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Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Stress Care of New Jersey, LLC

Chief Operating Officer (COO) Stress Care of New Jersey, LLC Join Stress Care of New Jersey and ... Stress Care of New Jersey, LLC is a premier Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Center ...

mhca.org

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Eatontown, NJ · On-site

A national association of innovative & entrepreneurial behavioral healthcare organizations focused on the development of C-suite executives. Chief Operating Officer (COO) Eatontown, NJ Candidate ...

New

Illumination-Health-Home

$210K - $230K/yr

Ensure seamless integration between healthcare, housing, behavioral health, shelter, recuperative ... The COO will help shape strategy, strengthen operations, develop leaders, and expand organizational ...

Socket.dev

Chief Operating Officer

Wichita, KS · On-site

Director of Operations, Director of Behavioral Health Urgent Care POSITION OVERVIEW The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior executive responsible for the strategic planning, development ...

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Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health information

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How much do chief operating officer behavioral health jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief operating officer behavioral health in the United States is $151,203.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,500.00 and $185,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a chief operating officer do in behavioral health?

A Chief Operating Officer (COO) in a behavioral health organization is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and ensuring that programs and services run efficiently and effectively. They collaborate with clinical and administrative staff to implement policies, manage budgets, and improve patient care outcomes. The COO plays a key role in strategic planning, compliance with healthcare regulations, and quality assurance, helping to create an environment where both staff and patients can thrive.

What are the main challenges a chief operating officer in behavioral health might face when aligning clinical and operational goals?

As a Chief Operating Officer in Behavioral Health, a primary challenge is integrating clinical priorities—such as patient care quality and regulatory compliance—with operational objectives like efficiency and budget management. Balancing these can require close collaboration with clinical leaders, ongoing process evaluation, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing healthcare regulations. Success often depends on fostering a culture of communication and teamwork across clinical and administrative departments to ensure both patient outcomes and organizational sustainability are achieved.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chief operating officer in behavioral health, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Operating Officer in Behavioral Health, you need extensive experience in healthcare administration, a deep understanding of behavioral health services, and typically a master's degree in healthcare management or a related field. Familiarity with healthcare compliance systems, EHR platforms, budgeting tools, and accreditation standards such as Joint Commission is essential. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal communication skills are crucial for driving organizational success and fostering a collaborative environment. These skills and qualifications are vital for ensuring efficient operations, regulatory compliance, and high-quality patient care in a complex behavioral health setting.

What is the difference between Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health vs Clinical Director Behavioral Health?

AspectChief Operating Officer Behavioral HealthClinical Director Behavioral Health
Primary FocusOversees overall operations, strategic planning, and organizational growthManages clinical services, staff supervision, and patient care quality
Required CredentialsOften requires advanced degrees (MBA, healthcare administration), leadership experienceTypically requires clinical licenses (LCSW, LPC), clinical expertise
Work EnvironmentExecutive offices, administrative settings, board interactionsClinical settings, hospitals, outpatient clinics
Industry UsageUsed in large healthcare organizations, hospital systemsCommon in outpatient centers, mental health clinics

The Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health focuses on organizational leadership and strategic management, while the Clinical Director Behavioral Health concentrates on clinical operations and patient care. Both roles are vital but serve different aspects of behavioral health organizations.

What states have the most Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health jobs?

States with the most job openings for Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health jobs?

For Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Chief Operating Officer Behavioral Health job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,203 per year, or $72.7 per hour.

Chief Operating Officer

Greenville, NC • On-site

ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital
See more jobs at ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospitalexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Oversee hospital operations to ensure the delivery of safe, quality-driven, and cost-effective patient care.

  • Lead operational performance initiatives across clinical and support departments.

  • Partner with the CEO and executive team to develop and execute strategic objectives.

Job description

Overview

Chief Operating Officer (COO) - ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital

ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital is seeking an accomplished and strategic healthcare executive to serve as its next Chief Operating Officer (COO). Located in Greenville, North Carolina, ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital is a state-of-the-art 144-bed behavioral health hospital developed through a joint venture between ECU Health, the region's leading academic healthcare system, and Acadia Healthcare, a national leader in behavioral health services.

The hospital provides comprehensive behavioral healthcare services for adults, seniors, adolescents, and children, delivering high-quality, patient-centered care across a broad continuum of psychiatric services. As a premier behavioral health destination for eastern North Carolina, the organization is dedicated to expanding access, improving outcomes, and meeting the growing behavioral health needs of the communities it serves.

About the Role

The Chief Operating Officer serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and partners closely with the CEO to oversee the hospital's daily operations, strategic growth initiatives, and performance improvement efforts.

This executive will provide leadership across clinical and non-clinical operations while fostering an environment of accountability, collaboration, patient-centered care, and operational excellence. The COO will play a critical role in advancing quality outcomes, supporting physician and clinical partnerships, enhancing employee engagement, and driving sustainable growth throughout the organization.

The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of behavioral health hospital operations, regulatory compliance, financial management, workforce development, physician relations, and service line optimization.

What We Offer

At ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital, we invest in exceptional leaders through a comprehensive executive compensation and benefits package, including:

  • Competitive executive compensation and annual incentive opportunity
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
  • Generous paid time off and holiday benefits
  • Leadership development and executive training opportunities
  • Relocation assistance, where applicable
  • Career advancement opportunities within a nationally recognized healthcare partnership
  • The opportunity to help shape one of North Carolina's premier behavioral health hospitals

Why ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital?

Unique Partnership Model

Benefit from the strengths of a leading academic healthcare system and a nationally recognized behavioral health operator, creating an environment focused on clinical excellence, innovation, and operational best practices.

State-of-the-Art Facility

Lead operations within a modern 144-bed behavioral health hospital designed to provide high-quality psychiatric care across multiple patient populations and acuity levels.

Regional Impact

Serve patients throughout eastern North Carolina while helping expand access to critical behavioral healthcare services across a large geographic region.

Academic Environment

Collaborate within an organization connected to one of the region's leading academic medical communities, supporting education, workforce development, and clinical excellence.

Growth and Innovation

Join an organization committed to expanding behavioral healthcare access, improving outcomes, and implementing best practices in patient care and operations.

Responsibilities
  • Oversee hospital operations to ensure the delivery of safe, quality-driven, and cost-effective patient care.
  • Lead operational performance initiatives across clinical and support departments.
  • Partner with the CEO and executive team to develop and execute strategic objectives.
  • Drive patient satisfaction, quality outcomes, workforce engagement, and operational efficiency.
  • Foster a culture focused on accountability, teamwork, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
  • Support physician recruitment, physician engagement, and clinical collaboration efforts.
  • Ensure compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, state, and organizational standards.
  • Lead departmental leaders through recruitment, development, performance management, and succession planning.
  • Assist in budget development, capital planning, and financial management activities.
  • Analyze operational trends and implement initiatives to improve performance and growth.
  • Serve as acting facility leader in the absence of the CEO.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications

Education / Experience

  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Nursing, Behavioral Health, or a related field preferred.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of progressive healthcare leadership experience required.
  • Behavioral health hospital leadership experience strongly preferred.
  • Experience leading inpatient psychiatric, acute care, or behavioral health service line operations preferred.
  • Demonstrated success managing multidisciplinary teams, operational performance, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement initiatives.
  • Previous P&L responsibility and budget management experience required.
  • Experience driving growth, physician partnerships, and operational excellence within a healthcare environment.

Licenses / Certifications

  • Relevant clinical licensure (RN, LCSW, LCMHC, LCAS, Psychologist, or related credential) preferred but not required.
  • FACHE or other healthcare leadership certification preferred.

Be Part of Something Bigger

This is an opportunity to join a highly visible behavioral health organization at the intersection of academic medicine, community healthcare, and industry-leading behavioral health expertise. If you are an experienced healthcare operator who is passionate about improving access, quality, and outcomes in behavioral healthcare, we invite you to explore this exceptional leadership opportunity with ECU Health Behavioral Health Hospital.

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Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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