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 oversees 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. The people served may 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 brings behavioral, medical, and therapy services together into a coordinated clinical system; promotes evidence-based, person-centered practice across programs; reduces clinical risks, including restrictive interventions, medication errors, and avoidable hospitalizations; and gives 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. The CCO is BHA’s highest clinical authority and sets clinical, behavioral, nursing, and medical standards, policies, and protocols that all divisions, including operations leaders, are required to follow. The role has final clinical authority over behavior support plans that include restrictive procedures, medication and health protocols, clinical appropriateness of admissions, and clinical transitions and discharges. The CCO may require changes to an individual’s supports or pause a clinical practice presenting a clinical risk, with immediate notice to the CEO and COO. The CCO approves clinical credentialing, licensure, and supervision requirements, and the engagement of contracted psychiatric and medical providers within the approved budget. The role provides case consultation, high-risk case review, and clinical sign-off, but does not carry a caseload or prescribe. Psychiatric services are provided through contracted providers.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis, Psychology, Nursing, Medicine, or a related clinical field.
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.
At least 10 years of clinical experience serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, or significant behavioral or psychiatric needs.
At least 5 years of clinical leadership at 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 involving behavioral, nursing or medical, and therapy services and integrating them into coordinated 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.
Ability to lead credibly across BCBAs, nurses, therapists, psychiatric providers, and educators, recognize the limits of personal scope of practice, and rely on other qualified clinicians when appropriate.
Expertise in applied behavior analysis, positive behavior support, restraint reduction, and trauma-informed care.
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

Set clinical standards and oversee clinical and health services across BHA programs, including ABA, nursing and medical care, contracted psychiatric services, and speech-language and occupational therapy.
Establish clinical, behavioral, nursing, and medical standards, policies, and protocols for all divisions.
Exercise final clinical authority over restrictive behavior support plans, medication and health protocols, admission appropriateness, transitions, and discharges.
Require changes to supports or pause clinical practices that present clinical risks, while notifying the CEO and COO immediately.
Approve clinical credentialing, licensure, and supervision requirements, and approve 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.
Integrate behavioral, medical, nursing, and therapy services into a coordinated model of care.
Promote evidence-based, person-centered practice and reduce restrictive interventions, medication errors, and avoidable hospitalizations.
Provide the CEO, executive team, and Board with visibility into clinical quality and outcomes.
Build a clinical culture of excellence, dignity, and continuous learning.