Project Specialist, Risk

United States

4d • Remote

About The Position

The Project Risk Specialist will support and travel extensively to Acadia facilities nationwide, primarily within an assigned division. This role provides expert leadership in risk management, patient/staff safety, and regulatory compliance. The role may act as the facility Risk Director during vacancies, provide extended onsite support to interim leaders, and ensure smooth transitions when permanent risk leaders are hired. The Project Risk Specialist role is responsible for implementing and sustaining Acadia’s enterprise risk management strategies, including incident trend analysis, mitigation planning, regulatory readiness, and compliance with federal, state, and accreditation standards. Through significant onsite presence, data monitoring, and collaboration with facility leadership, the role ensures proactive risk reduction and promotes a culture of safety and excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare or related field OR 5 years of risk leadership experience in healthcare is REQUIRED
• Minimum 2 years in psychiatric healthcare operations and/or healthcare risk management
• Knowledge of Joint Commission, CMS, CARF, DEA, and state/local regulations
• Experience conducting complex investigations; root-cause and FMEA experience preferred
• Advanced computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite)
• Strong organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to adapt to frequent priority changes and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• CPHRM preferred but not required
• CPR and de-escalation / restraint certification required (training available upon hire)
• First Aid may be required based on state or facility.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive data and proprietary information
• Build constructive relationships and foster trust among team members
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance
• Position requires flexibility for weekend coverage and off-hour support

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in behavioral health/risk discipline or nursing is preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as facility-based Risk Director when needed, ensuring continuity of risk management operations
• Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly incident volumes and trends; identify deviations from expected practice and enterprise targets
• Conduct root-cause analyses and Failure Mode and Effects Analyses for serious incidents and sentinel events
• Develop and implement multidisciplinary action plans to remediate escalating incident trends and safety risks
• Ensure proper reporting of adverse events and regulatory violations to enforcement agencies as required
• Lead investigations into complex risk-related events; ensure timely documentation and compliance with regulatory standards
• Collaborate with facility CEOs, COOs, and Risk leaders to implement sustainable best practices in risk management
• Provide education and coaching to facility leadership on risk mitigation strategies and regulatory compliance
• Analyze risk-related data to anticipate losses, reduce exposures, and prevent recurrence of incidents
• Support adoption of Acadia’s technology platforms for risk monitoring and reporting
• Maintain ongoing regulatory readiness through audits, early-issue identification, and corrective action planning
• Communicate regularly with facility and corporate leadership regarding risk trends, mitigation efforts, and performance improvement initiatives
• Serve as a technical advisor and educator on risk management principles, regulatory standards, and investigative techniques
• Collaborate with Quality, Compliance, Legal, and Human Resources teams on ethics investigations and resolution of reports
• Develop and evaluate goals aligned with Acadia’s strategic objectives for risk management
• May serve in a focused role to support facilities with overall risk and compliance monitoring
• Performs other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Competitive Base Salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and recognized holidays
• Company-paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and mental wellness resources
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement within Acadia’s nationwide network

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees