Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Executive Summary

We are seeking an experienced, visionary, and results-driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the operational execution of our premier behavioral health and drug rehabilitation organization. As the organization experiences significant growth, the COO will serve as the Integrator, aligning our overarching clinical vision with world-class operational performance. The successful candidate will have an extensive background in addiction treatment administration, demonstrating a deep appreciation for patient-centered care alongside an uncompromising drive for organizational efficiency and regulatory compliance.

This role requires mastery of two key operational methodologies: the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS®) and Lean Six Sigma. The COO will act as the operational backbone of the company, transforming the CEO's vision into measurable outcomes, establishing systematic accountability, and eliminating clinical and operational waste. If you are an executive leader who combines clinical compliance rigor, business acumen, and a deep dedication to changing the lives of individuals struggling with substance use disorders, this role offers an unprecedented opportunity to drive enterprise value and clinical excellence.

Position Overview & Strategic Mission

The Chief Operating Officer will assume total operational ownership over multi-site behavioral health facilities, covering inpatient detoxification, residential treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient programs (OP). You will manage cross-functional teams spanning clinical services, nursing and medical operations, admissions, utilization review, human resources, compliance, and facilities management.

In this role, operational excellence directly correlates with clinical outcomes. By leveraging Lean Six Sigma frameworks, you will optimize patient journeys from pre-admission inquiry to alumni aftercare, reducing administrative friction and maximizing time spent in direct therapeutic contact. Concurrently, as the organization's EOS Integrator, you will orchestrate leadership team alignment, execute Level 10 (L10) meetings, monitor key performance metrics via Scorecards, and drive Rocks to completion each quarter.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions

1. EOS® Implementation & Execution (The Integrator)

• Serve as the primary Integrator for the enterprise, harmoniously integrating the major operating functions of the business: Clinical/Operations, Marketing/Admissions, Finance, and Compliance.


• Drive organizational accountability through the complete deployment of the EOS toolbox, including the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO), Accountability Charts, Rocks, and Level 10 Meetings.


• Facilitate weekly executive and departmental L10 meetings, resolving complex interdepartmental friction using the Identify, Discuss, and Solve (IDS) framework.


• Maintain and optimize the company Scorecard, establishing proactive Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that provide visibility into census, clinical outcomes, staffing ratios, and financial margins.


• Ensure every department clearly understands its seat on the Accountability Chart, cultivating a culture of personal ownership, transparency, and high performance.

2. Lean Six Sigma Operational Process Improvement

• Analyze clinical workflows, admissions pathways, and administrative pipelines using Lean Six Sigma methodologies to identify bottlenecks, variance, and non-value-added steps.


• Design and execute DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) projects across the admissions cycle, reducing speed-to-admit timelines and improving utilization review authorization lengths.


• Standardize standard operating procedures (SOPs) across all treatment centers to establish uniform, high-quality experiences for patients, regardless of facility location.


• Reduce operational overhead and medical administrative waste, translating process improvements directly into cost savings and higher operating margins.


• Institute statistical process controls and tracking mechanisms to maintain ongoing compliance and audit-readiness throughout the organization.

3. Drug Rehabilitation Operations & Clinical Integration

• Oversee day-to-day operations across all facilities, ensuring strict adherence to healthcare regulations, state licensing requirements, DEA guidelines, and accreditation standards (e.g., The Joint Commission, CARF).


• Collaborate with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Clinical Directors to guarantee adequate staffing ratios, high-quality medical detox management, and adherence to evidence-based modalities.


• Manage the admissions and intake departments, ensuring efficient bed-management, rapid intake triage, compassionate patient handling, and high conversion rates.


• Supervise Utilization Review (UR) operations, streamlining concurrent reviews and clinical documentation to reduce insurance denials and optimize lengths of stay.


• Oversee environment-of-care operations, including life safety, maintenance, nutritional services, and facility security to ensure a safe, therapeutic sanctuary for recovery.


• Maintain crisis-response protocols and risk management systems, mitigating liability concerning medical emergencies, AMA (Against Medical Advice) discharges, and behavioral crises.

4. People, Culture, and Financial Stewardship

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate department heads, building an operational leadership bench dedicated to continuous professional development.


• Collaborate with the CFO and executive team to construct operational budgets, manage CapEx investments, and maintain rigorous cost controls on variable expenses.


• Partner with People Operations to tackle industry-wide challenges such as behavioral health burnout and high turnover, developing systems that increase retention among therapists, nurses, and behavioral health technicians (BHTs).


• Cultivate an organizational culture centered on empathy, integrity, and trauma-informed care while maintaining an uncompromising commitment to operational discipline.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

• Education: Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration (MHA), Business Administration (MBA), Clinical Psychology, Nursing, or related field required.


• Executive Experience: A minimum of 8 to 10 years of progressive executive operational leadership, with at least 5 years serving as COO, VP of Operations, or Executive Director within a licensed drug rehabilitation, addiction treatment, or behavioral health setting.


• EOS Proficiency: Proven, hands-on experience acting as a designated Integrator in an organization running on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Must demonstrate complete fluency in EOS tools and methodologies.


• Six Sigma Mastery: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification required; Black Belt preferred. Demonstrated track record of leading quantifiable process improvement initiatives within a healthcare context.


• Regulatory Acumen: Deep expertise with state licensing boards (DHCS, DCF, etc.), Joint Commission (JCAHO) and/or CARF accreditation standards, HIPAA privacy rules, and ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) criteria.


• Financial Sophistication: Demonstrated competence in P&L management, behavioral health revenue cycle management (RCM), and payer-mix optimization.


• Interpersonal Communication: Exceptional executive presence, verbal communication, and conflict-resolution skills, capable of bridging the gap between clinical priorities and financial expectations.

Preferred Attributes

• Direct experience operating in multi-site, multi-state behavioral health networks.


• Personal passion for and commitment to behavioral health and recovery advocacy.


• Strong change-management leadership style that inspires loyalty, accountability, and psychological safety.

Compensation & Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package designed to attract an elite executive leader. The compensation structure includes an attractive base salary, an aggressive performance-based executive bonus tied to organizational EOS rocks and operational performance metrics, and significant equity or long-term incentive options.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage


• 401(k) Retirement Plan with generous employer matching


• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) package and executive leave


• Professional development, certification, and licensing assistance


• Relocation assistance (if applicable)