CEO

CEO for Non-Profit Mental Health Delivery Organization

Poughkeepsie, NY

Our client, People USA, is a peer-run mental health non-profit that creates, provides, and promotes its own innovative crisis response, and wellness services.

Position Summary

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) serves as the organization’s senior executive and is responsible for providing strategic, operational, financial, and organizational leadership in support of its mission to improve access to high-quality mental health and behavioral health services.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will provide vision and direction for the organization while ensuring the effective delivery, growth, and sustainability of its programs and services. The CEO will lead a team of senior executives and staff, strengthen relationships with community and healthcare partners, develop sustainable funding strategies, and ensure that services are accessible, effective, culturally responsive, and aligned with the needs of the communities served. This role will work collaboratively with President of People USA to ensure that all strategic initiatives are met.

The successful candidate will combine strong nonprofit leadership and business acumen with a genuine commitment to mental health services and the individuals and families who rely on them.

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction

• Partner with the Board of Directors to establish and execute the organization’s strategic vision, priorities, and long-term goals.
• Translate the organization’s mission into measurable operational and programmatic objectives.
• Identify opportunities to expand services, reach underserved populations, and respond to changing community mental health needs.
• Lead organizational growth, innovation, and change initiatives while maintaining a strong focus on mission and service quality.
• Establish performance measures and regularly evaluate progress against strategic and operational goals.

Mental Health Services & Program Delivery

• Provide executive oversight of all mental health and behavioral health programs and services.
• Ensure programs are accessible, client-centered, evidence-informed, culturally responsive, and aligned with community needs.
• Work closely with clinical and program leadership to maintain high standards of care and service delivery.
• Monitor program outcomes, client satisfaction, access to services, utilization, quality indicators, and overall community impact.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, develop new programs, and strengthen continuity of care.
• Ensure an appropriate balance between clinical excellence, accessibility, operational efficiency, and financial sustainability.

Financial Leadership & Sustainability

• Provide overall leadership for the organization’s financial health and long-term sustainability.
• Oversee development and management of the annual operating budget and long-range financial plans.
• Monitor revenue, expenses, cash flow, financial performance, and organizational risk.
• Develop and diversify revenue sources, including government funding, grants, contracts, philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and other funding opportunities.
• Work closely with the CFO/finance team and Board Finance Committee to ensure sound fiscal management and accountability.
• Evaluate opportunities for strategic growth, partnerships, new funding models, and service expansion.

Fundraising & Development

• Serve as a primary ambassador and fundraiser for the organization.
• Build strong relationships with foundations, corporations, individual donors, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and community leaders.
• Partner with the President, development team and Board to increase philanthropic support and diversify funding.
• Communicate the organization’s mission, impact, needs, and accomplishments effectively to donors and stakeholders.
• Identify strategic partnerships that can increase both funding and access to mental health services.

Board Relations & Governance

• Maintain a strong, collaborative relationship with the Board of Directors.
• Provide the Board with timely, accurate information regarding organizational performance, financial condition, opportunities, and risks.
• Support effective governance and ensure implementation of Board-approved strategies and policies.
• Prepare and present regular reports to the Board and appropriate committees.
• Engage Board members as ambassadors, advocates, fundraisers, and community partners.

Community & External Relations

• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson and community ambassador.
• Develop strong relationships with healthcare systems, hospitals, behavioral health providers, government agencies, schools, social service organizations, funders, and other community partners.
• Represent the organization in local, regional, and statewide behavioral health initiatives.
• Advocate for improved access to mental health services and resources.
• Build partnerships that strengthen the continuum of care and improve outcomes for individuals and families.

Compliance, Quality & Risk Management

• Ensure organizational compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, contracts, licensing requirements, and accreditation standards.
• Oversee policies and systems related to clinical quality, client safety, privacy, ethics, documentation, and risk management.
• Ensure compliance with applicable healthcare reimbursement and payer requirements, including government-funded programs where applicable.
• Establish a culture of accountability, transparency, continuous improvement, and ethical conduct.

Leadership & Organizational Culture

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing executive and management team.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards throughout the organization.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, inclusion, innovation, and professional development.
• Support employee engagement, retention, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Ensure that employees understand and are aligned with the organization’s mission and values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in healthcare administration, behavioral health, social services, business administration, public administration, or a related field strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience, preferably within nonprofit, healthcare, behavioral health, mental health, human services, or a related organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading a complex organization, preferably with multiple programs, locations, funding sources, or service lines.
• Proven experience developing and executing strategic plans.
• Strong financial management and budgeting experience.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, business development, grant development, or revenue diversification.
• Experience working effectively with a nonprofit Board of Directors.
• Strong understanding of mental health and/or behavioral health service delivery.
• Experience working with government agencies, healthcare systems, payers, community organizations, and other external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and growth.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, negotiation, and presentation skills.

Leadership Characteristics

• Mission-driven and genuinely committed to improving mental health outcomes.
• A strategic and visionary leader who can translate vision into execution.
• Financially astute and comfortable managing a complex nonprofit organization.
• A strong relationship builder who can develop trust with staff, Board members, donors, government officials, healthcare partners, and community leaders.
• An effective communicator and compelling ambassador for the organization.
• Collaborative, approachable, and emotionally intelligent.
• Comfortable leading through change and ambiguity.
• Accountable, transparent, and highly ethical.
• Focused on both quality of care and organizational sustainability.