Executive Director — Behavioral Health & Recovery Center

ascensionrecovery; Pleasant Hill (IA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Professional Development Opportunities

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Thrive Now Recovery Centers – Pleasant Hill, Iowa, is seeking an experienced Executive Director to lead our established residential substance use disorder treatment facility. The role oversees operations, finances, culture, regulatory compliance, and overall performance in the Des Moines market.

This senior leader partners with Ascension Recovery Services to ensure patient-centered care, strong governance, and sustainable growth while maintaining staff engagement and community partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, Business, Human Services, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, substance use treatment, healthcare, residential treatment, or a comparable environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong operational leadership and performance management experience.
• Experience managing budgets, labor, staffing models, and key operational metrics.
• Experience working within a regulated healthcare environment.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership of all facility operations.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, communication rhythms, and performance standards across departments.
• Ensure operational processes support safe, efficient, patient-centered care.
• Monitor facility performance and identify barriers, staffing needs, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead budget management, labor optimization, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Maintain regulatory and accreditation readiness and continuous improvement.

Skills

Operational Leadership

Financial Acumen

Regulatory & Compliance Leadership

Team Development

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, Business, Human Services, or related field

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Behavioral Health, or related field

Job description

Thrive Now Recovery Centers – Pleasant Hill, Iowa, is seeking an experienced Executive Director to lead our established residential substance use disorder treatment facility. The role oversees operations, finances, culture, regulatory compliance, and overall performance in the Des Moines market.

This senior leader partners with Ascension Recovery Services to ensure patient-centered care, strong governance, and sustainable growth while maintaining staff engagement and community partnerships.