D204 - Executive - Chief Operating Officer

About River Edge Behavioral Health


Serving more than 10,000 Georgians, River Edge continues to be one of the state's leading resources for mental health, substance use disorder treatments and supports as well as individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. River Edge offers outpatient services at our Emery Highway-Macon, Monroe County and Baldwin County locations. Outpatient services include behavioral health, nursing, and psychiatric assessment, stabilization and medication maintenance services as well as crisis intervention services as well as awareness, education and recovery groups.


Chief Operating Officer (COO)

River Edge Behavioral Health

Company Overview:


At River Edge Behavioral Health in Macon, GA, employees are expected to develop meaningful relationships with patients, establishing trust and making a difference in the lives of clients and their families. We believe in supporting our team as well as our clients with our comprehensive benefits package and a supportive work culture, including health, dental, and vision benefits, paid vacation, retirement plans, and more.


Position Overview:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as an executive leader charged with overseeing all operational aspects of River Edge Behavioral Health's comprehensive behavioral health system, with specific responsibility for achieving and sustaining Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) certification and standards. The COO drives high-quality, integrated care and leads transformation initiatives that align operational performance with CCBHC requirements, organizational mission, and strategic vision.

The COO plays a crucial leadership role, guiding the organization's daily operations while ensuring that its mission and strategic goals are fully realized. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO works closely with the leadership team to develop and implement both short- and long-term operational objectives, translating the strategic plan into measurable targets and ensuring that all departments, clinical, residential, administrative, and support-operate efficiently, effectively, and consistently.

Location/Schedule: 175 Emery Highway, Macon, GA. Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the development and system-wide operationalization of CCBHC initiatives, ensuring alignment with certification criteria, funding guidance, and best practice standards for whole-person care.
• Oversee CCBHC-required data collection, reporting, and continuous quality improvement, using analytics to measure outcomes, demonstrate impact, and address gaps in care.
• Collaborate closely with clinical teams, project managers, and administrative divisions to launch and sustain CCBHC programs and partnerships.
• Use SAMHSA's CCBHC Criteria Compliance Checklist or state equivalence to systematically evaluate organizational readiness across domains, including staffing, service delivery, care coordination, quality reporting, and governance.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION:

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, working closely with the CEO and senior leaders to advance organizational goals.
• Contribute to organizational strategic planning, risk management, and change management initiatives.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and mission-driven organizational culture that supports staff engagement and high performance.

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE INTEGRATION:

• Direct the design and implementation of integrated care workflows, evidence-based practices, and trauma-informed approaches that advance the client and family experience.
• Champion a culture of accountability and performance excellence through ongoing staff training, workflow optimization, and systems innovation related to CCBHC and other service lines.
• Identify, coach, and mentor leadership and operational teams responsible for CCBHC delivery and quality outcomes.
• Foster strong cross-departmental collaboration to improve efficiency, communication, and service integration across behavioral health, residential, and support services.
• Represent the agency in partnerships with state agencies, providers, payers, community partners, and other stakeholders.

DATA, QUALITY PERFORMANCE, AND OUTCOMES:

• Track, analyze, and present CCBHC process and outcome metrics to executive leadership, the Board of Directors, payers, and external stakeholders.
• Implement routine data monitoring and quality improvement cycles to quickly identify successes and emergent needs, supporting sustainability and future expansion applications.
• Use data analytics to evaluate operational performance, identify trends, address gaps in care, and improve client outcomes.
• Partner with clinical, quality, and compliance leaders to implement evidence-based, trauma-informed, and integrated care practices.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to support informed decision-making and long-term sustainability.

FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:

• Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to manage operational budgets, resource allocation, and cost containment strategies.
• Ensure operational decisions support fiscal responsibility, grant compliance, and long-term organizational stability.
• Align staffing, infrastructure, and operational investments with service demand, performance outcomes, and strategic priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree preferred; a bachelor's degree; or an equivalent license (e.g. RN, LCSW, LMFT, LPC, or LADC) with proven track record of senior-level operational leadership will be considered in lieu of graduate degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of behavioral healthcare management experience, with at least 3 years in Director-level or higher executive roles.
• Demonstrated knowledge of CCBHC standards, grant compliance, and outcome-oriented operations.
• Experience leading integrated care models and multidisciplinary teams in a behavioral health context.
• Proven performance in process and quality improvement initiatives and strong project management abilities.

Additional Benefits:

• Flexible spending accounts
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• 11 Paid holidays

• Voluntary Life Insurance

If you are looking for an opportunity to make life better and a strong desire for personal growth we encourage you to apply. We promptly review all applications. Highly qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.


We are an equal opportunity employer and highly value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.


All selected applicants must pass a satisfactory background clearance and pre-employment drug test.