Data is as of 6/15/2025.
city seal

City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

city seal

Public Safety Psychologist
FLSA: Standard/Exempt EEO Category: (20) Professionals
Class Code: 17280 Salary Grade: OF0
Approved: Last Revised: January 27, 2025

Purpose:
 

Under Public Safety Department supervision, this position provides individual, group, and family therapy for Public Safety Department personnel; develops and administers psychological screening for cadet applicants; develops and presents behavioral health training; and advises public safety executives on behavioral health trends and policies for first responders.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
  1. Provides basic counseling to individuals, couples, and families.
  2. Conducts screening evaluations of cadet applicants.
  3. Teaches behavioral health courses to first responders.
  4. Conducts advanced mental health evaluations and provides counseling to trauma exposed populations such: as SWAT, EOD, and other public safety personnel.
  5. Performs outreach and education to first responders at stations.
  6. Responds to emergency mental health situations experienced by first responders, potentially during non-traditional work hours.
  7. Participates as a member of a multi-disciplinary Public Safety Wellness Center team.
  8. Writes professional articles for law enforcement, as required by the position.
  9. Testifies in court as an expert witness for law enforcement, as required by the position.
  10. Debriefs shooting incidents for law enforcement, as required by the position.
  11. Provides advanced training to law enforcement personnel, as required by the position.
  12. Performs routine psychological work.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
  None.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
  • Knowledge of empirically supported treatment options for a broad range of disorders.
  • Skill in oral and written communication.
  • Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  • Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  • Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  • Skill in planning and organizing.
  • Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  • Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
Minimum Qualifications:
 
  • Graduation from an accredited college or university with a PhD in Psychology or a related field, plus three (3) years of post-doctoral experience, including two (2) years in public safety
Licenses and Certifications Required:
 
  • Licensed or eligible to be licensed by the State of Texas as a Psychologist.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.