Mental Health Clinician

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​  The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.  

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

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Salary: $65,304.00 - $78,895.00 (GS.12)

Work Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.*

Work Location: 6098 Debra Road, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status: This is an Exempt position.

Department:  Mayor's Office Family Justice Center

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:
The Mental Health Clinician delivers comprehensive, evidence-based, and trauma-informed therapeutic services to diverse individuals, families, and groups facing emotional, behavioral, or psychological challenges. This role is responsible for conducting clinical assessments, developing targeted treatment plans, facilitating individual and group sessions, and providing crisis intervention and risk management. Additionally, the Clinician oversees clinical interns, collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and community partners to optimize client outcomes, and ensures strict compliance with organizational, ethical, and HIPAA standards—including meticulous clinical documentation and productivity reporting. The ideal candidate demonstrates a high degree of professionalism, dependability, and flexibility, maintains active professional liability insurance, and possesses a valid driver's license.

SERIES LEVEL: 
The Mental Health Clinician is a stand-alone position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, diagnostic evaluations, and risk assessments for assigned clients.

Develop, implement, and regularly update individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clients and, when appropriate, families or caregivers.

Provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions to individuals, families, and groups in accordance with professional standards and best practices.

Monitor client progress, evaluate treatment effectiveness, and adjust interventions as clinically indicated.

Provide crisis intervention services, including safety planning, de-escalation, and coordination with emergency or higher-level care when necessary.

Maintain timely, accurate, and confidential clinical documentation in compliance with agency policies, ethical guidelines, and applicable laws and regulations.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, supervisors, and community partners to ensure coordinated and comprehensive client care.

Educate clients and families on mental health conditions, coping strategies, and available community resources.

Comply with all professional, ethical, licensing, and regulatory requirements, including mandatory reporting obligations.

Participate in clinical supervision, case consultations, staff meetings, training, and continuing education activities.

Use electronic health record systems and other clinical software to document services and manage caseloads.

Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and uphold client rights, dignity, and cultural responsiveness.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

Performs other duties as assigned. 

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any): 
None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a closely related behavioral health field from an accredited institution with two (2) years of clinical experience. 

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:
Valid Driver’s License

Must have one of the following:
Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Licensed Medical Family Therapist (LMFT)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of TN

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
Knowledge of mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning consistent with DSM-5-TR criteria. Knowledge of evidence-based therapeutic modalities (e.g., CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing). Knowledge of crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, and safety planning techniques. Knowledge of ethical standards, professional boundaries, and applicable federal, state, and local laws governing mental health practice. Knowledge of confidentiality requirements, including HIPAA and mandated reporting obligations. Knowledge of community resources, referral processes, and levels of care within the behavioral health system. Knowledge of cultural humility, diversity, equity, and inclusion principles as applied to clinical practice.

Skill in conducting comprehensive clinical assessments and developing individualized treatment plans. Skill in delivering effective individual, family, and group therapy interventions. Skill in building therapeutic rapport and maintaining professional relationships with clients and families. Skill in crisis de-escalation and clinical decision-making under pressure. Skill in maintaining accurate, timely, and compliant clinical documentation. Skill in oral and written communications, as well as professional presentations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Positions in this class typically require fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Safety Sensitive: NO
Child Sensitive: YES
Dept of Transportation (CDL): NO

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check / fingerprinting.

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

KNV 7/01/2026

250536 KS/KM