Chief Executive Officer – Behavioral Health Hospital
📍 Location: Multiple U.S. Locations (Onsite) – West Bloomfield, MI or Springfield, MO
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
🎓 Education: Bachelor’s Degree required (MBA/MHA preferred)
📈 Seniority Level: Executive
🕒 Experience Required: 5–10+ years leadership experience
✈️ Travel: Occasional
🌎 Visa Sponsorship: Not available
🚚 Relocation Assistance: Available
Role Overview
We are seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the overall operations, strategy, and performance of a behavioral health hospital.
This role carries full accountability for clinical quality, financial performance, regulatory compliance, talent development, and strategic growth, ensuring the facility delivers outstanding patient outcomes while achieving business objectives.
The CEO will act as the executive leader of the facility, working closely with the governing board, medical leadership, and community stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership & Strategy
Develop and execute the hospital’s strategic and operational plans
Partner with the governing body to define annual budgets and long-term growth strategy
Lead the organisation with a focus on quality care, operational excellence, and financial performance
Operational Management
Oversee day-to-day hospital operations, ensuring performance across:
Patient care outcomes
Financial management
Regulatory compliance
Staff performance and development
Establish organisational structure and accountability across departments
Financial & Business Performance
Drive achievement of census, revenue, and EBITDA targets
Lead payer contract negotiations and performance management
Identify opportunities for growth, service expansion, and operational efficiency
Clinical Quality & Compliance
Ensure compliance with:
Licensure and accreditation standards
Regulatory bodies and healthcare frameworks
Lead quality improvement initiatives (QAPI)
Maintain continuous survey readiness and audit compliance
Oversee patient safety initiatives and issue resolution
Talent & Culture
Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing leadership and clinical teams
Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement
Lead performance management, coaching, and succession planning
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain relationships with:
Healthcare providers
Government agencies
Community organisations
Drive referral growth and market presence
Represent the organisation within the local healthcare ecosystem
Program Development & Growth
Expand and enhance continuum of care, including outpatient and community-based services
Support innovation in treatment programs and service offerings
Lead initiatives to improve access to care and patient outcomes
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, or related field)
MBA/MHA or equivalent preferred
5+ years of senior leadership experience (CEO or equivalent) within:
Behavioral health
Acute care
Managed care environments
Strong experience with:
Hospital operations and administration
Financial management and P&L ownership
Regulatory compliance and accreditation
Key Skills & Expertise
Behavioral health hospital leadership experience
Strong financial and operational acumen
Experience with regulatory surveys and accreditation processes (e.g., Joint Commission)
Talent recruitment, retention, and leadership development
Marketing and community engagement
Quality improvement and patient safety leadership
Experience with hospital startup, turnaround, or expansion initiatives (preferred)
Leadership Competencies
High emotional intelligence and people leadership capability
Ability to drive results across financial, quality, and operational metrics
Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills
Proven ability to influence stakeholders and lead through change
Hands-on, visible leadership style with strong team engagement
Ability to balance short-term execution with long-term strategy
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will:
Have extensive experience leading behavioral health facilities
Demonstrate success in improving clinical quality and financial performance
Be a hands-on leader with strong presence across operations
Have experience managing multiple service lines
Bring a track record of:
Building high-performing teams
Achieving regulatory excellence
Driving sustainable growth
Key Success Metrics
Financial performance (census, revenue, EBITDA)
Talent retention and leadership development
Regulatory compliance and audit outcomes
Patient satisfaction and quality scores
Market growth and referral performance
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package
Performance-based bonus structure
Relocation support available
Executive-level compensation and incentives