Psychological Associate

Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) within the Department of Health Services (DHS) is recruiting to fill two Psychological Associate positions in the Chapter 971 Treatment Unit in Mauston, WI. These positions will work Monday-Friday.

SRSTC opened in 2001 and provides care and treatment for several different patient populations. The center houses Wisconsin’s Sexually Violent Persons Program, provides care and treatment for persons found not guilty by reasons of mental disease or mental defect, and provides court ordered treatment, testing, and education to patients found not competent to stand trial.  SRSTC is a 500-bed treatment facility and is part of the Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS). Watch this video to learn more about the work of DCTS.

As an employee of the State of Wisconsin, you'll have access to an amazing benefits package, including:

• 3.5 weeks of vacation, 9 paid holidays and ample sick time; limitations may apply for leave time usage in the first six months. 

• Top rated health plan options starting at $47/month for single plans and $117/month for family plans, after 2 months of state service. 

• Exceptional pension plan with a 7.25% employer match in 2027 with lifetime retirement payment. Plus, a tax advantaged supplemental retirement savings plan which allows you to save money directly from your paycheck for retirement. Use this Total Rewards Calculator to see the total value of our competitive benefits package!  

• Several flex spending accounts: medical, dependent care, commuter, parking and High-Deductible Health Savings.

• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program.

• A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being.

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.

Position Summary:

SRSTC provides treatment services to approximately 210 adult male sexual offenders who have been civilly committed or who are awaiting commitment under Wis. Stat. Ch. 980. The institution also serves approximately 60 patients who are deemed not guilty by mental disease or defect, under Wis. Stat. Ch. 971. As a Psychological Associate, you will perform therapy and assessment services to Ch. 971 patients at SRSTC. Your primary responsibilities will include the following:

• Functioning as part of a multidisciplinary team. 
• Taking a clinical leadership role, under the guidance of the Treatment Coordinator. 
• Providing training for staff in relevant topic areas and serving as a supervisor for psychology interns and affiliate students. 
• Working closely with the other Psychological Associates and other chapter 971 staff assisting in the coordination of service delivery to ensure that the unique mental health treatment needs of cognitively impaired, and severely mentally ill functioning patients have been addressed, via behavioral management techniques, intervention, training, and research.

Starting pay is $44.54 /hour (approximately $92,600 annually), plus excellent benefits. Additional add-on available for:

• $6.00 /hour for a recognized Doctorate in Psychology or a related field such as Behavioral Disabilities
• $3.00 /hour for a total of $9.00 /hour for an Interim Psychologist Licensure
• $5.00 /hour for total of $11.00 /hour for a Permanent Psychologist Licensure

A 12-month probationary period is required. Pay schedule and range is 12/63. Pay for current or former state employees will be set based on the rules that apply to compensation for the applicable transaction. 

All appointees will be required to receive a TB test, which will be administered by SRSTC or medical personnel approved by the facility after their start date.

All applicants who may be appointed to this position will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled. 

DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.  DHS is not an E-Verify employer nor a STEM-OPT eligible employer.

Minimally qualified applicants will have all of the following:

• A master’s degree in psychology (e.g., Clinical Psychology, Behavior Psychology, Forensic Psychology, etc.) or related field (e.g., Applied Behavior Analysis, Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, etc.) from an accredited program. Note: a copy of your transcripts will be required prior to appointment to this position.

• Experience, education, or training with diagnostic and behavioral assessment techniques, including knowledge of functional analysis, personality development, personality functioning, and/or pathological process.

• Experience, education, or training developing behavior management plans.

• Experience delivering psychotherapy in individual or group settings.

Well-qualified applicants will also have one or more of the following:

• Experience applying standards for delivery of treatment, administering psychological tests, and behavioral assessments of people who are committed under Wisconsin statutes 971.17 and 971.14.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing serious and persistent mental illness.
• Experience providing training and consultation to other staff.

Your letter of qualifications is limited to 2 pages. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process.  Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application. 

Helpful Information: 

• Once your application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click “Save” to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline. 

• You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.

• Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above. 

• Please monitor your email for communications related to this position. 

• Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered. 

• If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs. 

• For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Mike Sansom in Human Resources at [email protected].

DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans’ hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran’s Affairs, click here.

You will be required to attach your current resume in a compatible format and answer one or more questions. 

The deadline to apply is October 23, by 11:59 pm. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm.  Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.