Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Acadia Healthcare; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 190,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Tucson, part of Acadia Healthcare, seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead operational excellence and strategic execution across a premier behavioral health residential center.

The role partners with the CEO and executive team to enhance patient care, regulatory readiness, and fiscal stewardship while guiding multiple departments toward measurable outcomes in a mission‑driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in behavioral health.
• Experience leading operations, programs, or departments in residential or complex care settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall operational leadership for day-to-day facility operations across Sierra Tucson.
• Lead multiple departments to ensure high‑quality, cost‑effective services and patient‑centered care.
• Partner with CEO and executive team on strategic planning, budget, regulatory readiness, and quality improvement.
• Act as acting facility leader in the absence of the CEO and translate strategy into operational outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Operational excellence

Financial acumen

Collaboration & accountability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Lead With Purpose. Advance Your Impact. We are seeking a dynamic Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our executive leadership team. This is an exceptional next step for a high‑performing leader ready to elevate their career while shaping the future of behavioral health at a nationally recognized center of excellence. At Sierra Tucson, care begins with compassion, and leadership begins with purpose. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains on a serene 160-acre campus, Sierra Tucson is one of the nation’s premier residential treatment centers, delivering life-changing care for individuals facing addiction, mental health disorders, trauma, and co‑occurring conditions. As part of Acadia Healthcare, we exist to Lead Care with Light, bringing hope, innovation, and clinical excellence to patients, families, and communities every day. The Chief Operating Officer provides leadership, direction, and operational oversight across Sierra Tucson’s departments and programs. Partnering closely with the CEO and executive team, the COO plays a critical role in advancing strategy, driving performance, and ensuring the highest standards of patient care and experience. This role offers the opportunity to influence outcomes at a facility that has helped tens of thousands of individuals begin their recovery journey in a safe, healing environment grounded in evidence‑based and holistic care.

What You Will Do

Operational Leadership

• Provide management oversight and direction for day‑to‑day facility operations.
• Lead multiple departments to ensure efficient, high‑quality, and cost‑effective services.
• Evaluate operational processes to align business objectives with patient needs.

Culture & People Leadership

• Build and lead high‑performing teams through hiring, development, coaching, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service excellence aligned with Lead Care with Light.
• Champion employee engagement and a commitment to quality care.

Strategy & Execution

• Partner with the CEO in strategic planning, execution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support regulatory preparedness, accreditation readiness, and quality improvement efforts.
• Assist in budget planning and fiscal management to ensure responsible stewardship of resources.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as acting facility leader in the absence of the CEO.
• Collaborate across clinical and operational functions to ensure seamless delivery of care.
• Help translate strategy into operational excellence and measurable outcomes.

What You Will Bring

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in behavioral health.
• Prior leadership experience managing operations, programs, or departments.
• Experience in residential or complex care environments strongly preferred.

Skills & Capabilities

• Proven ability to lead through influence, collaboration, and accountability.
• Strong operational, financial, and organizational acumen.
• Passion for patient‑centered care and continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive in a mission‑driven, fast‑paced healthcare environment.

Sierra Tucson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.