Chief Operations Officer

As Nurstead Mental Health continues to grow and expand to meet the behavioral health and substance use treatment needs of New Mexico, we are seeking a Chief Operations Officer to join our team and assist with growth, development, and sustainment of excellent services provision.

A Behavioral Health Chief Operations Officer (COO) directs daily operations, integrates clinical and business goals, manages staff, finances, and compliance, develops strategic, and builds community partnerships to ensure efficient, high-quality patient care and organizational growth. Key duties involve overseeing operations (outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential), managing budgets, ensuring regulatory adherence (CMS, BHSD, HCA), improving performance metrics, leading staff development, and collaborating with executive teams and external stakeholders.

• Strategic Planning and Execution:Develops and implements operational plans, policies, and objectives aligned with the organization's mission and goals.
• Financial Stewardship:Oversees budgets, manages costs, and works with finance to meet financial targets and ensure profitability.
• Clinical Program Oversight:Directs day‑to‑day activities across service lines (outpatient, intensive outpatient, Mobile Crisis Teams, etc.), focusing on patient flow, access, and discharge.
• Non‑Clinical Program Oversight
  :
  Directs oversight of non‑clinical services (Drop‑In Center, Housing, etc.)
• Staff and Leadership Management:Recruits, develops, and evaluates clinical and administrative staff, fostering professional growth and ensuring adequate staffing.
• Provision of clinical and administrative supervision to therapists and interns and assisting with their growth and development as clinicians.
• Strategic Planning and Execution:Develops and implements operational plans, policies, and objectives aligned with the organization's mission and goals.
• Quality and Compliance:Ensures adherence to quality standards, regulatory requirements, and implements performance improvement initiatives.
• Financial Stewardship:Oversees budgets, manages costs, and works with finance to meet financial targets and ensure profitability.

• Designing and evaluating new programs and service expansions.
• Analyzing operational and financial reports.
• Negotiating contracts and vendor relationships.
• Driving evidence‑based practices and performance dashboards.
• Leading change management and fostering organizational culture.

• Must hold a Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited program. (Social Work, Counseling, etc.)
• Must hold or have the ability to obtain a clinical license in the state of New Mexico – LCSW or LPCC.
• Proven supervising experience in a senior management or executive role.
• Strong management skills with the ability to lead diverse teams effectively.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities with strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure while maintaining organizational integrity.
• A relevant degree or professional qualification in business administration or related fields is preferred but not essential.
• A track record of successfully managing complex projects and driving organisational change. This role offers an exciting opportunity for an accomplished professional eager to shape the future of our organization through innovative leadership and strategic oversight.