Chief Operating Officer

Caron; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Caron Treatment Centers is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to drive operational excellence across our multi-site behavioral health network. You will lead a dynamic team, align operations with the mission, and optimize resource use while advancing evidence-based care.

The role requires strategic, data-driven leadership and collaboration with the CEO and Board to guide growth, governance, and quality initiatives in a mission-driven nonprofit environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years progressive healthcare leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior executive or operational leadership role.
• Experience in behavioral health or integrated healthcare preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site operations and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational excellence across Caron to improve performance, service delivery, and resource use.
• Provide visionary executive leadership and develop high‑performing teams and future leaders.
• Oversee growth, strategic initiatives, and financial stewardship to support mission impact.
• Partner with CEO and Board to deliver governance reporting, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Champion patient safety, quality improvement, and a mission-driven culture.

Skills

Operational leadership

Strategic planning

Change management

Communication

Data-driven decisions

Board relations

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or administration

Master’s degree in healthcare or related field

Job description

Join Caron Treatment Centers as Our Chief Operating Officer

For nearly 70 years, Caron Treatment Centers has helped individuals and families impacted by addiction and substance use find hope, healing, and lasting recovery through compassionate, evidence-based behavioral healthcare.

As a nationally recognized nonprofit provider, Caron delivers a comprehensive continuum of care, including inpatient, outpatient, and recovery services across Pennsylvania, Florida, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Atlanta, and New York City. Our mission is to transform lives through proven, personalized, and innovative behavioral healthcare solutions.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our executive leadership team. If you are a strategic healthcare executive who is passionate about leading operational excellence while advancing a mission that changes lives, we invite you to explore this opportunity and join Caron in shaping the future of addiction and behavioral healthcare.

Chief Operating Officer Key Attributes for the Position:

• Operational Excellence - Leads the development and execution of efficient, effective, and scalable operational processes that drive organizational performance, improve service delivery, and optimize resources using comprehensive knowledge of behavioral health operations, regulatory requirements and industry best practice.
• Executive Leadership - Provides visionary leadership that inspires trust, fosters accountability, and promotes collaboration across the organization while building high-performing teams and developing future leaders.
• Financial Acumen - Applies a strong understanding of financial principles, budgeting, resource allocation, reimbursement methodologies, and performance metrics to support sound decision-making and achieve organizational goals.
• Change Management - Successfully leads organizational change initiatives by communicating a clear vision, engaging stakeholders, overcoming resistance, and ensuring sustainable adoption of new processes and practices.
• Quality Improvement - Promotes a culture of continuous improvement by utilizing data, performance metrics, and best practices to enhance quality, safety, customer satisfaction, and organizational outcomes.
• Risk Management - Identifies, evaluates, and mitigates operational, regulatory, financial, reputational, and strategic risks while ensuring appropriate controls and business continuity measures are in place.
• Talent Development - Develops and retains a high-performing workforce by fostering employee engagement, succession planning, leadership development, coaching, and a culture of continuous learning.
• Innovation and Technology Leadership - Leverages technology, digital transformation, and innovative solutions to improve operational effectiveness, enhance the employee and patient experience, and support organizational growth.
• Organizational Culture and Employee Engagement - Champions a positive, inclusive, and mission-driven culture that promotes employee engagement, accountability, recognition, and alignment with organizational values.
• Data-Driven Decision Making - Utilizes data analytics, performance indicators, and business intelligence to evaluate outcomes, identify trends, solve complex problems, and make informed strategic decisions.
• Relationship Building - Establishes and maintains effective partnerships with employees, leaders, trustees, regulators, vendors, and community stakeholders to advance organizational objectives.
• Communication and Influence - Communicates complex information clearly and effectively while influencing stakeholders, facilitating collaboration, resolving conflicts, and driving alignment around organizational priorities
• Governance and Board Relations - Partners effectively with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and Board Committees by providing transparent reporting, operational insights, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations that support sound governance.

PHYISCAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to travel to and between Caron locations as needed by various forms of transportation, including air.
• Must be able to present to internal and external audiences in large and small group settings, which may require long periods of time and be of multiple presentations.
• Able to perform work in a hybrid setting. Must have appropriate, secure space to work from, including computer access and high-speed internet access.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in business or administration is required; master’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, behavioral health administration, or related field is preferred.
• Minimum 10 years’ progressive healthcare leadership experience is required.
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior executive or operational leadership role is required.
• Experience within behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, or integrated healthcare setting is preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site operations and multi-disciplinary teams is preferred.
• Experience managing organizational growth, operational improvement and strategic initiatives is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.