent Family Centers in collaborative meetings and community outreach efforts.
• Deliver educational workshops and presentations on mental health to Family Centers staff and the community.

Key Competencies

• Strong knowledge of psychiatric practice, behavioral health operations, QA/QI, and community health systems.
• Excellent clinical judgment; ability to manage a wide range of psychiatric presentations.
• Familiarity with coding, billing, and revenue cycle.
• Strong communication, leadership, mentorship, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to culturally responsive care and equitable service delivery.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Proficiency with EHRs (Epic), telehealth (Doxy), and other healthcare technology.

Qualifications

Required

• MD or DO; completion of psychiatry residency.
• Board certification or eligibility in Psychiatry.
• Unrestricted Connecticut medical license; CT controlled substance registration; DEA.
• CPR certification within 90 days of employment.
• Experience treating adults with child/adolescent experience preferred.
• Experience providing psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management.
• Experience providing clinical leadership or supervision.

Preferred

• 3+ years of administrative or medical leadership experience.
• Experience in FQHCs, community level services, and/or safety‑net settings.
• Experience working with diverse, underserved populations.
• Familiarity with QA/QI, integrated care models, regulatory compliance, and accreditation.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary behavioral health staff.

Organizational Expectations

• Uphold the highest ethical and professional standards.
• Protect patient confidentiality and comply with privacy regulations.
• Promote culturally responsive, patient‑centered care.
• Maintain licensure and participate in continuing education.
• Demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to evolving needs.

Benefits & Perks (Full Time)

• Generous PTO (vacation increases with tenure), holidays, personal and sick days.
• Half‑day summer Fridays (in select programs).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• HSA with employer contributions; FSA options.
• 403(b) with up to 6% employer contribution.
• Employer‑paid life, LTD, and AD&D insurance.
• EAP and voluntary benefits (pet insurance, supplemental life, etc.).
• Tuition assistance (after 6 months).
• NHSC Loan Repayment eligibility for licensed clinicians.
• Top Workplace award recognition.

About Family Centers

Family Centers is a private, nonprofit organization offering health, education and human service programs to children, adults and families in Fairfield County.

Our team includes 300 professionals and over 500 trained volunteers who collaborate to provide our communities with a wide range of responsive and innovative services.

Through our comprehensive network of services, more than 26,000 children, adults, families and communities receive the care, encouragement and resources needed to realize their potential.

For more information, please visit familycenters.org.

Family Centers is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees as indicated in applicable federal and/or state laws.