Chief Executive Officer, DBH Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare Hospital

State of Ohio • Northfield, OH

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides full operational, clinical, and administrative leadership for Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare, a state-operated psychiatric hospital and regional hub for inpatient psychiatric services and statewide forensic capacity. The CEO ensures safe, high-quality inpatient care, oversees hospital operations and regulatory compliance, supports a strong workforce, and fosters a recovery-oriented environment for patients and staff.

The CEO develops, implements, and evaluates a unified mental health delivery system, aligning facility-wide programs with Ohio Department of Behavioral Health policy and community needs. The role includes supervising senior leaders, maintaining accreditation and regulatory standards, managing multimillion-dollar budgets and facility projects, and building partnerships with community mental health boards, local agencies, staff, unions, families, law enforcement, and the public.

The CEO also works with DBH Central Office and peer hospital CEOs to align policy, performance measures, quality initiatives, workforce strategies, forensic coordination, emergency response, and standards of care across Ohio’s state hospital network. The position provides leadership during crises to support continuity of care and staff safety.

This is a permanent, full-time, unclassified position. The work location is 1756 Sagamore Road, Northfield, Ohio. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with variable/flexible hours. Compensation is commensurate with education and experience.

Requirements

• Completion of an undergraduate core program in human services or a health services-related management field, or equivalent qualifications.
• Four years of work experience supervising programs or services that provide behavioral healthcare to individuals in an area related to the vacancy, or equivalent qualifications.
• Two years of work experience in budget management, or equivalent qualifications.
• One year of work experience in public relations, or equivalent qualifications.
• Official transcripts for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application must be submitted before a formal employment offer; failure to provide requested transcripts within five business days results in disqualification.
• The final candidate must undergo a criminal background check.
• Final applicants tentatively selected for this class must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; a positive test precludes an employment offer.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the administration and operations of a state-operated psychiatric hospital serving clients with complex mental health needs.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate a unified mental health delivery system, ensuring hospital programs align with DBH policy and community needs.
• Supervise top-level leaders and ensure accountability across departments.
• Maintain accreditation standards, including The Joint Commission, Medicaid, and Medicare, and ensure services meet or exceed regulatory and professional benchmarks.
• Collaborate with community mental health boards, Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Boards, and local agencies to deliver integrated services in hospital and community settings.
• Develop and manage multimillion-dollar budgets and approve facility renovations, expansions, and capital planning while ensuring fiscal responsibility.
• Represent the facility and build trust with staff, unions, community partners, law enforcement, families, and the public.
• Lead through crises, including emergency codes, outages, and public health events, to ensure continuity of care and staff safety.
• Collaborate with DBH Central Office and peer hospital CEOs to strengthen the statewide hospital network, advance system-wide quality improvement, support workforce sustainability, and ensure consistent standards of care.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Free dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums after completion of the eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, adoption, and foster care leave
• Education and development opportunities, including employee development funds and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Public retirement systems, including OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS
• Optional deferred compensation through Ohio Deferred Compensation

What This Job Offers

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