Associate Vice President (AVP) of Behavioral Health

Metropolitan Family Services • Chicago, IL

9d • $150,000 - $165,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) is seeking an Associate Vice President (AVP) of Behavioral Health for its Merrionette Park office. MFS is an established human services agency, founded in 1857, dedicated to empowering families to learn, earn, heal, and thrive. The organization emphasizes a strong sense of community in both its internal culture and its service delivery. This role offers an opportunity to make a significant impact beyond a company's bottom line.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health (MPH), or Health Administration (MHA), required.
• Current clinical licensure (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT) in the State of Illinois, required.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, with at least 3 years at a Director or Senior Director level, required.
• Proven track record managing multi-site operations in a large urban setting, required.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets ($5M+) with mixed revenue streams (Medicaid FFS, Managed Care, Federal Grants), required.
• Deep knowledge of CCBHC/PPS models and Illinois Rule 132/140, required.
• Experience providing care coordination and integrating SDOH/HRSN interventions into clinical workflows, required.
• Proficiency in EHR optimization and data analytics for population health management, required.
• IM+CANS certified (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire), required.
• Demonstrated experience applying ASAM criteria, required.
• Expertise in trauma-informed care and best practices in mental health treatment and care coordination.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking ability and ability to manage the service line finances.
• Comfort and ability to effectively work in a complex matrix organization.
• Demonstrated success in increasing levels of management, including supervision of management staff and oversight of behavioral health services.
• Proven record of accomplishment in improving organizational processes.
• Highly developed skills in change management and driving organizational process improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to work in collaborative relationship with program staff, leadership staff and administration.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and ability to meet multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Must be a highly motivated self-starter with ability to work independently and take ownership of a process or an issue.
• Demonstrated self-awareness and a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Mission driven and client focused.
• Ability to operate both hands-on and tactical, as well as at a strategic level.
• Ten years in behavioral health services or other related fields, including experience with program development, program delivery, and supervision of clinical staff.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a history of strong decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and team-building skills.
• Mobility to travel throughout metropolitan Chicago required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience overseeing both Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUPR-licensed) programs, preferred.
• Implementation experience with Alternative Payment Models (APMs) or value-based contracting, preferred.
• Executive experience in BH administration, preferred.
• CADC certification, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct the strategic vision for a multi-site behavioral health division, balancing value-based care (CCBHC/PPS) and volume-based care (Fee-for-Service/Rule 132).
• Lead the expansion of services across the MFS footprint, addressing multi-site logistics, community safety, and equitable access for diverse, high-needs populations.
• Architect a 'no wrong door' system to connect behavioral health clients to internal MFS services (housing, workforce development, legal aid, violence prevention) in partnership with the COO and other leadership.
• Champion organizational change initiatives, particularly the transition from volume-based to value-based care cultures.
• Provide guidance and input into grant applications and program planning/implementation.
• Develop and implement strategies to grow the CCBHC footprint.
• Provide clinical and operational oversight to the CCBHC Director, Program Directors, Clinical Supervisors, and Medical Director, ensuring all programs meet 'gold standard' clinical metrics.
• Supervise the BH Registration and Operations Manager.
• Develop and implement clinical practices and service models for behavioral health services to optimize quality, outcomes, efficiency, financial sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Serve as the executive behavioral health sponsor for the Quality Management Committee, enforcing high-fidelity implementation of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs).
• Provide BH clinical and operations guidance to ensure the effectiveness of technology supporting BH services, including the EHR, in partnership with IS, CQI, Operations, and Billing.
• Serve as a senior-level escalation point for critical incidents and high-liability clinical situations, ensuring root-cause analysis and risk mitigation.
• Ensure staff training for BH services is current with best practice standards, funding, and accreditation requirements.
• Collaborate with management to support staff development to strengthen cohesiveness, performance, and contribution to the agency.
• Understand the impact of changing state and federal legislation on behavioral health and coordinate advocacy efforts.
• Inform/provide input in hiring of BH program directors and clinical supervisors.
• Manage a complex P&L comprised of Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates, Fee-for-Service Medicaid billing, and state/federal grants.
• Partner with Billing and Revenue Cycle Management to minimize claim denials and optimize billable productivity.
• Participate in the annual budgeting process for BH services, analyzing variance reports and adjusting operational levers.
• Ensure total line of service compliance with Illinois Administrative Code Title 59 (Rule 132), SUPR licensure, DEA regulations, CCBHC certification criteria, CARF, and accreditation requirements.
• Maintain a continuous state of audit readiness for HFS, SUPR, SAMHSA, and accreditation site visits; oversee corrective action plans.
• Leverage data analytics to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to access to care, readmission rates, social needs screening, and quality/effectiveness of services.
• Standardize and develop management practices and monitoring tools to assure best practices and alignment with agency values and strategic goals for all areas of behavioral health.
• Ensure management practices, monitoring tools, and policies support consistent deployment and service provision within the behavioral health service line and across MFS sites, centers, and teams.
• Ensure the BH service delivery system is aligned with billing, quality management, and operational systems.
• Act as the primary MFS representative with high-level external stakeholders, including MCOs, hospital systems, FQHC executives, and city/county public health officials.
• Represent the organization in state-level forums to advocate for urban health equity, reimbursement rate adjustments, and workforce development policy.
• Cultivate formal agreements with criminal justice partners, housing authorities, schools, and other human service providers to solidify the referral network.
• Support the integration of behavioral health services with other service lines across the agency to create a seamless system of care for clients.
• Identify, develop, and cultivate strategic partnerships, affiliations, and alliances that support the mission, growth, and success of the agency and its behavioral health programs and services.
• Represent the Agency at external meetings and develop relationships with key representatives of private, public, and non-profit sectors.
• Champion a spirit of collaborative and open communication across all Agency departments and program operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.
• $2,500 Sign-on Bonus for first-time employees with MFS! ($1,250 on the first paycheck and $1,250 after 6 months of employment).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive