Salary: $0.00 Annually
Location : Richland County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: 190142
Agency: Department of Juvenile Justice
Division: Facility Rehabilitation & Health Services
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: 7/8/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
Class Code:: UB26
Position Number::
Normal Work Schedule:: Other
Normal Work Schedule (Other):: Hours to be discussed in interview.
Pay Grade: Unclassified
Hiring Range - Min.: $250,000.00

Job Responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE:
Provides psychiatric leadership, consultation, and program development for SCDJJ, consistent with the Medical Staff Bylaws (Articles II-IV), with primary responsibility for a specialized high-risk youth facility and system-wide duties as the Chief of Psychiatry. Ensures high-quality, ethically sound psychiatric care; supports SCDJJ's mission to protect the public and rehabilitate youth; promotes safety and risk management; and coordinates services across DJJ, Willow Lane Infirmary, and partner agencies.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Serves as Chief of Psychiatry by providing psychiatric leadership.

Updates, reviews, develops and approves psychiatry-specific policies, procedures, and protocols in alignment with SCDJJ Medical Staff Bylaws, Willow Lane Infirmary rules/regulations, federal and state regulations and applicable SCDJJ policies.

Leads psychiatric discussions at Medical Staff Committee meetings.

Offers psychiatric input to the Health Services Executive Committee (HSEC), QA Committee, and other relevant committees as needed.

Serves as a liaison between front-line psychiatric providers and SCDJJ leadership, bringing forward concerns related to access, safety, and quality of psychiatric care.

Collaborates with facility leadership, nursing, clinical services, security staff, and administration around safety planning, crisis response, and the appropriate use of higher levels of care (including hospital transfer if medically necessary).

Participates in relevant quality assurance, risk management, and critical incident review processes, consistent with the functions contemplated in the Medical Staff and QA Committees.

Ensures psychiatric concerns are consistently represented in executive deliberations.

Leads psychiatric discussions within the Medical Staff Committee, including risk management, quality assurance, infection control, and pharmacy/therapeutics issues.

Provides consultative psychiatric evaluations for the most complex or high-risk youth in SCDJJ facilities.

Offers treatment recommendations to the primary treating psychiatrist and multidisciplinary team, including pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, behavioral, and environmental interventions.

Provides monitoring and oversight of youth in placements, particularly those who pose ongoing safety risks or are experiencing placement instability.

When applicable, completes psychiatric evaluations and develops evidence-based treatment plans utilizing psychotherapeutic methods and medications for SMI youth.

Utilizes an electronic health record to document patient encounters and treatment plans.

Serves as a psychiatric resource and point of contact for external and community partners such as DSS, OMH, BHDD, OIDD DHHS.

Participates in inter-agency case conferences for youth whose needs cross systems.

Provides consultation on placement options, treatment continuity, and transitions between SCDJJ, community settings, hospitals, and specialized programs.

Helps develop shared protocols and communication pathways so that high-risk youth experience more seamless coordinated care.

Coordinates quality assurance, policy development, and training.

Leads or participates in psychiatry-related quality assurance initiatives, including review of high-risk cases; chart reviews for prescribing practices and adherence to guidelines; monitors seclusion/restraint avoidance, critical incidents, and hospitalization patterns.

Develops and provides training for SCDJJ providers and staff, as requested.

Performs other job-related duties as required to support the agency's mission.
Minimum and Additional Requirements
STATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Graduated from an accredited medical school and licensed as a medical doctor (psychiatrist) in the State of South Carolina. Completion of a fellowship program in child/adolescent psychiatry or forensic psychiatry. Board Certification in Child Psychiatry, General Psychiatry or Forensic Psychiatry.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge of theory, principles, and practices of the applied field of medicine.

Knowledge of techniques involved in the care and treatment of patients.

Knowledge of administrative practices and procedures.

Knowledge of rules, regulations, policies, and standards used in rendering medical care.

Ability to diagnose and treat diseases and psychiatric disorders.

Ability to supervise professional and nonprofessional employees in the care and treatment of patients.

The skill to interview and render an appropriate psychiatric diagnosis with corresponding treatment plan.

Skills to prescribe and appropriately monitor patients on various psychiatric medications including CII medications.

Licensed to practice medicine in State of South Carolina with specialized training in the field of Psychiatry.

Subject to possibility of physical assault, property destruction and infections.

Must wear personal protective equipment as required to prevent infection.

If applicable, this position will be dually employed with SCDMH.

This position performs job duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Training applicable to these duties will be provided.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional Comments
The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days of sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs
• Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave

Applications are incomplete if you fail to answer all supplemental questions, education, and work history. Incomplete applications are not referred to hiring managers. Applications are accepted until 5:00 p.m. on the stated closing date.
You will be asked to provide a certified transcript if selected for a position requiring a degree. A background investigation will be conducted that may include but is not limited to, criminal records, driver's license, and child abuse registry prior to an offer of employment. Additionally, a pre-employment drug screening will be required. Medical examinations may also be required depending on the position. Lastly, please provide an explanation for any gaps in employment. A resume may be attached to your application but not substituted for completing the work history section of the application.
Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
01

I understand that the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice is an equal opportunity employer. SCDJJ does not discriminate in hiring, promotions, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, or other employment aspects based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. Any acts you feel are in violation, please get in touch with the Office of Human Resources, 220 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC (803) 896-9749.

• Yes
• No

02

I understand that the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice's School District also does not discriminate in any programs or activities based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. The following offices have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the school district's nondiscrimination policies: Title IX - Inspector General's Office - 220 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC 29210-5427 - Ph: 803-896-9595; Special Education Office, 220 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC I have read and fully understand DJJ's position concerning the law.

• Yes
• No

03

I understand that SCDJJ will not hire or promote anyone who may have contact with residents and shall not enlist the services of any contractor who may have contact with residents who have engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility juvenile facility, or other institution (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997); has been convicted of engaging in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

• Yes
• No

04

I understand that my fingerprint record received from the FBI and SLED must indicate no felony convictions as a condition of employment.

• Yes
• No

05

I certify that I have not been convicted of any criminal offenses that carries a sentence of 1 year or more or any criminal offenses that involves moral turpitude (an act contrary to the accepted rule of right and duty to man and society). Forfeiture of bond, a guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere is considered the equivalent of a conviction.

• Yes
• No

06

Have you or any members of your family ever been a victim of a crime committed by a juvenile who is currently under the supervision of SCDJJ? If yes, type in "Yes" and give your last name of the juvenile, date, and location of trial. If no, please type "No".
07

Do you currently or have you ever worked in or have been professionally associated with a prison, jail, lock, community confinement facility, juvenile facility or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 1997?

• Yes
• No

08

If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the institution(s) and your date(s) of employment.
09

Do you have a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

10

Are you at least 21 years of age?

• Yes
• No

11

Will you now or in the future require sponsorship to work in the U.S.?

• Yes
• No

12

Are you currently employed or have you previously been employed with SCDJJ?

• Yes
• No

13

Are you able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation?

• Yes
• No

14

How did you hear about this position?

• SC State Government Jobs Website
• Career Fair
• SC Works
• Social Media
• DJJ Employee
• Indeed.com
• Other

15

If you answered "DJJ Employee" for the previous question, please share their name.
16

If you answered "Other" for the previous question, please specify.
17

Did you graduate from an accredited medical school and are you licensed as a medical doctor (psychiatrist) in the State of South Carolina?

• Yes
• No

18

Have you completed a fellowship program in child/adolescent psychiatry or forensic psychiatry?

• Yes