Executive Director

Ascension Recovery Services•Pleasant Hill, IA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Thrive Now Recovery Centers, in partnership with Ascension Recovery Services (ARS), is seeking an experienced, mission-driven Executive Director to lead our established residential substance use disorder treatment facility in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. This is an opportunity to step into a facility with a strong foundation, an established team, and meaningful momentum — and help take it to the next level. The Executive Director will be responsible for the overall operational, financial, cultural, regulatory, and strategic performance of the facility while ensuring that every decision remains centered on providing safe, high-quality, person-centered care. We are looking for a leader who understands that excellent behavioral healthcare requires both compassion and operational discipline. This is not simply a facility administrator role. The Executive Director serves as the senior leader responsible for building the team, strengthening the culture, growing the program, and creating an environment where both patients and employees can thrive.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, Business, Human Services, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, healthcare, residential treatment, or a comparable environment.
Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
Strong operational leadership and performance management experience.
Experience managing budgets, labor, staffing models, and key operational metrics.
Experience working within a regulated healthcare environment.
Strong communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Behavioral Health, Social Work, Counseling, or related field.
Leadership experience in residential substance use disorder treatment.
Experience overseeing ASAM-aligned levels of care.
Joint Commission accreditation or survey experience.
Experience with Iowa behavioral health or substance use disorder treatment regulations.
Experience leading a facility through growth, operational improvement, or organizational change.
Strong understanding of admissions, utilization review, payer relationships, and behavioral healthcare revenue cycles.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of all facility operations.
Establish clear expectations, accountability, communication rhythms, and performance standards across departments.
Ensure operational processes support safe, efficient, patient-centered care.
Monitor facility performance and proactively identify operational barriers, staffing needs, and opportunities for improvement.
Lead implementation of organizational initiatives, policies, procedures, and performance improvement plans.
Ensure appropriate staffing levels and effective utilization of resources based on census and patient needs.
Maintain a visible leadership presence throughout the facility and actively engage with employees and patients.
Maintain accountability for facility financial performance, operating budget, labor management, and expense control.
Monitor key performance indicators including census, admissions, discharges, length of stay, staffing productivity, overtime, payer mix, and operating performance.
Partner with Admissions and Business Development leaders to strengthen referral relationships and increase appropriate admissions.
Identify opportunities to improve access to treatment and expand Thrive Now’s presence throughout the Des Moines market.
Balance financial responsibility with patient safety, clinical quality, and employee sustainability.
Partner closely with the Clinical Director, Medical Director, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary treatment team to maintain high-quality patient care.
Ensure treatment services remain person-centered, evidence-based, and aligned with appropriate levels of care.
Promote strong clinical documentation, treatment planning, discharge planning, and continuity of care.
Monitor patient outcomes, grievances, incidents, safety concerns, and quality indicators.
Champion a treatment environment built on dignity, accountability, compassion, and respect.
Ensure patients experience a facility where they feel safe, supported, valued, and capable of building a meaningful life in recovery.
Maintain compliance with applicable Iowa behavioral health licensure requirements.
Lead and support ongoing Joint Commission accreditation readiness.
Ensure consistent implementation of facility policies, procedures, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
Maintain compliance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, patient rights requirements, and other applicable federal and state regulations.
Partner with Compliance and Quality leadership to address findings, incidents, trends, corrective action plans, and performance improvement initiatives.
Promote a culture where compliance and patient safety are embedded in daily operations rather than treated as periodic exercises.
Recruit, develop, coach, and retain a high-performing interdisciplinary leadership team.
Establish clear accountability while creating an environment where employees feel respected, supported, and connected to the mission.
Develop leaders who can independently manage their departments while working collaboratively across the facility.
Address performance concerns quickly, fairly, and consistently.
Promote trauma-informed and recovery-oriented leadership practices.
Build a culture where teamwork, professionalism, communication, and ownership are expected at every level.
Recognize and develop high performers and create opportunities for professional growth.
Serve as a visible representative of Thrive Now Recovery Centers within the greater Des Moines community.
Develop strong relationships with hospitals, healthcare providers, referral partners, community organizations, behavioral health providers, and other stakeholders.
Identify opportunities to strengthen Thrive Now’s reputation and expand access to treatment.
Partner with organizational leadership on strategic growth opportunities and community needs.
Represent the organization professionally and consistently with Thrive Now’s mission and values.