Senior Executive Director

merakeycareers; Lafayette (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Retirement plan

DailyPay

Well-being tools

Back-up care

EAP services

Tuition reimbursement

Learning platform

Job summary

Merakey is seeking an Executive Director of Adult Behavioral Health to provide statewide operational and strategic leadership for programs across Louisiana, leading managers and ensuring high-quality, recovery-oriented services.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, you will manage overall operational and financial performance, drive process improvement, systems optimization, and sustainable solutions. Regular travel throughout Louisiana is required to oversee all programs statewide.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, healthcare, or human services.
• Experience leading multi-site or statewide operations.
• Experience managing executive-level staff and leadership teams.
• Operational leadership including process improvement and systems optimization.
• Experience leading program or system turnaround initiatives with measurable improvements.
• Experience with operational and financial performance management.
• Strong strategic planning, performance management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to partner effectively with clinical, operational, and executive leadership.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout Louisiana.

Responsibilities

• Provide statewide operational and strategic leadership for Adult Behavioral Health programs across Louisiana.
• Lead managers and ensure high-quality, recovery-oriented services.
• Accountable for operational and financial performance and continuous improvement.
• Assess complex operational challenges, identify gaps, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Drive improvements in program performance, quality, and service delivery.
• Travel regularly throughout Louisiana to oversee programs statewide.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Performance management

Problem-solving

Partnership building

Change management

Education

Master’s degree in social services, business, health administration, or related field

Job description

The Behavioral Health Executive Director will provide statewide operational and strategic leadership for Adult Behavioral Health programs across Louisiana, leading managers and ensuring high-quality, recovery-oriented services.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the Executive Director will have overall accountability for operational and financial performance, while providing hands-on leadership in process improvement, systems optimization, and operational efficiency. The role will be expected to assess complex operational challenges, identify gaps, improve processes and systems, and implement sustainable solutions that drive measurable results.

The Executive Director will also provide statewide strategy and leadership for program and system turnaround, including evaluating underperforming programs, developing and executing improvement strategies, and driving improvements in program performance, quality, financial performance, and service delivery.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience leading statewide or multi-site operations, managing executive-level staff, improving operational processes and systems, and successfully leading program or organizational turnaround efforts. Regular travel throughout Louisiana is required.

This position is based in Louisiana and will oversee all Adult Behavioral Health programs across the state. Regular travel throughout Louisiana is required.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

Learn more about our full benefits package - https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer!

We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!

• Master’s degree in social services, business, health administration, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, healthcare, or human services.
• Experience leading multi-site or statewide operations.
• Experience managing executive-level staff and leadership teams.
• Demonstrated operational leadership, including process improvement, systems optimization, and improving efficiencies.
• Demonstrated experience leading program or system turnaround initiatives and driving measurable improvements.
• Experience with operational and financial performance management.
• Strong strategic planning, performance management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to partner effectively with clinical, operational, and executive leadership.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout Louisiana.