Head of Operations Management (m/w/d)

Overview We are assisting a community healthcare provider in Athens, GA in their search for a full-time Director of Operations. This role provides executive leadership for the operational performance of a small behavioral health agency.

This leader is responsible for driving operational excellence, ensuring regulatory compliance, strengthening program quality, and supporting strategic growth across the organization. Working closely with leadership and clinical teams, the Director of Operations fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous quality improvement while ensuring exceptional service delivery to clients and community partners.

Responsibilities Operational Leadership: Provide executive oversight of daily operations across behavioral health programs and service lines, develop, implement, and monitor operational policies, procedures and best practices that promote efficiency and high-quality service delivery, ensure programs operate effectively while meeting financial, quality and performance objectives, monitor operational metrics and implement process improvements that enhance productivity and client outcomes, manage departmental budgets and control operating expenses while maintaining exceptional service quality.

Program Development & Performance Improvement: Lead the planning, implementation, and expansion of behavioral health programs and services, identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and client experience, partner with clinical leadership to ensure programs meet organizational quality standards and evidence-based practices, champion continuous quality improvement initiatives using data-driven performance measures, evaluate operational outcomes and recommend strategies that improve efficiency, access, and service excellence.

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight: Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations, accreditation standards, licensing requirements and organizational policies; oversee operational readiness for audits, accreditation reviews, licensing inspections and regulatory surveys, monitor compliance metrics and implement corrective action plans as needed, maintain current knowledge of regulatory changes impacting behavioral healthcare operations.

Strategic Planning & Organizational Growth: Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute strategic initiatives that support the organization’s mission and long-term objectives, identify opportunities to expand programs, improve operational capacity and strengthen community partnerships, utilize operational and financial data to guide strategic decision-making and organizational performance, support change management initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Counseling or a related field strongly preferred.

Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral healthcare, healthcare operations or human services.

Demonstrated success leading multiple programs or service lines within a community health organization.

Strong knowledge of behavioral health regulations, accreditation standards, licensing requirements and quality improvement methodologies.

Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, financial management and operational analytics.

Proven ability to lead organizational change, improve operational performance and build high-performing teams.

Exceptional leadership, communication, organizational and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Experience Leadership experience within community behavioral health, substance use treatment, integrated healthcare or nonprofit health-care organizations.

Experience overseeing multi-site operations.

Knowledge of Medicaid, managed care and behavioral health reimbursement models.

Experience leading organizations through accreditation surveys and regulatory reviews.

90,000–$1000,000. 25 days paid time off (14 personal leave days and 11 paid holidays).

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