Director of South Mississippi State Hospital

Salary: $85,000.00 - $105,000.00 Annually
Location : 37 - LAMAR COUNTY, MS
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: 0372 - MH-EAST MS STATE HOSPITAL
Opening Date: 11/03/2026
Closing Date: 11/12/2026 11:59 PM Central
About the Position: Deputy Administrator - Tier IIDirector of South Mississippi State HospitalSouth Mississippi State Hospital (SMSH) in Purvis, Mississippi, is a behavioral health program operated by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, providing acute psychiatric services, alcohol and drug addiction treatment services, limited forensic services, nursing home services, and community living services that include short-term group home and supported housing services.Under the direction of the Director of Mississippi State Hospital, the Hospital Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of South Mississippi State Hospital and provides overall leadership, strategic direction, and administrative oversight for all hospital operations. This position is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality clinical and support services in compliance with state and federal regulations. The Director will collaborate with state agencies, healthcare providers, community partners, and staff to advance the hospital's mission of providing effective and compassionate behavioral health care.- Key Responsibilities:• Provide executive leadership and strategic planning to ensure high-quality programs and services provided by South Mississippi State Hospital.• Drive the hospital's mission and vision by creating a positive, productive, and patient-centered culture that reflects the hospital's values.• Oversee hospital operations, including clinical programs, nursing services, fiscal management, facilities and maintenance, human resources, and other support functions.• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, licensing, and accreditation standards (e.g., CMS, The Joint Commission, state regulations).• Develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures that promote safe, effective, and recovery-focused care.• Recruit and retain qualified staff, particularly in specialized behavioral health areas, and foster a positive and professional work environment.• Evaluate data related to SMSH's performance in relation to goals and objectives of the Department of Mental Health and take leadership actions to improve outcomes.• Direct and support leadership teams in program development, staff management, and quality improvement initiatives.• Oversee and administer the annual operating budget and ensure balanced resource deployment within the scope of applicable state and federal laws/regulations.• Maintain strong fiscal stewardship by managing budgets, financial reporting, and resource allocation.• Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.• Build and maintain effective working relationships with state and local agencies, advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders.• Routinely assess programs, implement appropriate new programs, and adapt existing programs to maintain and improve quality of care and services.• Represent the hospital to the Department of Mental Health, the Board of Mental Health, legislative bodies, and the public.
What you'll need to be Successful: Integrity, attention to detail, punctuality, organization skills, teamwork, professionalism, excellent and effective communication skills, problem solving skills, ability to multi-task, dependability, ability to conduct oneself in an ethical manner, ability to maintain confidentiality, and compassion.• Demonstrated knowledge of behavioral health and acute psychiatric care systems.• Proven ability to lead complex organizations, manage diverse teams, and drive results.• Strong financial management, organizational development, and problem-solving skills and demonstrated experience.• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement abilities.
Preferred Qualifications: • Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive leadership experience in hospital, behavioral health, or healthcare administration with related education.• Eligibility for Mississippi licensure in a relevant profession (if applicable) is preferred.Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in state government and inpatient hospital operations.

No available description
Health/Prescription InsuranceEligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state's health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits

Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance

All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances

Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts

Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.

Paid Personal Leave and Sick LeaveFull-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave

In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays

Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation's celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs

The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State's retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State's retirement program can be found at http://www.pers.state.ms.us
Deferred Compensation

State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union

All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training

The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities

Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders

Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual's salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01

How many years of related experience do you have? (refer to the job posting for an explanation of related experience)

• No experience
• 1 year of experience
• 2 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 4 years of experience
• 5 years of experience
• 6 years of experience
• 7 years of experience
• 8 years of experience
• 9 years of experience
• 10 years of experience
• More than 10 years

02

What is the highest level of education (or semester hours of college) you have completed?

• 8th grade
• GED or High School Equivalency Diploma / High School Diploma
• 30 semester hours
• Associate's Degree / 60 semester hours
• 90 semester hours
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Specialist Degree
• Doctorate Degree
• 9th grade
• 10th grade
• 11th grade

Required Question