Associate Vice President (AVP) of Behavioral Health

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Reflected in both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do. 

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Are you looking to have an impact on more than just a company’s bottom line? Then we’d love to hear from you! 

We are currently looking to fill an Associate Vice President (AVP) of Behavioral Health role at our Merrionette Park office.

SALARY:  The average starting salary for this position will fall in the range of $150,000 and $165,000 annually. Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. 

$2,500 Sign-on Bonus for first-time employees with MFS! ($1,250 on the first paycheck and $1,250 after 6 months of employment).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Executive Leadership & Strategic Growth  

• Direct the strategic vision for a multi-site behavioral health division, balancing the distinct operational needs of value-based care (CCBHC/PPS) and volume-based care (Fee-for-Service/Rule 132). 
• Lead the expansion of services across the MFS footprint, addressing unique challenges such as multi-site logistics, community safety, and equitable access for diverse, high-needs populations. 
• In partnership with the COO and other MFS leadership, architect a "no wrong door" system that seamlessly connects behavioral health clients to internal MFS services addressing HRSN (e.g., housing, workforce development, legal aid, and violence prevention). 
• Champion organizational change initiatives, particularly the transition from volume-based to value-based care cultures, ensuring staff buy-in and operational readiness.  
• Provide guidance and input into grant applications to ensure alignment with current BH systems and practices, as well as the proposed outcomes and deliverables. Once a grant is secured, provides recommendations and guidance in the program planning and implementation. 
• Develops and implements strategies to grow the CCBHC footprint.  

Operational Oversight & Clinical Excellence  

• Provide clinical and operational oversight to the CCBHC Director, Program Directors, Clinical Supervisors and Medical Director, ensuring all outpatient mental health, substance use (SUD), crisis response, and psychiatric rehabilitation programs meet "gold standard" clinical metrics. 
• Supervises the BH Registration and Operations Manager 
• Develop and implement clinical practices and service models for behavioral health services across the agency. Provides leadership in program planning and implementation to optimize quality, achievement of health outcomes, efficiency, financial sustainability, and cost effectiveness. Serve as the executive behavioral health sponsor for the Quality Management Committee, enforcing high-fidelity implementation of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) such as ACT, CST, DBT, and MI across all teams. 
• In partnership with IS, CQI, Operations, Billing and Revenue Cycle Management, provide BH clinical and operations guidance to ensure the effectiveness of the technology that supports BH services, including the Electronic Health Record (EHR). 
• In collaboration with the COO, Executive Directors and/or the Vice President of Program Development and Operations, serve as a senior level escalation point for critical incidents and high-liability clinical situations, ensuring rigorous root-cause analysis and risk mitigation. 
• In collaboration with the Agency Training Manager, ensure staff training for BH services is current with best practice standards, funding and accreditation requirements. Collaborate with the MFS Training Manager, Executive Directors, and other management to support the development of staff to strengthen cohesiveness, performance and contribution to agency. Working with the Vice President of Government Affairs, understand the impact of changing state and federal legislation would have on behavioral health. Help coordinate efforts among internal constituents to advocate for just policies and laws.   
• Inform/provide input in hiring of BH program directors and clinical supervisors.  

Financial Stewardship & Revenue Cycle Management  

• Manage a complex P&L comprised of Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates, Fee-for-Service Medicaid billing, and state/federal grants. 
• Partner with Billing and Revenue Cycle Management to minimize claim denials and optimize maximizing billable productivity across FFS and CCBHC lines. In collaboration with COO, Executive Directors, Accounting team participate in the annual budgeting process for BH services, analyzing variance reports and adjusting operational levers to ensure long-term financial sustainability and grant compliance. 

Regulatory Compliance & Policy Development  

• Ensure total line of service compliance with Illinois Administrative Code Title 59 (Rule 132), SUPR licensure, DEA regulations, CCBHC certification criteria, CARF, and accreditation requirements. 
• Maintain a continuous state of audit readiness for HFS, SUPR, SAMHSA and accreditation site visits; oversee the implementation of corrective action plans when necessary. 
• Leverage data analytics to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to access to care, readmission rates, social needs screening, and quality and effectiveness of services.
• Standardize and develop management practices and monitoring tools to assure best practices and alignment with agency values and strategic goals for all areas of behavioral health including but not limited to psychiatric, crisis services, outpatient services, case management, and care coordination. 
• Ensure management practices, monitoring tools, and policies support consistent deployment and service provision within the behavioral health service line and across MFS sites, centers and teams. 
• Ensure the BH service delivery system is aligned with billing system, quality management system and operational systems to ensure highest quality behavioral health services, minimize risk for MFS clients and staff, and prevent agency liabilities. 

External/Internal Relations & Advocacy  

• Act as the primary MFS representative with high-level external stakeholders, including Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), hospital systems, FQHC executives, and city/county public health officials in collaboration with the COO.
• Represent the organization in state-level forums (e.g., CBHA, CCBHC Learning Collaboratives) to advocate for urban health equity, reimbursement rate adjustments, and workforce development policy. 
• Cultivate formal agreements with criminal justice partners, housing authorities, schools, and other human service providers to solidify the referral network and address the broader social determinants affecting client health. 
• In partnership with Executive Directors, VP of Program Development and Operations, and Intake Staff, support the Integration of behavioral health services with other service lines across the agency, in order to create a seamless system of care for clients. Identify, develop and cultivate strategic partnerships, affiliations and alliances that support the mission, growth and success of the agency and its behavioral health programs and services. 
• Represent the Agency at external meetings and develop relationships with key representatives of private, public, and non-profit sectors to enhance the Agency’s understanding of emerging opportunities and to generate awareness of the Agency’s work and mission. 
• Champion a spirit of collaborative and open communication across all Agency departments and program operations to bridge multiple sites, ensure program alignment, program efficiencies, and cross continuum of program services. 
• Other duties as assigned 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:  

• Expertise in trauma-informed care and best practices in mental health treatment and care coordination.  
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Strong strategic thinking ability and ability to manage the service line finances.
• Comfort and ability to effectively work in a complex matrix organization.
• Demonstrated success in increasing levels of management, including supervision of management staff and oversight of behavioral health services. 
• Proven record of accomplishment in improving organizational processes. Highly developed skills in change management and driving organizational process improvements. 
• Demonstrated ability to work in collaborative relationship with program staff, leadership staff and administration.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills. 
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and ability to meet multiple deadlines simultaneously. 
• Must be a highly motivated self-starter with ability to work independently and take ownership of a process or an issue.
• Demonstrated self-awareness and a high level of emotional intelligence. 
• Mission driven and client focused. 
• Ability to operate both hands-on and tactical, as well as at a strategic level. 
• Ten years in behavioral health services or other related fields, including experience with program development, program delivery, and supervision of clinical staff. 
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a history of strong decision-making skills. 
• Strong interpersonal, communication and team-building skills. 
• Mobility to travel throughout metropolitan Chicago required. 

QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health (MPH), or Health Administration (MHA), required. 
• Current clinical licensure (LCSW, LCPC, LMFT) in the State of Illinois, required. 
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, with at least 3 years at a Director or Senior Director level, required. 
• Proven track record managing multi-site operations in a large urban setting, required. 
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets ($5M+) with mixed revenue streams (Medicaid FFS, Managed Care, Federal Grants), required. 
• Deep knowledge of CCBHC/PPS models and Illinois Rule 132/140, required. 
• Experience providing care coordination and integrating SDOH/HRSN interventions into clinical workflows, required. 
• Proficiency in EHR optimization and data analytics for population health management, required. 
• IM+CANS certified (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire), required.
• Demonstrated experience applying ASAM criteria, required.
• Experience overseeing both Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUPR-licensed) programs, preferred.
• Implementation experience with Alternative Payment Models (APMs) or value-based contracting, preferred.
• Executive experience in BH administration, preferred.
• CADC certification, preferred. 

METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES VALUES AND EXPECTED BEHAVIORS:  

• Client Centered/Mission Driven 
• Adaptable 
• Goal Oriented/Solution Focused 
• Self-Reflective and Receptive to Feedback 
• Collaborative 
• Positive Demeanor  
• Trustworthy/Accountable 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:  

• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screenings and criminal background checks.

TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:  

• Driving for work required with personally owned vehicle. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package. Find out more by clicking here!  

Some highlights include:  

• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, and Vision Coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

And so much more! Make sure you click here to see the full suite of benefits offered!  

• Some of the above benefits are available for part-time and temporary workers, but not all. Be sure to inquire upon your hire as to which benefits apply to you.

MORE ABOUT US:  

Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.