Chief Clinical Officer

Behavioral Health Allies•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

The Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) is BHA’s senior clinical and medical leader, accountable for the quality, safety, and effectiveness of every clinical and health service BHA provides. Reporting to the CEO and serving on the executive leadership team, the CCO sets clinical standards and provides oversight across behavior-analytic (ABA) services in the Early Intervention Clinic, Community Living, and BHA Academy; nursing and medical care; psychiatric and medication oversight through contracted providers; and clinical standards for speech-language and occupational therapy. This is a clinical leadership, oversight, and risk-mitigation role. The CCO raises the quality of care across BHA rather than carrying a caseload or producing revenue. Many of the children and adults BHA serves have complex behavioral, psychiatric, and medical needs, including self-injury, aggression, elopement, psychotropic medications, seizures, and swallowing risks, often in 24/7 settings staffed largely by non-licensed direct support staff. The CCO is expected to bring behavioral, medical, and therapy services together into one coordinated clinical system; ensure evidence-based, person-centered practice in every program; reduce clinical risk, including restrictive interventions, medication errors, and avoidable hospitalizations; and give the CEO, executive team, and Board clear visibility into clinical quality and outcomes. Guided by BHA’s Core Values, the CCO builds a clinical culture of excellence, dignity, and continuous learning.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis, Psychology, Nursing, Medicine, or a related clinical field, with one of the following credentials: BCBA-D with Missouri Licensed Behavior Analyst license; licensed psychologist (PhD or PsyD); or board-certified PMHNP (DNP preferred) with experience in psychiatry or developmental disabilities.
Active, unrestricted Missouri license or eligibility to obtain one before hire; Kansas licensure or eligibility is preferred.
At least 10 years of clinical experience serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, or significant behavioral or psychiatric needs.
At least 5 years of clinical leadership at the director level or above across multiple programs or sites.
Experience in settings comparable to BHA, such as IDD residential or waiver services, psychiatric residential treatment, psychiatric hospitals, ABA clinics, or special education.
Experience leading interdisciplinary clinical services (behavioral, nursing or medical, and therapy) and integrating them into a coordinated model of care.
Proven record leading clinical programs through regulatory surveys, payer audits, and quality reviews, such as DMH, DESE, Medicaid/CMS, or accreditation reviews.
Experience building clinical quality, outcomes measurement, and restrictive-intervention reduction programs.
Credibility with BCBAs, nurses, therapists, psychiatric providers, and educators, with sound judgment about professional scope and when to rely on other qualified clinicians.
Expertise in applied behavior analysis and positive behavior support, restraint reduction, and trauma-informed care, with a working understanding of psychotropic medication management and health risks common in IDD.
Working knowledge of Missouri DMH Division of Developmental Disabilities standards for behavior support, restrictive interventions, and medication administration; DESE restraint and seclusion requirements; Medicaid and commercial ABA requirements; the BACB Ethics Code; and nursing scope and delegation rules.
Ability to use clinical data and outcomes to evaluate effectiveness and drive improvement.
Strong clinical judgment and calm decision-making in high-risk and crisis situations.
Clear communication with families, guardians, school districts, funders, regulators, and the Board.
High ethical standards and discretion with protected health information.

Nice To Haves

Kansas licensure or eligibility to obtain Kansas licensure.
DNP degree for a PMHNP candidate.

Responsibilities

Serve as BHA’s highest clinical authority and a member of its executive leadership team.
Set clinical, behavioral, nursing, and medical standards, policies, and protocols for all divisions, including operations leaders.
Hold final clinical authority on behavior support plans involving restrictive procedures, medication and health protocols, clinical appropriateness of admissions, and clinical transitions and discharges.
Require changes to an individual’s supports or pause a clinical practice that presents clinical risk, with immediate notice to the CEO and COO.
Approve clinical credentialing, licensure, and supervision requirements, and engagement of contracted psychiatric and medical providers within the approved budget.
Provide case consultation, high-risk case review, and clinical sign-off without carrying a caseload or prescribing.
Oversee ABA services across the Early Intervention Clinic, Community Living, and BHA Academy; nursing and medical care; psychiatric and medication oversight through contracted providers; and clinical standards for speech-language and occupational therapy.
Integrate behavioral, medical, and therapy services into a coordinated clinical system and ensure evidence-based, person-centered practice across programs.
Reduce clinical risk, including restrictive interventions, medication errors, and avoidable hospitalizations.
Provide the CEO, executive team, and Board with clear visibility into clinical quality and outcomes.
Build a clinical culture of excellence, dignity, and continuous learning.