Chief Operating Officer

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and serves as SFRC’s operational architect—ensuring that mission-aligned services are delivered with consistency, quality, and integrity across all programs and sites. This role oversees the infrastructure of the organization, translating strategy into systems and supporting people across departments to deliver high-impact, recovery-centered care.

The COO leads cross-functional teams spanning Finance, Facilities & Safety, Risk & Compliance, and Information Systems, and serves as the integrator across clinical and administrative operations. With a commitment to equity, client dignity, and performance excellence, the COO ensures that SFRC’s operational backbone is resilient and scalable in a time of system transformation and funding uncertainty.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Integration & Leadership

• Serve as a thought partner to the CEO, translating strategic priorities into operational execution plans.
• Foster cross-departmental alignment between finance, clinical, administrative, and quality teams.
• Cultivate a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organization.

Operations Management

• Oversee the effective day-to-day operations of SFRC’s administrative systems, including , payroll, procurement, and facilities.
• Lead a cohesive internal infrastructure that supports compliance with Medicaid, Medicare, and managed care requirements.
• Supervise key administrative leaders (VP of Finance, Director of IT, Facilities Director, Risk & Compliance Director).

Workforce & Culture

• Strengthen systems for recruitment, retention, onboarding, and workforce development.
• Partner with HR to operationalize a healthy and equitable workplace culture across SFRC’s generationally and geographically diverse teams.
• Oversee the implementation of standardized training, compliance protocols, and employee support initiatives.

Risk, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure that facilities, vehicles, and safety systems meet all regulatory, legal, and contractual standards.
• Support the development of a robust risk mitigation and incident management infrastructure, in coordination with CQI and legal counsel.
• Oversee organizational preparedness for audits, site visits, and accreditation reviews (e.g., CARF).

Fiscal Stewardship & Resource Management

• Partner with the VP of Finance to ensure operational alignment with budgeted resources and financial forecasts.
• Co-lead the implementation of new systems that improve billing accuracy, EHR use, inventory tracking, and service reimbursement.
• Monitor organizational performance metrics and identify cost-efficiencies without compromising service quality.

Infrastructure & Systems Innovation

• Lead the adoption and integration of modern tools to enhance operational visibility and decision-making.
• Ensure the successful implementation of technology platforms, including HRIS, EHR, billing, and data dashboards.
• Support the Practice Management and Data Teams in driving a systems-based approach to service delivery and reporting.

Qualifications

• Proven success as an executive or senior leader in a nonprofit, behavioral health, healthcare, or human services setting.
• Deep understanding of operational leadership, particularly in Medicaid- and grant-funded environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex cross-functional teams and guiding large-scale system change.
• Strong financial acumen and comfort navigating budgets, audits, and rate-based reimbursement environments.
• Strategic thinker with an orientation toward implementation, service quality, and workforce wellbeing.
• Collaborative leadership style with a deep commitment to recovery, equity, and community partnership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of CCBHC operations, Medicaid managed care, and behavioral health licensing standards.
• Experience leading in multi-site or rural organizations, or working within tribal, border, or frontier communities.
• Spanish, Diné, or Zuni language proficiency is a plus.
• MBA, MHA, MPA, MSW, or related advanced degree preferred but not required.

About Santa Fe Recovery Center

Santa Fe Recovery Center (SFRC) provides evidence-based, trauma-informed care to individuals and families impacted by substance use and co-occurring disorders across Northern New Mexico. With residential, outpatient, and crisis services spanning multiple counties, SFRC is building a regionally integrated recovery ecosystem—one rooted in dignity, access, and cultural responsiveness.