Director of Access Operations

Health Solutions West•Grand Junction, CO

7d•$102,846 - $120,000

About The Position

The Director of Access Operations provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and continuous improvement for Health Solutions West’s access system. The position oversees Open Access and Support Services to support timely, equitable, efficient, and client-centered entry into services across the organization. The Director develops and implements strategies to improve service availability, reduce barriers to care, enhance the client experience, and support organizational growth. The Director collaborates with clinical, operational, quality, compliance, and revenue cycle leaders to connect people seeking care with appropriate services in a timely manner while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, accreditation standards, payer requirements, and organizational policies. As a licensed clinical leader, the Director oversees intake processes, clinical triage, level-of-care decisions, access workflows, and quality standards affecting entry into services. The position is based in Grand Junction, Aspen, Craig, or Eagle, Colorado. Rural onsite positions may receive a cost-of-living adjustment based on applicable FTE; telehealth employees are not eligible, and Grand Junction does not receive a COLA. Salaried employees working in Aspen, Eagle, or Craig receive the stated bi-weekly COLA for their location. The role may involve travel between Health Solutions West sites or within the community and exposure to stressful situations, communicable disease, and a moderately noisy work environment. Employees must already be authorized to work in the United States; sponsorship is unavailable.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a recognized mental health profession.
At least five years of experience in a human services setting, such as a community mental health center, chemical dependency setting, or residential treatment facility.
At least three years of administrative and/or supervisory experience, included within the required experience.
Licensure in the State of Colorado.
Comprehensive knowledge of behavioral health systems, client access models, intake practices, triage processes, and levels of care.
Knowledge of healthcare operations, including registration, scheduling, insurance verification, customer service, and client onboarding workflows.
Knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations and requirements, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, Medicaid, Medicare, accreditation standards, and behavioral health compliance requirements.
Strong leadership skills and ability to supervise, coach, mentor, and develop staff.
Ability to analyze operational and clinical performance data and implement data-driven improvement strategies.
Ability to develop and improve complex operational workflows while balancing quality, compliance, efficiency, and client experience.
Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate across all organizational levels.
Ability to lead change, build consensus, manage competing priorities, and promote accountability and continuous improvement.
Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills, with sound professional judgment in complex situations.
Proficiency with electronic health record systems, Microsoft Office applications, reporting tools, and healthcare technology platforms.
Ability to maintain collaborative working relationships with internal departments, community partners, regulatory agencies, and external stakeholders.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical standards when managing sensitive matters.
Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; frequently walk, sit, stand, or kneel; and occasionally climb or balance and stoop.
Ability to sit for extended periods at a computer and travel between sites or within the community.
Must already be authorized to work in the United States; sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

Experience with access management, intake services, scheduling operations, customer service operations, or patient navigation is strongly preferred.
Experience utilizing data and performance metrics to improve operational outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, develop programs, analyze data, and manage complex operational initiatives.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversee the operational performance and continuous improvement of the organization’s access system.
Oversee Open Access and Support Services to promote timely, equitable, efficient, and client-centered access to services.
Develop and implement access strategies to improve service availability, reduce barriers to care, enhance the client experience, and support organizational growth.
Collaborate with clinical, operational, quality, compliance, and revenue cycle leaders to connect individuals with appropriate services in a timely manner.
Maintain compliance with applicable regulations, accreditation standards, payer requirements, and organizational policies.
Provide clinical leadership and oversight for intake processes, clinical triage, level-of-care decisions, access workflows, and quality standards affecting entry into services.
Supervise, coach, mentor, and develop supervisors, team leads, and multidisciplinary staff.
Analyze operational and clinical performance data, identify trends, and implement data-driven improvement strategies.
Develop, manage, and improve complex operational workflows while balancing quality, compliance, efficiency, and client experience.
Lead organizational change initiatives, build consensus, manage competing priorities, and foster accountability and continuous improvement.
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with internal departments, community partners, regulatory agencies, and external stakeholders.
Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical standards when handling sensitive clinical, operational, and personnel matters.
Travel between organizational sites or within the community as needed.