Chief Executive Officer

The Meyers Group; Connecticut; On-site; USD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Root Center for Advanced Recovery seeks a strategic, values-driven CEO to guide a multi-site behavioral health nonprofit. Reporting to the Board, the CEO will set direction, align leadership, and drive patient outcomes and financial sustainability.

The role requires deep nonprofit governance experience, expertise in Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement, and a collaborative style that engages staff, partners, and government entities to expand impact across Connecticut.

Job description

Root Center for Advanced Recovery is a financially strong, private, nonprofit organization with approximately $41 million in annual revenue and a recognized statewide leader in mental health, substance use treatment, community health services, and research throughout Connecticut. Established in 1871 as the Hartford Dispensary, the organization began as an outpatient medical clinic, providing care to individuals who could not afford private medical services. Over more than 150 years, it has evolved into one of the state\'s leading behavioral healthcare organizations while remaining deeply committed to serving individuals and families with compassion, innovation, and clinical excellence.

Today, Root Center serves more than 5,500 patients each day and over 6,800 individuals annually through a network of 14 locations across Connecticut. Its comprehensive continuum of care includes addiction treatment, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, mental health services, medication management, adolescent treatment, residential care, wellness and community-based services, and innovative treatment approaches such as transcranial magnetic stimulation

Root Center\'s purpose is to create relationships that empower patients with the courage and ability to change by providing guidance and support throughout their recovery journey. Guided by compassion, respect, innovation, and continuous improvement, the organization has built a dedicated workforce, modern facilities, a strong financial foundation, and an enduring reputation as one of Connecticut\'s premier behavioral healthcare provider

With a strong financial foundation, modern facilities, a highly motivated workforce, and an engaged Board of Directors, Root Center is well-positioned for its next phase of leadership. The Board is seeking a Chief Executive Officer who can build on the organization\'s longstanding reputation while preparing it for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Working closely with the Board, leadership team, employees, patients, government partners, and community stakeholders, the next CEO will strengthen the organization internally, advance strategic priorities, and help evaluate opportunities to expand Root Center\'s impact through partnerships, integrated care initiatives, affiliations, and other avenues for grow

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Chief Executive Officer of Root Center for Advanced Recovery, you will assume responsibility for the overall performance and future direction of a complex, multi-site behavioral healthcare organization. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will build on Root Center’s strengths while developing new strategic opportunities and ensuring that its recovery mission and commitment to patients remain central to every decision.

The new leader will strengthen leadership alignment by engaging employees, communicating openly, establishing clear expectations, and promoting consistent accountability. The CEO must lead with empathy and authenticity while remaining willing to make difficult decisions, address performance needs that might exist, and maintain organizational focus and results.

Working with the Board and executive leadership team, the CEO will refine and execute Root Center\'s strategic vision. The new leader will establish clear priorities and measurable goals while evaluating opportunities involving Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) development, integrated care, strategic partnerships, mergers or affiliations, geographic and service expansion, and other emerging models of care. The CEO will help the Board decide which opportunities are right for Root Center, which require further study, and which should not be pursued.

The CEO will protect and build upon Root Center\'s strong financial position, including its history of profitability and strong endowment. This includes managing resources carefully, responding to reimbursement and workforce pressures, and using data to improve performance and patient outcomes. The CEO must also anticipate and respond to changes in state and federal policy, reimbursement, licensing, and regulatory requirements.

Externally, the CEO will represent Root Center with government agencies, payers, healthcare partners, referral sources, and community organizations. The CEO will strengthen Root Center\'s statewide influence, advocate for the diverse communities it serves, and build partnerships that improve access and outcomes across Connecticut.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a thoughtful and accomplished executive to lead a financially strong organization with a dedicated workforce and an engaged Board while playing a significant role in shaping the future of behavioral healthcare and recovery services in Connecticut.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

To be successful in leading Root Center, the “ideal” candidate will embody and have demonstrated the following leadership traits, competencies, and values:

• Builds trust through integrity, transparency, visible leadership, and open communication, while balancing empathy with accountability and decisive action.
• Keeps Root Center’s mission and the needs of patients at the center of organizational decisions, with a focus on recovery outcomes and equitable access to care.
• Creates an inclusive and respectful workplace where employees feel heard and valued, while establishing clear expectations and holding leaders accountable.
• Be a thoughtful strategic leader who can assess and execute opportunities involving integrated care, FQHC development, partnerships, affiliations, residential services, and expansion while weighing mission, workforce capacity, financial sustainability, and community need.
• Possess executive leadership experience within behavioral health, addiction treatment, healthcare, human services, or another highly regulated environment, with a strong understanding of substance use disorders, recovery services, medications for opioid use disorder, co-occurring behavioral health conditions, and evolving models of care.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of Medicaid, Medicare, healthcare reimbursement, regulatory compliance, quality standards, payer expectations, and the financial and operational realities of nonprofit healthcare organizations.
• Possess experience strengthening operational infrastructure, organizational effectiveness, and leadership structure across complex, multi-site organizations.
• Bring strong financial and operational acumen, with the ability to evaluate service-line performance, workforce productivity, reimbursement trends, program utilization, operating costs, and organizational performance while aligning resources with strategic priorities.
• Understands that Root Center’s success must be measured through financial performance, quality of care, employee well-being, patient outcomes, and community impact.
• Be comfortable using data, performance metrics, quality indicators, and financial reporting to drive decision-making, improve organizational performance, and support continuous improvement.
• Has successfully represented an organization with government agencies, legislators, regulators, payers, healthcare systems, referral sources, and community partners and can serve as a credible advocate for Root Center and the people it serves.
• Has led executive teams and partnered effectively with Boards, including developing senior leaders, supporting succession planning, and maintaining clear governance and management boundaries.
• Be capable of balancing innovation and entrepreneurial thinking with thoughtful stewardship, recognizing when to pursue new opportunities and when to strengthen existing programs, systems, and operations before expanding.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead both strategically and operationally, understanding when to focus on organizational vision and when to engage in the operational details necessary to support staff, and improve performance.
• Hold, at minimum, a bachelor\'s degree, with a strong preference for candidates possessing a master\'s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, social work, psychology, or another relevant discipline.
• Reside in or be willing to relocate to the greater Hartford region, demonstrating a commitment to being visible, engaged, and accessible throughout Root Center\'s communities and services.

LOCATION

Manchester is a historic and vibrant community located in Hartford County, Connecticut, combining the character of a traditional New England town with convenient access to the cultural, professional, and recreational resources of the greater Hartford region. With a population of approximately 60,000, the community offers diverse neighborhoods, a strong sense of local pride, and a welcoming environment for families and professionals.

Manchester’s economy is supported by healthcare, retail, professional services, manufacturing, distribution, and nonprofit organizations. Its walkable downtown and historic side streets are home to approximately 200 locally owned businesses, including restaurants, shops, service providers, and professional offices. Residents also enjoy access to cultural destinations, community events, and extensive outdoor recreation at locations such as Case Mountain, Wickham Park, Charter Oak Park, and the Oak Grove Nature Center.

Manchester offers convenient access to Hartford and communities throughout central Connecticut, with nearby interstate connections making travel across the state and throughout New England accessible. The community provides a range of residential options, from established neighborhoods near downtown to quieter suburban settings, allowing residents to enjoy both community connection and personal space.

For more information, visit the Town of Manchester, Downtown Manchester, and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

An attractive compensation package and benefits awaits our “ideal” candidate. For more information