Associate Chief Operations Officer

Dentonmhmr; Denton (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Dentonmhmr is seeking an Associate Chief Operations Officer to oversee daily operations across all services and partner with the C-suite to drive strategic initiatives, growth, and large-scale transformation.

The role demands autonomy, a strong leadership track record in behavioral health, and a commitment to trauma-informed, compliant operations with travel across the service area.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field and LPHA license.
• Minimum two years of executive leadership supervision in behavioral health or related human services.
• Ability to travel across the service area.
• Experience with mental illness, substance use disorders, homelessness, or co-occurring conditions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operational management across all services.
• Partner with C-suite leaders to execute strategic initiatives and organizational growth.
• Drive operational transformation and ensure compliance with regulations and standards.
• Coordinate operational improvement projects and reporting to executive leadership.
• Support crisis services, staffing, and program supervision as needed.
• Develop and monitor program workflows, performance standards, and accountability measures.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Operational management

Data-driven decision making

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in relevant field

LPHA license (licensed practitioner of the healing arts)

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR) system

Job description

The Associate Chief Operations Officer (Associate COO) is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of Center programs, ensuring efficient, high-quality, and compliant operations across all services lines. This role partners closely with the Chief Operations Officer, Chief Clinical Officer, Executive Director, and other C-Suite level leadership to execute strategic initiatives, organizational growth, and large-scale operational transformation.

This position balances operational execution with strategic leadership, ensuring organizational stability while driving continuous improvement and preparing for long-term succession.

This position works directly under the Chief Operations Officer and will receive additional oversight, guidance, and direction from other members of the C-suite leadership team as needed to support organizational priorities and ensure alignment with agency goals and objectives.

This position requires a high level of autonomy and initiative.

Education, Training, and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited master's level program with relevant coursework and currently holds the appropriate license to qualify as a licensed practitioner of the healing arts (LPHA) required.
• Minimum of two years of experience supervising executive level leadership within behavioral health, crisis intervention, case management, social services, or a related human services field required.
• Ability to travel throughout the service area required.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, homelessness, or co-occurring conditions required.

Registration, Certification, Licensure, and Other Qualifications

• All job specific training must be completed within 30 days of hire.
• Must maintain a valid Texas driver's license, auto liability insurance and a driving record acceptable to the Centers insurance requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Must have and maintain a background and criminal history free from any disqualifying offenses as outlined by the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and automobile insurance.
• Individuals with an out-of-state driver's license must be able to obtain a driver's license in the state of Texas within thirty (30) days.
• Successful completion of all position-specific training within thirty (30) days of employment is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Operational planning, service delivery, workflow design, and organizational structure
  • Process measurement and performance improvement
• Strategic planning and organizational leadership
  • Organizational performance management and alignment of resources with strategic priorities
  • Change management and organizational development
  • Key performance indicators, dashboards, benchmarking, and operational reporting
  • Data informed decision making and root cause analysis
• Risk, compliance, and governance
  • Regulatory requirements and organizational compliance
• Workforce operations
  • Workforce planning, staff development, employee engagement, and succession planning
  • Leadership development and performance management
• Stakeholder and client care
  • Client experience and service quality
  • Internal and external stakeholder relations
  • Cross functional and interdepartmental operations
• Working knowledge of computers, proficiency in typing to be able to document in a timely and efficient manner, ability to use and document in center's Electronic Health Record System

Skills and Abilities

• Executive and strategic leadership
  • Leading through influence, establishing direction, and translating executive priorities into operational processes and action
• Stakeholder relations
  • Clearly communicating with executives, employees, boards, partners, and other stakeholders
• Ability to display regular and reliable in-person attendance
• Understanding and practicing Trauma Informed Care principles
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

The following list outlines key responsibilities for the position; however, it is not exhaustive and does not encompass all responsibilities. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the effective delivery and coordination of behavioral health services, including outpatient services, crisis response, community-based services, case management, rehabilitation, substance use services, and other programs as applicable.
• Review and approve Clinical Eligibility (CE) and Individual Plans of Care (IPC's) in Clinical Management for Behavioral Health Services (CMBHS) to ensure clinically appropriate services are provided in the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver Program.
• Assist with reviewing 16.22 assessments and provide corrections to staff prior to submission (within 1 business day of assessment date).
• Assist with reviewing and approving service authorization requests (SAR's) in CMBHS for subcontractors providing substance use services.
• Provide staffing support for crisis services, helping staff determine least restrictive environment and facilitate care for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
• Provide after-hour support via telephone, staffing cases with the Backup Clinician On Call upon request.
• Assist with board presentations, executive reporting, and strategic planning as assigned.
• Coordinate and implement Operational Improvement Processes and Projects
• Facilitates the Center's Interdepartmental Task Force by developing meeting agendas in advance, ensuring projects align with priorities identified by executive leadership, establishing actionable objectives, and monitoring follow up to ensure action items are completed before the next scheduled meeting.
• Provide weekly updates on key projects to designated leadership.
• Take responsibility for projects such as launching services, restructuring workflows, implementing new state, federal, or grant requirements, or addressing audit findings to include timelines, assigned responsibilities, and progress updates.
• Work with key leadership to develop, implement, and monitor operational processes, strategies, policies, procedures, and performance standards aligned with organizational goals.
• Translate organizational strategic priorities into operational plans, measurable goals, performance expectations, and accountability structures.
• Establish operational reporting by developing a manageable process for reviewing program performance, overdue tasks, documentation backlogs, and unresolved barriers, with clear expectations for corrective action and follow-up.
• Ensure compliance with all organizational policies, regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and contractual obligations.
• Work with program leadership to develop clear and practical program workflows and procedures, including staff responsibilities and implementation timelines.
• Establish a process to outline how referrals for each program are received, reviewed, assigned, and tracked.
• Clearly outline intake processes and expectations for each program.
• Clearly define the process for discharge planning and follow up expectations upon completion of each program.
• Identify operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to support business continuity, safety, and organizational resilience.
• Serve as senior organizational representative with internal and external stakeholders and participate in executive committees, community initiatives, and interagency partnerships, as assigned.
• Clinical Oversight
• Promote evidence-based practice, identify risks, and implement quality improvement initiatives.
• Provide direction, mentorship, coaching, and professional development to qualified mental health professionals, including licensed practitioners of the healing arts.
• Provide clinical leadership and oversight to qualified mental health professionals (QMHP's) responsible for overseeing clinical programs at the Center, including a minimum of one hour of group supervision per month.
• Ensure policies and procedures comply with professional standards, regulations, and organization expectations.
• Monitor cases for individuals identified as high risk or who demonstrate high utilization of Center services.
• Assist with developing processes for hospital and jail response procedures to ensure continuity of care for individuals served.
• Coordinate and facilitate case review meetings, ensuring meetings result in clear assignments and accountability.
• Monitor and provide assistance for high-risk cases requiring coordination with local and state psychiatric facilities, jails, Health and Human Services, and other community partners to facilitate appropriate, timely, and effective continuity of care.
• Leadership and Team Development:
• Support consistent onboarding and cross-training where appropriate by helping to create and maintain program specific onboarding checklists and workflows to ensure new staff understand their responsibilities, available services, and how to engage in coordination with programs throughout the Center.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence across all Center programs.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align operational priorities with organizational strategy.
• Coach, mentor, and develop operational leaders to build organizational leadership capacity.
• Assist with creating structure for team meetings across Center programs by establishing meeting frequency, agendas, and expectations.
• Assist in recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning for key leadership positions.
• Assist with data collection, reporting, and program evaluation related to operational workflows and client outcomes.
• Utilize data analytics to identify trends, improve operational outcomes, and support informed decision-making.
• Translating strategy into execution by establishing priorities, assigning accountability, and monitoring results
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, contractual requirements, accreditation standards, Center policies and procedures.
• Oversee operational readiness for state monitoring, audits, accreditation review, contract requirements, and other regulatory or compliance activities.
• Manage competing priorities and allocate limited financial, personnel, and technological resources effectively.
• Lead complex operations across multiple departments, locations, and service lines
• Balance immediate needs with long-term organizational objectives
• Participates in the Center's Zero Suicide Initiative.
• Supports individuals experiencing a crisis by promptly connecting them with appropriate Center programs, such as the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT), Psychiatric Triage, Crisis Prevention services, and/or other applicable resources. Ensure seamless coordination to facilitate timely intervention.
• Remains with individuals, when deemed safe, to provide support and maintain a calm environment until specialized crisis staff or emergency personnel arrive to take over intervention efforts. Adheres to safety protocols to prevent escalation of the crisis situation.
• Participates in debriefing sessions with the immediate supervisor or designated staff following a crisis event. Collaborate with the team to review the incident, identify lessons learned, and ensure all HHSC guidelines and Center policies are followed.