Chief Operations Officer

Thrive Behavioral Health; Warwick (RI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Thrive Behavioral Health in Warwick, RI is seeking a Chief Operations Officer to lead day-to-day operations and scale processes to support growth. The COO will supervise operations, IT, customer service, and budgeting; partner with the CEO to align initiatives with Thrive’s mission of accessible behavioral health services.

This full-time exempt role requires an advanced degree and 10+ years of leadership in a community behavioral health setting.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required in a related field such as behavioral health or human services.
• 10+ years of leadership/management experience in a community behavioral health setting.
• Strong budgeting, strategic planning, and nonprofit operations experience.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Operational Planning: drive growth, efficiency, and profitability.
• Oversee operations, IT, customer service, and budgeting; ensure regulatory and quality standards.
• Lead cross-functional teams, mentor staff, and align resources with priorities.
• Manage risk, business continuity, and performance metrics with clear KPIs.
• Partner with CEO and executive team to execute long-term objectives.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Operations Management

Team Leadership

Cross-functional Collab

Change Management

Education

Advanced degree in behavioral health

Job description

Job Location

Warwick, RI 02886

Position

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Agency Wide

FULL TIME -EXEMPT

General Summary

As a CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic), Thrive Behavioral Health provides a comprehensive range of high quality mental health and substance use disorder services that are accessible to all members of our community regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

General Summary: The Chief Operations Officer (COO) will be a key member of the executive team at Thrive, responsible for overseeing the organization’s day-to-day operational functions, ensuring that they run efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with Thrive’s overall strategic goals. The COO will lead operational teams, develop scalable processes, and optimize systems to support the company’s growth trajectory. The role requires a highly collaborative leader with a deep understanding of operations management, resource allocation, and performance optimization.

Essential Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Operational Planning:
  • Develop and execute Thrive's operational strategy to drive business growth, operational efficiency, and profitability.
  • Collaborate with the CEO and executive team to set and implement the company’s long-term strategic objectives and priorities.
  • Ensure alignment of operational initiatives with Thrive’s overall business goals and values.
• Operational Efficiency & Process Optimization:
  • Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of scalable and efficient operational processes across the organization.
  • Identify opportunities for streamlining workflows, reducing costs, and improving overall productivity.
  • Establish clear performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational performance and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Team Leadership & Cross-functional Collaboration:
  • Lead and mentor cross-functional teams responsible for operations, maintenance, customer service, IT, and other operational functions.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across departments.
  • Partner with department heads to ensure that operational needs are met and that resources are aligned to support business priorities.
• Risk Management & Compliance:
  • Ensure that all operational processes comply with relevant legal, regulatory, and quality standards.
  • Develop and implement risk management strategies to proactively identify and address operational risks.
  • Oversee crisis management efforts and ensure business continuity plans are in place.
• Technology & Systems Management:
  • Lead the adoption of operational technologies and systems to enhance operational efficiency, data analytics, and decision-making.
  • Leverage technology to optimize resource allocation and enhance customer experience.
  • Ensure the seamless integration of technology into existing processes and workflows.
• Financial Oversight & Budgeting:
  • Work closely with the CFO and finance team to develop and manage the operations budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and resource allocation.
  • Monitor financial performance of operational departments and recommend adjustments to ensure the achievement of financial goals.
  • Drive cost management and efficiency initiatives across the organization to maximize profitability.
• Customer Experience & Quality Assurance:
  • Oversee customer-facing operations, ensuring that service levels, product quality, and customer satisfaction standards are consistently met.
  • Continuously assess and refine customer service processes to enhance the overall customer experience.
  • Ensure that operational quality control processes are in place and effectively monitored.
• Change Management & Growth Support:
  • Lead operational changes and initiatives that support organizational growth, scalability, and adaptability.
  • Support the scaling of operations to meet expanding demand and global reach as Thrive grows.
  • Act as a change leader in driving transformation and process reengineering to adapt to evolving market conditions.

Key Attributes

• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to align operational initiatives with broader business goals.
• Hands-on leader who thrives in driving day-to-day operational excellence while managing long-term strategy.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to engage, inspire, and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaborative, adaptive, and resilient in managing change and overcoming challenges.
• Passionate about delivering outstanding results, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.

Qualifications: Education, Experience and Competencies

• Advanced Degree in the human service or related field required.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated successful leadership/management experience in a community behavioral health setting.
• Strong working knowledge of budgeting, business development and strategic planning for a non-profit organization.
• Proven experience as a senior leader, with a strong background in operations management, process optimization, technology integration, cross-functional collaboration, and change management.
• Significant experience in driving efficiency, profitability, and operational excellence in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Experience in leading and managing diverse teams across various operational functions.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills with the ability to drive results.

Certifications, Licenses Requirements

• Valid driver's license and automobile insurance which meets Rhode Island minimum standards required, or the ability to obtain necessary transportation in order to perform the responsibilities/tasks of the job.

Physical Demands

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities in meeting the expectations of the position.

EEO/VET/LGBTQ+ Employer

EEO/VET/LGBTQ+ Employer