Chief Operating Officer - Community Mental Health Center

Job Description

Job Description

Executive Leadership Opportunity | Community Behavioral Health

Vera French Community Mental Health Center is seeking an accomplished, mission-driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide executive leadership for the organization's clinical programs and day-to-day operations. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will translate strategic priorities into effective operations, strengthen service quality and access, and support coordinated, trauma-informed care across programs and locations.

Position status: Full-time, exempt, C-suite executive position

The Opportunity

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the COO will have broad responsibility for operational performance, clinical oversight, compliance, workforce leadership, financial stewardship, and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will be a collaborative and visible leader who uses data to guide decisions, develops high-performing teams, and builds systems that help employees deliver timely, high-quality services to the community.

Key Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across Vera French programs and operational areas, with administrative responsibility for physical locations.
• Partner with the CEO and senior leadership to establish strategic priorities, organizational goals, performance measures, and implementation plans.
• Provide administrative management and clinical oversight that promote quality, access, safety, regulatory compliance, and consistent service delivery.
• Coach and support directors, managers, clinical leaders, and other assigned staff while strengthening communication, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Use operational, clinical, workforce, and financial data to identify trends, improve processes, and evaluate outcomes.
• Guide program development, community-needs assessment, grant implementation, and responsible service expansion.
• Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to direct budget planning for assigned programs and operations, identify areas of concern, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Coordinate services across disciplines and cultivate effective relationships with affiliates, healthcare and human-service partners, planning agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Advance a culture of ethics, compliance, trauma-informed care, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in clinical on-call responsibilities and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or another behavioral health-related field desired.
• Highest applicable professional licensure in the candidate's field of study preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing nonprofit, clinically based, or community-focused programs.
• At least seven years of administrative leadership experience; progressively responsible senior leadership experience in healthcare or behavioral health is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary professional teams and collaborating across functional areas.
• Strong operational judgment, financial awareness, critical thinking, data analysis, planning, communication, and change-leadership skills.
• Ability to navigate regulatory change, funding constraints, competing priorities, and complex service-delivery challenges.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet Vera French insurance requirements.
• Ability to satisfy required background checks, reference checks, and health-screening requirements.

The Leader We Seek

The ideal candidate combines strategic perspective with hands-on operational leadership. This executive communicates with clarity, builds trust across disciplines, holds self and others accountable, and remains flexible and solutions-focused during change. A strong commitment to community behavioral health, ethical leadership, person-centered services, and responsible stewardship is essential.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a résumé and complete our employment application describing their executive leadership experience and commitment to community behavioral health. Click here to view our current openings.

Vera French Community Mental Health Center is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

NOTIFICATION AND AUTHORIZATION TO REQUIRE A MEDICAL EXAMINATION

I hereby certify that, if hired, I will disclose any limitations I have that may impact my ability to do the job. I understand that I may also be required to undergo a pre-employment or post-employment medical exam by the VFCMHC' designated health practitioner.

NOTIFICATION AND AUTHORIZATION TO CONTACT REFERENCES AND CONDUCT BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

I understand that I may be subject to a background check, and hereby authorize Vera French Community Mental Health Center, or any of its affiliates, to investigate my background to determine any and all information of concern as to my record, whether the same is of record or not, and I release employers and persons named in my application from all liability for any damages on account of his/her furnishing said information.

Additionally, you are hereby authorized to make any investigation of my personal history, educational background, military record,
motor vehicle records, criminal records, and credit history through an investigative or credit agency or bureau of your choice. I
authorize the release of this information by the appropriate agencies to the investigating service. I authorize and give permission for
the individuals listed as references to provide written information and/or verbally discuss my background with Vera French
Community Mental Health Center, or any of its affiliates.

This authorization, in original or copy form, shall be valid for this and any future reports and updates that may be required.
I understand that passing the background check is a condition of employment. A negative background check can be grounds for
dismissal, even if an offer has been made to me and I have been hired.