Title: Psychiatrist/Assistant Chief Medical Director
State Role Title: 49152
Hiring Range: Salary to Commensurate with Experience
Pay Band: 8
Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop
Location: Central State Hospital
Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
** This position requires participation in the MOD on-call coverage. **
Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of 2027.
CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.
Central State Hospital is recruiting for a full-time Psychiatrist/Assistant Chief Medical Director! This key leadership position provides oversight and guidance in delivering high-quality psychiatric care to individuals served at our facility. The Psychiatrist/Assistant Chief Medical Director ensures that all medications and treatments align with standards of care, obtains informed consent, and monitors patient progress through comprehensive assessments and treatment planning. Serving as Head of the Treatment Team, this role fosters collaboration among multidisciplinary staff to promote recovery-focused, patient-centered care. Responsibilities include supervising NPs/Pas assigned to the Maximum-Security units, ensuring compliance with hospital policies and regulatory standards, supporting performance improvement initiatives, and actively participating in committees, medical staff meetings, and training programs. This position also plays a vital role in implementing and advancing the hospital’s electronic health record system as a change champion and departmental liaison. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong clinical leadership, accountability, and empathy, while maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct, patient safety, and team collaboration in support of Central State Hospital’s mission of hope, recovery, and excellence in mental health care.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required to Successfully Perform the Job:
- Must demonstrate strong evaluation, diagnostic, and documentation skills in the treatment and management of mental and medical illnesses.
- Requires a solid understanding of current psychiatric and medical treatment modalities.
- Must exhibit effective oral and written communication skills to ensure clear, accurate documentation and professional interaction with patients, families, and staff.
- Excellent interpersonal abilities and a proven capacity to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team are essential.
Minimum Qualifications
Required:
- Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy degree and completion of an accredited/approved psychiatry residency training program.
- Must possess a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia or obtain one prior to the start of employment.
- Board Certified / Board Eligible Psychiatrist
- Eligible to obtain a DEA registration
Additional Considerations
Preferred:
- Board certification in Psychiatry preferred but must meet eligibility requirements for certification in general psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Application Requirements: Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you detail all relevant work experience clearly and specifically; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications.
Applications/résumés will begin to be reviewed within five (5) days of the posting date.
Background Investigation: All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.
Under Virginia Code §§ 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.
Reasonable Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at (804) 524-7111 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Equal Opportunity: The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.
Veteran Preference: DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We highly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply and respond accordingly on the state application.
Benefits: DBHDS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including your choice of health plans, paid life insurance, retirement plans, 13 paid holidays, annual leave, family personal leave, sick leave, employee discount programs, and more!
Contact Information
Name: Human Resources
Phone: 1-804-524-7111
Email: CSHRecruitment@dbhds.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.