Director of Operations – Behavioral Health

Life Enhancement Services•Houston, TX

2d•$90,000 - $100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Life Enhancement Services of Texas (LESTX) is seeking an experienced, highly organized, and results-driven Director of Operations to oversee the day-to-day operations of its Texas programs while also serving as the primary operational point person for its affiliated Chicago office, Empower Behavioral Health. This is a senior leadership position for someone who understands that successful behavioral health operations require more than managing people. It requires ensuring that clients move efficiently through the organization, staff have the support and accountability needed to perform, documentation and operational requirements are met, and problems are identified and resolved before they affect service delivery. The Director of Operations will provide leadership and oversight for the daily operations of Life Enhancement Services of Texas and serve as an operational liaison for Empower Behavioral Health in Chicago. The Director will work closely with executive leadership, clinical leadership, Team Leads, intake/scheduling, administrative staff, human resources, billing/finance, quality assurance, outreach and other departments to ensure that operational systems function effectively. This position is responsible for turning organizational expectations into consistent day-to-day execution. The ideal candidate is a hands-on operational leader who can see the big picture while also paying attention to the details. This individual should be comfortable reviewing data, holding managers accountable, solving problems, improving processes and following issues through to resolution.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, Social Work, Psychology, Human Services or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership or management experience, preferably within behavioral health, mental health, healthcare or human services.
Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple departments, programs, teams or locations.
Strong understanding of operational management, staff accountability, workflow development and performance improvement.
Ability to analyze operational data and translate findings into action.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational, time-management and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and follow projects and issues through completion.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
Ability to travel between locations as required.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Administration or a related field.
Previous leadership experience in a community-based behavioral health organization.
Experience with Medicaid-funded behavioral health programs.
Knowledge of Texas behavioral health operations, including community-based mental health services.
Experience with audits, compliance monitoring, quality improvement and corrective action planning.
Experience managing operations across multiple locations or states.
Familiarity with electronic health records, data reporting systems and operational dashboards.
Experience working with clinical professionals, QMHPs, Team Leads and other behavioral health staff.
Takes ownership rather than waiting for someone else to solve a problem.
Can respectfully hold managers and staff accountable.
Is comfortable asking questions when numbers, processes or outcomes do not make sense.
Understands both the business and service sides of behavioral healthcare.
Can move between strategic planning and day-to-day problem solving.
Communicates clearly and follows through consistently.
Can build systems and processes instead of relying on individual employees to remember what needs to happen.
Recognizes potential operational risks early and takes action.
Can work effectively with different personalities, departments and professional disciplines.
Is comfortable working in a growing organization where priorities may evolve.
Understands that strong operations ultimately support better care for clients.

Responsibilities

Oversee the day-to-day operations of Life Enhancement Services of Texas.
Ensure departments are operating efficiently and consistently with organizational policies, procedures and expectations.
Provide operational oversight and support to Team Leads, managers and administrative departments.
Establish clear expectations, priorities and accountability measures for operational leaders.
Conduct regular operational meetings and follow up on identified action items.
Identify workflow problems, bottlenecks and service gaps and develop solutions to address them.
Ensure operational issues are resolved timely rather than remaining unresolved between departments.
Assist executive leadership with implementing organizational initiatives, policies and strategic priorities.
Develop and improve systems that support organizational growth without sacrificing service quality or compliance.
Monitor the operational flow of clients from referral and intake through assessment, authorization, assignment and ongoing service delivery of (Targeted Case Management Services, Foster Care and Medicare Therapy Services).
Work with intake, clinical and program teams to identify delays that prevent clients from beginning or continuing services.
Monitor caseload capacity and work with leadership to address staffing or service-delivery barriers.
Ensure departments communicate effectively regarding client status and outstanding requirements.
Review operational data to identify trends affecting access to services, client retention and program performance.
Promote a culture in which operational decisions remain focused on timely, appropriate and quality services for clients.
Work with Team Leads and department managers to establish performance expectations and operational priorities.
Monitor whether managers are completing required meetings, supervision, reporting and follow-up responsibilities.
Address recurring performance and operational concerns with appropriate leadership and Human Resources.
Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding and retention initiatives for key operational positions.
Assist with identifying staffing needs and ensuring adequate staffing levels based on program and caseload needs.
Support managers in developing stronger leadership, communication, organization and accountability practices.
Promote consistent communication between executive leadership and front-line operations.
Work collaboratively with clinical leadership and Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement to ensure operations support regulatory and contractual requirements.
Monitor operational compliance with organizational policies, payer requirements and applicable state and federal standards.
Assist with preparation for audits, reviews, corrective action plans and other compliance activities.
Monitor documentation and operational performance indicators and ensure identified deficiencies are addressed.
Ensure processes are in place to track important deadlines, authorizations, assessments and other program requirements.
Collaborate with clinical leadership on issues requiring clinical judgment while maintaining responsibility for operational follow-through.
Support continuous quality improvement initiatives across programs.
Develop, monitor and report on key operational performance indicators.
Review trends related to referrals, assessments, client assignments, caseloads, staffing, documentation timeliness, service delivery and other operational measures.
Provide executive leadership with regular updates regarding operational performance, risks and areas requiring intervention.
Use data to identify problems and recommend solutions rather than relying solely on anecdotal information.
Develop action plans when departments or programs are not meeting established expectations.
Track action items through completion and verify that corrective measures have produced the intended results.
Maintain regular communication with Chicago leadership and staff regarding operational needs and concerns.
Serve as a liaison between Empower Behavioral Health and executive leadership.
Assist with implementation and monitoring of organizational systems, policies and operational expectations.
Help identify staffing, workflow, administrative and service-delivery issues requiring leadership attention.
Coordinate with local leadership to ensure operational concerns are addressed and followed through to resolution.
Participate in operational meetings and provide guidance and support as needed.
Assist with preparation for audits, compliance activities and organizational reviews as appropriate.
Ensure executive leadership remains informed regarding significant operational developments within the Chicago program.
Travel to Chicago periodically when necessary for operational support, meetings, training, audits or other organizational needs.
Work closely with Executive Leadership, Clinical Leadership, Team Leads and Program Management, Intake and Scheduling, Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement, Human Resources, Billing and Finance, Outreach/Referral Development, Administrative Support, and Chicago Program Leadership.
Ensure that responsibilities do not fall through the gaps between teams.