Freelance Forensic Radiologist Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $367,572.00 Annually
Location : Pierce County - Lakewood, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-05182
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: BHHA
Opening Date: 07/28/2026
Closing Date: 8/25/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) - Gage Center for Forensic Services (GCFS), Western State Hospital
The Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA) provides high-quality inpatient forensic psychiatric care for individuals adjudicated Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI), those requiring Competency Restoration, and individuals referred for inpatient forensic evaluation among other court orders. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) serves as the highest-level clinical executive for the Gage Center for Forensic Services (GCFS) at Western State Hospital (WSH). Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CMO is a key member of the Executive Cabinet and Governing Body, responsible for strategic, clinical, and administrative leadership of all medical services across a 458-bed forensic psychiatric hospital.
In this role, you will lead multidisciplinary clinical teams, oversee hospital-wide medical operations, and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations including CMS Conditions of Participation, RCW, WAC, HIPAA, and professional standards of practice. You will shape the hospital's clinical strategy, strengthen workforce stability, and guide GCFS through major organizational transitions, including preparation for the new forensic hospital.
This is an opportunity to lead transformational change in one of Washington's most complex healthcare environments. The successful candidate will improve service delivery, build high-performing clinical teams, and leave a lasting impact on forensic psychiatric care statewide.
Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.
Some of what you'll do:

• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate all psychiatric and medical services across GCFS, ensuring safe, high-quality, patient-centered care.
• Lead strategic planning and operational execution for medical services, ensuring alignment with GCFS mission, values, and certification requirements.
• Build, mentor, and supervise senior medical leaders including psychiatrists, physicians, ARNPs, psychologists, and clinical administrators.
• Oversee recruitment, retention, credentialing, and privileging of licensed medical staff to ensure 24/7 coverage and compliance with CMS standards.
• Monitor hospital performance across Medical Services, Clinical Laboratory, Radiology, Physical Therapy, and the Medical Clinic.
• Lead development of key performance indicators to improve operational efficiency, staff satisfaction, and patient outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, accrediting bodies, RCW, WAC, HIPAA, and DSHS/BHHA/GCFS policies.
• Oversee treatment planning processes, review complex clinical cases, and guide quality improvement initiatives. Coordinate admissions to ensure timelines established by law are met.
• Partner with nursing, rehabilitation, social work, and other disciplines to ensure integrated, person-centered care.
• Prepare GCFS for transition into the new forensic hospital, including operational readiness and clinical process redesign.
• Manage a large operating budget and influence additional financial drivers including staffing, and external medical contracts.
• Provide timely responses to assignments from DSHS, BHHA, and the CEO.

What we're looking for:
Required Qualifications

• Valid license to practice Medicine and Surgery in Washington State.
• Board Certification in General Psychiatry. Forensic training and board certification is not required but is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated medical executive leadership experience.
• Experience integrating private-sector management practices into public healthcare systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five years of medical leadership experience.
• Experience in forensic or carceral psychiatric settings.
• Ability to inspire teams and communicate effectively.
• Model humility, flexibility, and collaborative leadership.
• Strong data analytic skills and experience with budgets, policy development, and personnel management.
• Training or experience in systems management.
• Demonstrated ability to build, support and lead highly effective teams.
• Navigate complex interpersonal and operational challenges.
• Commitment to equity, social justice, and reducing bias in healthcare delivery.

Why a person would want this job:
This role is challenging, fast-paced, and deeply meaningful. The CMO works with highly professional, high-functioning teams and sees the direct impact of their leadership through improved safety, stronger clinical outcomes, and enhanced patient care. Success in this role brings a profound sense of accomplishment, especially when data shows measurable improvements in treatment quality and hospital operations. This role also offers the authority to move certain projects forward that often get stuck in red tape. The complexity of GCFS ensures continuous learning, growth, and the opportunity to develop advanced leadership skills that shape statewide forensic mental health care.
What a person learns, does, and becomes:
The CMO develops sophisticated leadership capabilities, gains experience solving complex clinical and interpersonal problems, and builds frameworks for addressing similar challenges more efficiently over time. This role strengthens strategic thinking, systems leadership, and the ability to guide large-scale organizational change.
Telework:
Telework is available part-time, as coordinated with the CEO and Executive Cabinet.
Questions?
Email Jourdan Kovacs at jourdan.kovacs@dshs.wa.gov, reference 05182. Learn more about DSHS at
The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental Information
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
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More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective