Senior Executive, Adult Behavioral Health Operations

Merakey • Lafayette, LA

13d

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Executive Director provides statewide strategic and operational leadership for Adult Behavioral Health programs across Louisiana. The role oversees program leaders and ensures high-quality, recovery-oriented services.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the Executive Director is accountable for operational and financial performance, including productivity, budgets, quality outcomes, and service delivery. This hands-on position assesses complex operational challenges, improves processes and systems, addresses underperformance, and implements sustainable solutions that deliver measurable results.

The role requires progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, including increasing responsibility and operational scope. Provider-side experience, particularly in complex, multi-site or statewide operations, is strongly preferred. The Executive Director will lead and develop executive-level teams, set clear performance expectations, hold leaders accountable, and drive turnarounds, organizational change, and stronger operational and financial performance. Familiarity with Louisiana’s behavioral health system and service delivery environment is preferred.

Based in Louisiana, the position requires regular statewide travel and a visible leadership presence. The Executive Director builds strong relationships with regional and program leaders and works directly with teams to drive consistent performance across locations.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social services, behavioral health, business, health administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience with increasing responsibility and scope, preferably in provider-side behavioral health operations.
• Experience leading multi-site or statewide operations and managing executive-level staff and leadership teams.
• Proven success turning around underperforming programs, improving operational performance, and implementing sustainable process and systems improvements.
• Demonstrated accountability for operational and financial results, including productivity, budgets, and service delivery outcomes.
• Strong strategic planning, performance management, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate strategy into measurable results.
• Ability to partner effectively with clinical, operational, and executive leadership.
• Ability and willingness to be based in Louisiana and travel regularly throughout the state.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Louisiana’s behavioral health system and service delivery environment.
• Experience leading organizational change and improving program productivity and financial sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Provide statewide strategic and operational leadership for Adult Behavioral Health programs across Louisiana.
• Oversee program leaders and ensure high-quality, recovery-oriented services.
• Manage operational and financial performance, including productivity, budgets, quality outcomes, and service delivery.
• Assess complex operational challenges, improve processes and systems, address underperformance, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Lead and develop executive-level teams, establish performance expectations, and hold leaders accountable for results.
• Lead program turnarounds, organizational change, and efforts to improve operational and financial performance.
• Build relationships with regional and program leaders and work directly with teams to drive consistent performance across locations.
• Travel regularly throughout Louisiana.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan with pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) employee contribution options.
• DailyPay access to earned pay.
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access to Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

What This Job Offers

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