Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - Highlands Behavioral Health

Universal Health Services; Highlands Ranch (CO); On-site; USD 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and

401k plan with company match

Generous Paid Time Off

Relocation benefits

Bonus opportunity

Job summary

Universal Health Services, a leading national provider of hospital and healthcare services, seeks a dynamic Chief Executive Officer for Highlands Behavioral Health System in Colorado. The role directs day-to-day operations, develops staff, ensures high-quality care, maintains fiscal discipline, and sustains strong referral networks while complying with Joint Commission and CMS standards.

The ideal candidate will have a proven executive track record in behavioral health management, fluency in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
• Experience as a behavioral executive (CEO or senior leader) in a behavioral health setting or large acute care facility.
• Working knowledge of behavioral health management practices and clinical operations.
• Advanced knowledge of state and federal regulatory and accreditation requirements for behavioral health.
• Knowledge of operations, financial management and marketing methods.
• Willingness to travel at least 10% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Create a culture aligned with the organization’s mission, vision and values.
• Oversee clinical and non-clinical departments to drive patient care outcomes.
• Ensure quality metrics meet accreditation and regulatory guidelines.
• Recruit physicians and staff for targeted specialty areas and develop new hospital ventures.
• Develop outpatient and ambulatory programs and build relationships with local health providers and the public.
• Deliver month-end financial and operational reviews and participate in strategic planning.

Skills

Executive leadership

Behavioral health mgmt

Clinical operations

Regulatory compliance

Operations management

Budgeting/finance

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Responsibilities

Universal Health Services

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500® corporation, annual revenues during 2025 were $17.4 billion. In 2026, UHS was again recognized as one of Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies™ and in 2025, was listed in Forbes ranking of America’s Largest Public Companies.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Highlands Behavioral Health System

Highlands Behavioral Health System is located in Littleton, CO a suburb just 25-minutes from the center of downtown Denver. Littleton is rated one of the Top 100 places to live in the US. Downtown Littleton is jammed packed with historic architecture, impressive arts and culture options, great weather and an array of outdoor activities.

Highlands Behavioral Health System (HBHS) is a fully licensed 86-bed psychiatric hospital accredited by The Joint Commission. The Hospital serves adults and adolescents ages 11 or older. Highlands also offers day treatment programs for both adults and adolescents beginning at age 11. Since 2007, Highlands Behavioral Health has impacted the lives of nearly 25,000 individuals and their families who have sought treatment. As a specialty behavioral health hospital, the unique environment sets HBHS apart and helps to ensure that patients know their individual mental healthcare needs will always be addressed in a welcoming, private, and confidential manner.

To learn more visit: https: https://www.highlandsbhs.com/

Highlands Behavioral Health System is currently seeking a dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This Behavioral Health Executive will have a proven record of accomplishment providing services in a for-profit Behavioral Health Hospital/Residential Treatment Program or has managed a large Psychiatric/Behavioral Health department within a large Acute care Hospital. Candidates must show a strong employment history with progressive growth throughout their career. The ideal Chief Executive Officer (CEO) candidate will be responsible for directing the day-to-day operations, managing and developing staff, assuring high quality care, sound fiscal operations, maintaining a strong referral base and compliance with Joint Commission and CMS regulations while continually monitoring the facility’s services and delivery systems.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• Accountable for creating an environment and culture that focuses on fulfilling the organizations mission, vision and values.
• Operational management of clinical and non-clinical departments including but not limited to: Nursing, Admissions, Business Development, Process Improvement, Finance, Clinical Services, Regulatory Affairs that effectively drive patient care outcomes
• Ensure hospital quality metrics are achieved through sound clinical processes following accreditation and regulatory agency guidelines.
• Recruit physicians and staff in targeted specialty areas, coordinate medical staff participation in new hospital ventures and targets, develop new areas of medical care to offer at the hospital.
• Supervise the development of more comprehensive outpatient care and ambulatory programs. Develop positive relationships with local industry, local government, potential key health care providers, and the general public.
• Ensure the timely submission of month-end financial and operational reviews, contribute to the development of and participation in corporate-wide strategic planning efforts.
• Communicate circumstances and events of operations to supervisor and other appropriate people to keep all apprised.
• Achieve budgeted financial objectives.
• Effectively manage contract negotiations and compliance with the commercial payor community.
• Increase revenues and income before inter-company allocations, maintain or decrease the effective bad debt rate, achieve the margin percentage, and implement operating cost controls in the areas of staffing, supplies, purchased services, etc.
• Focus on census building efforts and strategic planning.

Qualifications

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree required, Master's Degree is preferred
• Currently working as a behavioral executive, i.e. CEO at a Behavioral Health facility or as a Director of a large acute care facility with a large multi‑unit psych department.
• A working knowledge of behavioral health management practices and clinical operations.
• An advanced knowledge of state and federal regulatory and various accreditation requirements related to behavioral health management.
• Working knowledge of operations and financial management and marketing methods.
• Ability to travel a minimum of 10% of the time.

This opportunity offers the following:

• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Growth and development opportunities within UHS and its subsidiaries
• Competitive Compensation
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plan
• 401k plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Relocation benefitsBonus opportunity

UHS is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at UHS via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of UHS. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by UHS as a result of the referral or through other means.

*UHS is a registered trademark of UHS of Delaware, Inc., the management company for Universal Health Services, Inc. and a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. Universal Health Services, Inc. is a holding company and operates through its subsidiaries including its management company, UHS of Delaware, Inc. All healthcare and management operations are conducted by subsidiaries of Universal Health Services, Inc. To the extent any reference to "UHS or UHS facilities" on this website including any statements, articles or other publications contained herein relates to our healthcare or management operations it is referring to Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Further, the terms "we," "us," "our" or "the company" in such context similarly refer to the operations of Universal Health Services' subsidiaries including UHS of Delaware. Any employment referenced in this website is not with Universal Health Services, Inc. but solely with one of its subsidiaries including but not limited to UHS of Delaware, Inc.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.

Notice

At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skillset and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. We take pride in creating a highly efficient and best in class candidate experience. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. The recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. If you are suspicious of a job posting or job‑related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, let us know by contacting us at: https://uhs.alertline.com or 1-800-852-3449.