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$26.5K

$93.6K

$184K

How much do behavioral health executive jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for behavioral health executive in the United States is $93,552.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,000.00 and $120,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Behavioral Health Executive, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Behavioral Health Executive, you need a strong background in behavioral health management, regulatory compliance, and strategic leadership, often supported by an advanced degree in healthcare administration or a related field. Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) systems, accreditation standards (such as Joint Commission), and budgeting tools is essential. Outstanding communication, emotional intelligence, and decision-making skills set apart top performers in this role. These competencies ensure effective oversight, regulatory compliance, and the delivery of high-quality behavioral health services.

What is the difference between Behavioral Health Executive vs Clinical Director?

AspectBehavioral Health ExecutiveClinical Director
CredentialsMaster's or Doctoral degree in psychology, social work, or related field; leadership experienceMaster's degree in social work, psychology, or counseling; clinical licensure often required
Work EnvironmentExecutive leadership in healthcare organizations, overseeing multiple programsManaging clinical teams and direct patient care within facilities
Employer & Industry UsageHospitals, mental health agencies, healthcare systemsClinics, outpatient centers, mental health facilities

The Behavioral Health Executive focuses on organizational leadership, strategic planning, and overall program management, while the Clinical Director is more involved in supervising clinical staff and direct patient care. Both roles require relevant credentials, but the Executive role emphasizes broader administrative responsibilities.

What are some common challenges faced by Behavioral Health Executives in leading multidisciplinary teams?

Behavioral Health Executives often oversee teams that include clinicians, case managers, administrative staff, and external partners. A common challenge is ensuring effective communication and collaboration across these diverse groups, especially when addressing complex patient needs and regulatory requirements. Executives must balance clinical priorities with organizational goals, all while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Navigating changes in healthcare regulations and reimbursement models also requires adaptability and proactive leadership.

What are Behavioral Health Executives?

Behavioral Health Executives are senior leaders responsible for overseeing programs and services related to mental health and substance use within healthcare organizations. They manage teams of clinicians and administrators, develop policies, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive organizational strategy to improve patient outcomes. Their role often includes budgeting, staff development, and building partnerships with community organizations. Behavioral Health Executives play a key role in shaping the quality and accessibility of behavioral healthcare services.
More about Behavioral Health Executive jobs
What cities are hiring for Behavioral Health Executive jobs? Cities with the most Behavioral Health Executive job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Behavioral Health jobs? The most popular types of Behavioral Health jobs are:
What states have the most Behavioral Health Executive jobs? States with the most job openings for Behavioral Health Executive jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Behavioral Health Executive jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Behavioral Health Executive jobs are:
Behavioral Health Executive jobs near you
Infographic showing various Behavioral Health Executive job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,552 per year, or $45 per hour.
Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Acadia Healthcare

Westminster, CO • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Acadia Healthcare rating

6.2

Company rating: 6.2 out of 10

Based on 185 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

692nd of 872 rated healthcare providers

Job description

Overview
Chief Executive Officer - West Pines Behavioral Health Hospital, Westminster, CO
Shape the Future of Behavioral Health Care in Colorado
West Pines Behavioral Health Hospital, a 144-bed behavioral health facility in Westminster, Colorado, is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to guide our hospital into its next chapter of growth and impact.
As a joint venture between Intermountain Health and Acadia Healthcare, West Pines plays a vital role in the Denver metropolitan area, providing a broad continuum of care including inpatient psychiatric treatment, Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). We serve children, adolescents, adults, and seniors-meeting the urgent and growing need for compassionate, high-quality mental health services in our community.
Why Lead at West Pines?
This is more than a leadership role-it's an opportunity to make a lasting difference. As CEO, you will:
  • Drive a vision of excellence in patient care while ensuring regulatory compliance
  • Lead operational and financial performance to support long-term growth
  • Build and inspire a high-performing, engaged workforce
  • Partner with Intermountain Health, local providers, and community leaders to expand access to care
  • Champion business development initiatives that strengthen services and community impact

If you are a proven behavioral health executive who thrives in collaborative environments, excels in strategic leadership, and is passionate about improving lives, this role is for you.
What We Offer:
We know that leading at this level requires the right support. That's why Acadia provides its executives with the tools and resources to succeed:
  • Competitive executive compensation with performance-based incentives
  • Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan with company match
  • Equity/stock incentive opportunities for long-term financial growth
  • Generous paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Robust onboarding and operational support through Acadia's national network
  • Career advancement opportunities within Acadia's 250+ behavioral health facilities nationwide

Join us in leading West Pines Behavioral Health Hospital forward-expanding access, delivering hope, and transforming lives in Colorado.
Responsibilities
Job Duties/Responsibilities:
The successful Chief Executive Officer candidate will:
  • Be instrumental in developing a culture that emphasizes high quality care and patient safety.
  • Manages day-to day operations and staff so that the facility achieves its objectives in all of the following key performance areas:
  • effective patient care outcomes
  • appropriate fiscal management
  • maintenance of licensure, accreditation and other regulatory criteria
  • implementation of focused business development processes
  • medical staff compliance with regulatory and accreditation guidelines
  • Organizes the day-to-day management and operation of the Facility through departmentalization, delegation and alignment of responsibilities to meet the facility's patient care and business objectives.
  • Create and maintain a network of local constituency groups to include government agencies, local businesses, affiliate health providers, and the surrounding community.
  • Appraises leadership team performance, both of individual members and the team, assesses competencies, and provides coaching/corrective action as appropriate under the direction of the governing body.
  • Ensure participation of staff in facility/program wide in-service and continuing education programs, including those specific to the treatment of adults, seniors, adolescents, and families.
  • Recruit allied health professionals and psychiatrists to increase the scope of service offerings at the facility.
  • Effectively work with corporate contracting team to manage and direct contract negotiations and contract compliance with the commercial payer community to include rate negotiations and services provided. Oversee contract relationships to include regular reporting on contract performance as well as new revenue generation and growth.
  • Leads development of continuum of care to include comprehensive outpatient services and community-based programs.
  • Serves as the final authority for resolution of staff performance concerns and performance improvement activities as appropriate.
  • Routinely attends and as appropriate, chairs periodic meetings with the governing body, medical staff, executive management team, and other departments of the facility.
  • Abides by all company policies and procedures and operates with the highest personal integrity and professionalism.
  • Remains current in all national healthcare-based initiatives through participation in such organizations as NAPHS and the relevant state-based facility association.
  • Ensure an effective survey readiness plan is always active including a comprehensive auditing plan, corrective actions taken to address noncompliant areas, and preventative actions to maintain continuous accreditation and regulatory compliance.
  • Ensure adherence to the Corporate Compliance program including timely follow-up with reported compliance issues, staff training, and proactive auditing.
  • Confirm and lead accurate Governing Board reporting and quarterly calls.
  • Guarantee prompt, thorough follow-up of any patient safety issues including system-issue corrections and proactive assessment of high-risk areas.
  • Ensure appropriate support for QAPI activities including direct and leadership staff resources, training, and other requirements.
  • Consistently demonstrate a high level of leadership skills resulting in efficient planning, development and implementation. Assist in the development of and implementation of long-range goals and annual objectives.
  • Identify critical issues and maintain a deep understanding of the marketplace, customers and the broad forces that affect the organization's future.
  • Manage the performance of the organization to the budget and short- and long-term financial goals. Focus on execution. Practice financial acumen in managing budgets and census.
  • Support the executive team - to achieve goals and objectives that fulfill the mission and vision of the organization.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Continually enhance the reputation of the organization within the community regarding mental health, addiction, treatment and recovery and broaden that community involvement.
  • Earn the trust and establish credibility among the organization and facility leadership, the staff nurses, medical staff, and nursing leadership. It is essential that the new Chief Executive Officer be visible within the hospital.
  • Ensure the facility is financially sound and has a positive operating margin.
  • Increase both the occupancy and payor mix as well as increase customer satisfaction.
  • Shift the culture toward innovation, advancing opportunities for revenue diversification and virtual programs and services.
  • Promote a foundation for, and a culture of diversity, equity, inclusiveness, transparency, and collaboration throughout facility. The end results will be high employee engagement, strong employee morale, as well as high patient, physician, and clinical staff satisfaction that are continuously improving.
  • Continue to build a culture that is focused on performance improvement, quality, and service excellence as the organization strives to be the industry leader in addiction treatment.
  • Further develop and refine a clear strategy such that the organization is seen as the voice for mental health, addiction, treatment, and recovery in the U.S.

Qualifications
Education/Certification:
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Marketing, Clinical Discipline, or related discipline is required. A Master's degree in health care administration, business administration, Clinical Discipline or related field is preferred.

Knowledge and Work Experience:
  • Minimum of three to five years of experience in senior leadership or CEO role in a behavioral health, acute care, and/or managed care environment.
  • Demonstrates thorough knowledge of facility administration and clinical operations. Experience in turning around an organization as well as the ability to direct crisis and inpatient behavioral health services.
  • Must be able to manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously within inflexible timeframes. Ability to adapt to frequent priority changes.
  • Initiative-taking and self-directed with effective communication and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work professionally with sensitive, proprietary data & information while maintaining confidentiality.
  • Excellent people skills including the ability to interact effectively and professionally with individuals at all levels; both internal and external.
  • Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and superior attention to detail.
  • Must be organized and work well under pressure while multi-tasking in a demanding environment; must be able to effectively react to emergencies.
  • Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules and regulations governing mental health and addiction treatment inpatient services and related funding (CMS, Joint Commission, AHCA, DCS, HIPAA, 42 CFR). Strong knowledge of Joint Commission accreditation standards and the proven ability to lead successful licensure, accreditation, and compliance efforts in a behavioral health facility.
  • Capable of working within established policies, procedures and practices prescribed by the organization.
  • A transformational leader, well known and well respected, ideally with Hospital Administrator experience or in a similarly visible leadership position.
  • Strong financial acumen and business orientation with a working knowledge of fiscal management and business development processes.
  • History of developing high-performing teams and creating followership.
  • Experience working with HR to develop robust succession plans that identify, develop, and advance the next generation of leaders.
  • English sufficient to provide and receive instructions/directions.

Personal Characteristics:
  • Uncompromising passion for and alignment with the mission; empathy toward those who are in crisis or suffer a mental health and substance use disorder.
  • An authentic, honest individual with steadfast integrity who leads with empathy, trust and transparency, balanced with an ability to be decisive and firm, holding people and teams accountable and driving toward change.
  • Visible, inspiring leader who brings gravitas and one who carries themselves with humility and is a self-aware servant leader who listens and collaborates across the organization; leads with gratitude and grace.
  • A visionary, innovative leader, capable of leveraging technology and advancing the organization to achieve the greatest impact toward its mission.
  • An engaged leader who acts with courage and is willing and able to make complex decisions that are in the best interest of the organization.
  • Exceptional communicator with high emotional intelligence and outstanding people skills.
  • Promotes a culture of accountability.
  • Commitment to embrace and advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
  • Highly strategic with strong execution skills with the ability to direct crisis and inpatient behavioral health services.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience, starting at $185,000. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, skills, and relevant experience.We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual's characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.
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About Acadia Healthcare

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Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider in the healthcare and hospital industry, based in Franklin, Tennessee, United States. The company is recognised for its commitment to creating a behavioural health network that provides accessible, high-quality treatment options for individuals suffering from mental health issues, addiction, eating disorders, and PTSD. Acadia Healthcare was founded in 2005, with the mission to create a world-class organization that sets the standard of excellence in the treatment of specialty behavioural health and addiction disorders.

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Franklin, TN, US

Year founded

2005

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