Chief Executive Officer

Job Description

Job Description

Chief Executive Officer
Westminster, Colorado
Full Time

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will have full responsibility for the hospital's day-to-day operations, strategic direction, financial performance, regulatory compliance, clinical quality, workforce development, and business growth.
This executive will collaborate with the governing body, medical staff, executive leadership, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders to improve patient outcomes, strengthen operational performance, grow census, and expand service offerings.
The ideal candidate is a collaborative, hands-on behavioral healthcare executive with a proven record of hospital leadership, financial accountability, regulatory survey readiness, employee retention, culture building, and sustainable census growth. Experience leading a behavioral health hospital startup, expansion, or joint venture is particularly relevant.
Key Responsibilities
1. Executive Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Develop and execute the hospital's strategic business plan in collaboration with the governing body.
• Establish annual operating and capital budgets, organizational priorities, and performance objectives.
• Direct day-to-day hospital operations and align departmental responsibilities with clinical and business goals.
• Provide accurate reports to the governing board and lead quarterly board calls.
• Build a collaborative leadership culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and organizational growth.

2. Hospital Operations and Financial Management

• Maintain full operational oversight of hospital services, staffing, resources, and performance.
• Drive financial performance, budget management, revenue generation, and appropriate fiscal controls.
• Lead business development initiatives that support census growth and service expansion.
• Manage commercial payer relationships, contract negotiations, reimbursement rates, and contract compliance.
• Monitor contract performance and identify opportunities to improve revenue and operational efficiency.

3. Clinical Quality, Patient Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain hospital licensure, accreditation, and compliance with applicable healthcare regulations.
• Lead Joint Commission survey readiness and maintain effective auditing, corrective-action, and preventive-action programs.
• Oversee Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities and ensure appropriate resources and training.
• Ensure prompt investigation and follow-up of patient safety concerns, including corrective action for system-level issues.
• Monitor medical staff compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Maintain continuous readiness for regulatory inspections and accreditation surveys.

4. Workforce Leadership and Talent Development

• Recruit, develop, and retain qualified clinical, medical, and administrative professionals.
• Expand medical and allied health services through the recruitment of psychiatrists and other qualified professionals.
• Evaluate executive and departmental leadership performance and provide coaching or corrective action as appropriate.
• Promote staff participation in in-service training and continuing education, including training related to children, adolescents, and families.
• Build a positive workplace culture that supports employee engagement, retention, collaboration, and accountability.

5. Business Development and Community Engagement

• Establish and maintain relationships with government agencies, community organizations, local businesses, healthcare providers, and referral partners.
• Develop the continuum of care, including outpatient services and community-based programs.
• Partner with healthcare organizations and community stakeholders to improve access to behavioral health services.
• Strengthen referral networks, service utilization, and the hospital's position in the local market.
• Support marketing and community engagement initiatives that contribute to sustainable growth.

6. Governance, Compliance, and Organizational Standards

• Attend and, when appropriate, chair meetings involving the governing body, medical staff, executive management, and hospital departments.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, the corporate compliance program, confidentiality requirements, and professional standards.
• Oversee timely follow-up of reported compliance concerns, staff training, and proactive auditing.
• Maintain professional relationships with national and state healthcare organizations and remain informed about behavioral healthcare initiatives.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Marketing, a clinical discipline, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of senior leadership or CEO-level experience in behavioral health, acute care, and/or managed care, or successful completion of a CEO training program, as stated in the general qualifications.
• Proven behavioral health hospital leadership and operational management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead hospital licensure, accreditation, and regulatory compliance activities.
• Strong knowledge of hospital administration, clinical operations, financial management, and business development.
• Experience managing senior leaders and direct and indirect reporting structures.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and changing operational demands while maintaining confidentiality and professional integrity.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• MBA, Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), or another relevant graduate degree.
• Behavioral Health CEO or hospital executive leadership experience.
• Joint Commission survey leadership and accreditation readiness.
• Hospital financial management and P&L accountability.
• Talent recruitment, employee retention, and organizational culture development.
• Marketing, community engagement, referral development, and census growth.
• Behavioral health hospital startup or expansion experience.
• Joint venture experience.
• Experience expanding inpatient, outpatient, PHP, IOP, and community-based services.