Chief Clinical Officer

Family Service Center | The Center for Mental Health & Wellbeing; Galveston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Family Service Center of Galveston County seeks a Chief Clinical Officer to lead clinical operations, establish standards, and ensure ethical, outcome-driven services. You will guide workforce development, quality improvement, and cross-department collaboration to advance mental health access and client wellbeing.

You will oversee program development, risk management, and regulatory compliance while aligning clinical work with FSC’s mission and fiscal stewardship.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related behavioral health field is required.
• Current, unrestricted Texas clinical license appropriate to the individual's discipline is required.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible clinical leadership experience.
• Minimum 3 years of management/administrative leadership in behavioral health or nonprofit settings.
• Experience with budgeting, staffing, productivity, and operational management.
• Experience with electronic health records and other clinical information systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and oversight for all FSC clinical services and programs.
• Establish and maintain clinical standards, policies, procedures, protocols, and best practices.
• Ensure clinical services promote client safety, dignity, confidentiality, access, and positive outcomes.
• Lead recruitment, supervision, development, and retention of qualified clinical staff.
• Monitor clinical quality, outcomes, and performance across FSC locations and programs.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and departments to ensure sustainable operations.
• Develop and implement clinical programs and service models based on evidence-informed practices.
• Lead risk management, safety, and incident documentation.
• Support organizational strategic objectives through clinical excellence.

Skills

Clinical Leadership

Leadership & Management

Risk Management

Strategic & Operational Thinking

Ethics & Professionalism

Education

Master's degree in Behavioral Health

Texas clinical license (LCSW/LPC/LMFT or equivalent)

5+ years clinical leadership experience

3+ years management/administrative leadership

Experience with budgeting and staffing

Job description

Risk Management & Client Safety

The Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) provides executive leadership and oversight of Family Service Center of Galveston County's (FSC) clinical operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, ethical, accessible, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed behavioral health services.

The CCO is responsible for establishing and maintaining clinical standards across FSC programs and ensuring that clinical services align with the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and applicable professional standards.

This position provides leadership to the clinical workforce, oversees clinical program development and effectiveness, supports recruitment and retention of qualified clinical professionals, monitors clinical quality and outcomes, and promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.

The CCO works closely with the Chief Executive Officer, executive leadership, program leadership, Human Resources, Finance, Quality/Compliance, and other departments to ensure FSC’s clinical operations are effective, sustainable, and financially responsible.

Essential Job Functions & Duties

• Clinical Leadership & Oversight
• Provide executive leadership, direction, and oversight for all FSC clinical services and programs.
• Establish and maintain clinical standards, policies, procedures, protocols, and best practices consistent with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, contracts, and evidence-informed practices.
• Ensure clinical services are delivered in a manner that promotes client safety, dignity, confidentiality, access, and positive outcomes.
• Provide leadership and consultation to Clinical Directors, supervisors, therapists, social workers, case management staff, and other clinical professionals.
• Monitor the overall effectiveness, consistency, and quality of clinical services across FSC locations and programs.
• Promote collaboration between clinical, administrative, operational, and support departments.
• Ensure clinical practices support FSC's mission of improving the mental health and overall wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
• Clinical Program Development & Implementation
• Lead the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of clinical programs and services.
• Assess community behavioral health needs and identify opportunities for new or expanded services.
• Develop clinical procedures and service models based on current evidence-informed practices and applicable contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate proposed clinical practices, interventions, and treatment approaches before implementation.
• Establish measurable clinical goals and performance indicators for programs.
• Review program outcomes and make recommendations or adjustments to improve service effectiveness and client outcomes.
• Support integration and coordination of clinical services across FSC programs, including mental health, school-based services, FAYS, case management, prevention, veterans services, and other applicable programs.
• Clinical Quality, Documentation & Compliance
• Establish systems to monitor the quality and effectiveness of clinical services.
• Review clinical documentation, treatment planning, service delivery, and other clinical records to ensure compliance with FSC policies, applicable regulations, payer requirements, and contractual standards.
• Ensure clinical documentation supports medical necessity, continuity of care, quality of services, and appropriate reimbursement where applicable.
• Monitor compliance with applicable federal, state, county, and contractual requirements affecting clinical operations.
• Collaborate with Quality/Compliance and other leadership staff to identify deficiencies and implement corrective action plans when necessary.
• Promote consistent use of FSC's electronic health record and clinical systems, including appropriate documentation and utilization of Celerity.
• Participate in audits, reviews, investigations, accreditation activities, contract monitoring, and other compliance activities as assigned.
• Clinical Supervision & Workforce Development
• Provide leadership and oversight for the recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, development, and retention of qualified clinical staff.
• Partner with Human Resources and hiring managers to identify staffing needs and maintain appropriate clinical staffing levels.
• Establish expectations for clinical supervision, professional development, training, and performance management.
• Ensure clinicians receive appropriate supervision and support consistent with licensure requirements and FSC policies.
• Support the development of emerging clinical leaders and supervisors.
• Promote continuing education and professional development opportunities that strengthen clinical practice.
• Participate in performance evaluations, corrective action, coaching, and other employee relations matters involving clinical staff as appropriate.
• Foster a professional culture that promotes accountability, collaboration, respect, inclusion, and client-centered care.
• Risk Management & Client Safety
• Identify clinical, operational, and organizational risks and develop strategies to mitigate risks before they escalated.
• Establish and monitor procedures related to client safety, crisis response, clinical emergencies, mandated reporting, abuse/neglect concerns, and other high-risk situations.
• Ensure appropriate escalation and documentation of significant clinical incidents and safety concerns.
• Collaborate with leadership to respond to critical incidents and develop corrective or preventive measures.
• Promote a safe and professional environment for clients, families, employees, interns, volunteers, and visitors.
• Participate in FSC emergency preparedness and business continuity planning as it relates to clinical operations.
• Clinical Performance & Outcomes
• Establish systems for measuring clinical outcomes, client engagement, service utilization, productivity, and quality indicators.
• Review clinical performance data and identify trends, opportunities, and areas requiring improvement.
• Use data to support clinical decision-making and program development.
• Develop and monitor action plans designed to improve clinical outcomes and operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with program leaders to ensure clinical goals align with FSC's strategic objectives.
• Organizational Leadership
• Serve as a member of FSC's executive/leadership team and contribute to organizationwide strategic decision-making.
• Support the CEO in implementing organizational goals, initiatives, and priorities.
• Promote FSC's mission, values, policies, and standards of professional conduct.
• Demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, integrity, and accountability in all areas of responsibility.
• Maintain confidentiality of client, employee, organizational, financial, and other sensitive information.
• Participate in leadership meetings, committees, strategic initiatives, and special projects as assigned.
• Perform other duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

Clinical Leadership

• Strong understanding of behavioral health services, clinical operations, treatment planning, clinical documentation, and evidence-informed practices.
• Ability to establish and maintain high standards of clinical care.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary clinical teams and support effective clinical decision-making.

Leadership & Management

• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, coach, and motivate employees.
• Strong delegation, organizational, time-management, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple programs simultaneously.
• Ability to establish accountability while maintaining a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Risk Management

• Ability to identify clinical, operational, compliance, and safety risks.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Ability to respond calmly and effectively to complex or high-risk situations.

Strategic & Operational Thinking

• Ability to evaluate programs, identify operational challenges, and develop sustainable solutions.
• Strong understanding of project management and organizational planning.
• Ability to use data and performance information to guide decision-making.

Ethics & Professionalism

• Demonstrates a high level of integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and professional judgment.
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries and avoids actual or potential conflicts of interest.
• Demonstrates commitment to ethical clinical practice and client-centered services.
• Maintains professionalism when addressing difficult, sensitive, or confidential matters.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or another closely related behavioral health field from an accredited institution.
• Current, unrestricted Texas clinical license appropriate to the individual's professional discipline, such as LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible clinical experience, including clinical supervision and leadership.
• Minimum of 3 years of management or administrative leadership experience within behavioral health, mental health, healthcare, nonprofit, or a related human services organization.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing clinical programs, multidisciplinary teams, or multiple service areas.
• Experience with clinical documentation, quality assurance, compliance, program development, and performance improvement.
• Experience with budgeting, staffing, productivity, and operational management.
• Experience working with electronic health records and other clinical information systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and organizational initiatives.