Chief Clinical and Operations Officer

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nAbout Paragon Behavioral Health Connections\nParagon Behavioral Health Connections is a comprehensive behavioral health organization on a mission to positively impact individuals and families through compassionate, and client-centered care. Our mission is to deliver personalized care that uplifts our clients and builds supportive connections in communities. Through community based or in-home services, and digital solutions as needed, we meet clients where they are—both physically and emotionally—to provide the right support at the right time. Serving communities across Colorado, we deliver equitable and creative “one-stop” behavioral health services—providing in-home mental health and substance use treatment, crisis stabilization, early childhood support, intensive outpatient programs, assertive community treatment, medication management, wrap around support and more. We believe care should meet people where they are, both physically and emotionally. Our approach is rooted in understanding, respect, innovation, and community collaboration.\nOur vision is to empower individuals and families with complex needs, helping them overcome challenges, build essential skills, and access the resources necessary to achieve long-term well-being. We offer a wide range of services, including step-down care from inpatient hospitalization for youth and adults, comprehensive support for children and families, and specialized treatment for adults facing depression, trauma, substance use, and other mental health needs.\nOur programming includes intensive care management supports for families and adults, Crisis Stabilization programming, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) for individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness, Child First for young children and caregivers, integrated co-occurring Intensive Outpatient treatment, individual and family therapy, medication management (including MAT), peer support, supported employment/housing, and holistic recovery services for mental health and substance use disorders.\n\nWhy Work With Paragon\n\nStatewide Reach - Deliver care where it’s needed most. We’re not region-limited—serve communities across Colorado, including rural and frontier areas with limited access to care.\nFlexibility & Work–Life Balance - Own your schedule. Partner with families to set visit times that work for them (and you), so you can enjoy Colorado’s trails, slopes, and sunshine during off-peak hours.\nClinical Leadership & Support - Clinicians lead here. Our executive team includes licensed providers who shape business decisions with a care-first lens. We provide licensure supervision and regular consultation to support your growth as a clinician.\nComprehensive, Company-Paid Benefits - We cover health, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance—company-paid—so there are no premium deductions from your paycheck. Keep your full salary and your peace of mind.\nCareer Growth Opportunities - Grow with us. Explore new modalities and specializations and advance into leadership as we expand statewide.\n\nPosition Purpose\n\nThe Chief Clinical and Operations Officer (CCOO) provides executive leadership for the clinical, medical, and operational functions of Paragon Behavioral Health Connections. This role ensures that services are clinically sound, operationally efficient, financially sustainable, and aligned with the organization's mission, vision, and values.\nThe CCOO carries direct executive accountability for utilization management, behavioral health outcomes reporting, and the clinical navigation of high-acuity and complex cases and drives the standardization of patient communication and person-centered care delivery across all programs. The CCOO oversees service delivery, program operations, and quality outcomes while advancing innovation, integration, and value-based care, and serves as (or directly oversees) the organization's designated Privacy Officer, ensuring the protection of patient information across clinical and operational systems.\nThe CCOO partners closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to connect clinical and operational performance to financial strategy, translating service line, payer mix, and utilization data into growth planning, investment priorities, and long-range financial forecasts. This is accomplished through active collaboration and engagement with Center leadership, staff, community, and stakeholders.\nThe CCOO partners with the Chief Medical Director to connect medical and prescribing services with clinical operations to ensure coordinated care and services and aligned operational practices. \n\nOrganizational Structure & Direct Reports\n\nTo consolidate clinical and operational accountability under a single executive and strengthen the line of sight between clinical quality, compliance, and patient experience, the following positions transition from reporting to the CEO to reporting directly to the CCOO:\n\nChief Clinical Director — leads clinical service delivery, provider practice standards, and clinical program design.\nQuality & Outcomes Director — owns outcomes measurement, outcomes/UM reporting, and performance dashboards and licensing compliance. \nProduct Owner — prioritizes and builds the clinical, UM, and outcomes-reporting technology platforms in partnership with the CTO.\nPR & Communications Specialist — executes standardized, patient-centered communication across all patient touchpoints, as well as external communication materials.\n\nThe Chief Financial Officer, Human Resources Director and Chief Technology Director continue to report directly to the CEO. Given the technology dependencies of utilization management and outcomes reporting, the CCOO, Chief Medical Director and Chief Technology Director maintain a formal, matrixed working relationship.\n\nEducation, Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required\n\nMaster's or doctoral degree in a behavioral health field, with active, unrestricted license required.\nTen years of progressively responsible management experience, including at least five years in community behavioral health management, spanning behavioral health administration, clinical practice, and/or other administrative experience relevant to this role.\nDemonstrated experience with utilization management programs, medical necessity/level-of-care review, and payer authorization processes.\nProven track record building and interpreting behavioral health outcomes reporting, quality dashboards, and data-driven performance management.\nWorking knowledge of HIPAA privacy and security requirements and experience coordinating and ensuring compliance with healthcare privacy regulations.\nStrong knowledge of financial principles and the diverse funding streams in community mental health organizations, with demonstrated experience partnering with finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and growth strategy.\nDemonstrated ability to implement, maintain, and lead others to a high level of clinical quality, efficiency, and compliance with administrative and best-practice standards.\nExcellent interpersonal, writing, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate clinical and operational performance to boards, payers, and regulators.\nExperience with relevant clinical, reporting, and business computer applications (EHR, UM platforms, reporting/BI tools).\n\nEssential Duties\n\nExecutive Leadership\n\nServe as a key member of the executive leadership team, advising the CEO on clinical, medical, and operational strategy.\nTranslate organizational strategy into operational, medical, and clinical execution.\nDevelopment of strategic growth priorities and identification of business opportunities and objectives in collaboration with CFO and CEO.\nDemonstrates strong leadership presence, building confidence, influence and trust with the employees, leadership team, partners and Board.\nRepresent the organization with payers, regulators, and community partners.\nProvide direct executive leadership, goal-setting, and performance management for the Chief Clinical Director, Quality & Outcomes Director, Product Owner, and PR & Communications Specialist, aligning each function around a unified clinical and operational strategy.\nDevelop organizational decision-making frameworks and accountability structures to align organizational objectives.\nChampion and lead Center-wide projects as applicable and build a culture of accountability and collaboration.\nDevelop a governance infrastructure (decision rights, escalation paths, and review cadences) that ensures change management priorities are sequenced, resourced and sustained as Paragon grows and expands across Colorado. \nMentor, coach, and develop direct reports, building bench strength and supporting their growth into future leadership roles.\nReview current meeting structures, project management practices, and organizational design, and recommend improvements that support efficiency and clarity of accountability.\n\nUtilization Management\n\nOwn executive accountability for the utilization management (UM) function, including authorization workflows, medical necessity review, level-of-care determinations, and concurrent/retrospective review.\nMonitor and report UM performance metrics (e.g., service utilization tied to acuity, length of stay, readmission rates) and drive continuous process improvement in partnership with the Quality & Outcomes Director.\nEnsure UM practices meet payer, regulatory, and accreditation requirements and support success in value-based payment arrangements.\n\nBehavioral Health Outcomes & Reporting\n\nEstablish and maintain clinical quality standards, outcome measures, and measurement-based care practices across all programs.\nDirect the design and delivery of behavioral health outcomes reporting for executive leadership, the Board, funders, payers, and regulatory bodies, ensuring data integrity, timeliness, and clarity.\nAdvance clinical and medical innovation and population health initiatives using outcomes data to guide decision-making.\nImprove outcomes and demonstrate measurable impact across clinical, medical, and operational domains.\n\nHigh-Acuity Case Navigation & Clinical Process Improvement\n\nDevelop, standardize, and continuously improve clinical pathways and escalation protocols for high-acuity, complex, and crisis-level cases to ensure safe, timely, and well-coordinated care across all levels of service in partnership with Quality and Clinical Teams.\nEstablish case review and escalation structures so high-risk cases receive appropriate clinical oversight, interdisciplinary coordination, and follow-up.\nOversee all clinical and medical services to ensure delivery of evidence-based, person-centered, and culturally responsive care, and lead licensing processes.\n\nPrivacy & Compliance Oversight\n\nServe as, or provide direct executive oversight of, the organization's designated HIPAA Privacy Officer, ensuring privacy policies, workforce training, breach response, and safeguards are current and effective across clinical and operational systems.\nEnsure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and oversee the Contract Compliance Director's management of licensing, payer, and regulatory obligations.\n\nPatient Communication & Patient-Centered Care\n\nDirect the standardization of patient communication across all touchpoints — scheduling, care plans, follow-up, and educational materials — ensuring consistency, plain-language accessibility, and cultural responsiveness, in partnership with the PR & Communications Specialist.\nImplement systems that strengthen access, scheduling, and customer service consistent with a person-centered care model in partnership with Clinical Director, Admissions and Technology partners. \n\nFinancial Strategy & Growth (in collaboration with the CFO)\n\nPartner with the CFO to develop and execute the organization's multi-year growth strategy, aligning clinical program expansion, service line investment, and payer strategy with financial capacity and targets.\nCo-develop financial forecasts and business cases for new programs, service lines, and markets, providing the clinical/operational assumptions (utilization, staffing ratios, outcomes impact) that underpin CFO-led financial models.\nPartner with the HR Director and CFO to forecast staffing needs against clinical volume, program growth, and budget, ensuring workforce planning is aligned with financial and operational targets.\nReport jointly with the CFO to the CEO and Board on the financial performance of clinical operations, including cost-per-episode, payer mix, margin by service line, and the financial impact of UM and outcomes initiatives.\nEnsure value-based and risk-based payer contracts negotiated are structured to support both clinical goals and financial sustainability, in coordination with the CFO.\nIdentify and evaluate growth opportunities (new programs, partnerships, acquisitions, geographic expansion) and lead clinical/operational due diligence in partnership with the CFO and CEO. \n\nOperations, Finance & People\n\nProvide executive oversight of daily operations, facilities, and administrative functions in partnership with Contract Management and Procurement staff.\nEstablish and oversee operational policies and procedures, and engage in strategic planning using a systems approach. Partner with the Human Resources Director on talent assessments and succession planning, applying a growth-minded lens to identify talent gaps and build development plans for key roles.\nSet operational and performance goals with departments tied to organizational goals, and monitor performance against those goals.\nSupport CFO in fiscal and budgetary planning, including implementing and facilitating entrepreneurial and development efforts and initiatives.\nParticipate in decision-making and negotiation of payer contracts in collaboration with CEO and CFO.\nDetermine organizational priorities for selection of new technology solutions including EHR.\nDemonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to shifting priorities and trends, maintaining focus on implementing change while supporting and engaging staff.\nEnsure all program activities operate consistently and ethically within the mission and values of Paragon.\nFoster integration with the community by demonstrating leadership and partnership with external organizations, serving as a liaison for committees, and maintaining relationships, and partnerships with local communities.\nEnsure recruitment and retention of quality staff and promote the professional growth of staff, in partnership with the Human Resources Director.\nParticipate in Board meetings and other Board activities.\n\nOther Duties\nOther duties and project leadership as assigned.\n\nDiversity & Inclusion\nParagon Behavioral Health Connections is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.