| Location | Springfield, Missouri |
A well-established behavioral health hospital in the Midwest market is seeking an accomplished Chief Executive Officer to lead overall facility operations, strategic growth, financial performance, quality outcomes, and regulatory excellence.
This executive will hold day-to-day responsibility for hospital leadership and performance, working closely with the governing body, medical leadership, and executive team to ensure strong operational execution across patient care, compliance, talent, service line development, and community engagement.
This is a high-impact opportunity for a visible, hands-on leader who can strengthen culture, drive accountability, support clinical excellence, and position the hospital for sustainable growth.
The CEO will provide overall leadership for hospital operations, with responsibility for:
Leading the development and execution of the facility’s strategic and operating plans
Overseeing daily hospital operations across clinical, financial, and administrative functions
Driving strong patient care outcomes and continuous performance improvement
Ensuring ongoing licensure, accreditation, regulatory readiness, and compliance
Leading budget development, capital planning, and financial stewardship
Building and coaching an effective executive leadership team
Strengthening physician and allied health provider recruitment efforts to expand services
Supporting payer contract strategy, contract performance, and revenue growth initiatives
Advancing continuum-of-care development, including outpatient and community-based programming
Maintaining strong governing board communication, reporting, and partnership
Creating and sustaining productive relationships with referral sources, community stakeholders, government agencies, and local business leaders
Promoting a culture of accountability, visibility, professionalism, and mission-driven leadership
Ensuring effective support for QAPI, patient safety, staff development, and survey readiness activities
The ideal candidate will be a seasoned healthcare executive with a successful track record leading behavioral health hospital operations and balancing clinical, regulatory, financial, and growth priorities.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Marketing, Clinical discipline, or related field
Advanced degree such as MBA or MHA preferred
Minimum 3–5 years of senior leadership or CEO-level experience in a behavioral health, acute care, and/or managed care environment, or completion of a formal CEO training program
Demonstrated leadership experience in a hospital or behavioral health facility setting
Strong knowledge of hospital administration, clinical operations, and executive leadership
Strong financial and operational management capability
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced executive environment
Behavioral health hospital leadership experience
Joint Commission / regulatory survey leadership experience
Clinical quality leadership in a behavioral health setting
Talent recruitment and retention success
Marketing and community engagement leadership
Experience overseeing multiple service lines
Experience in behavioral health hospital startup, expansion, or significant growth initiatives
Experience in both acute behavioral health and residential treatment environments is strongly preferred
This organization is looking for a CEO who brings:
High emotional intelligence
A hands-on, visible leadership style
Demonstrated success building positive culture
Strong accountability and follow-through
The ability to lead through complexity and change
Strong business judgment and strategic thinking
Excellent relationship-building skills across staff, physicians, board members, and community stakeholders
A mission-driven approach with integrity, professionalism, and compassion
This leader will be expected to drive results across four major areas:
Grow census and overall operating performance
Manage key business levers effectively
Identify practical growth and efficiency opportunities
Support sustainable long-term financial health
Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing leaders and teams
Build a strong local culture of accountability and engagement
Strengthen the organization’s position as an employer of choice
Maintain strong survey readiness at all times
Ensure sustained compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements
Promote trust and credibility with regulatory bodies
Support strong patient satisfaction and quality outcomes
Advance best-practice treatment standards and outcome-based care
Deepen referral relationships and community presence
Strengthen local market awareness and access to care
This is an outstanding role for an executive who wants to make a visible impact in a behavioral health environment while leading both operational excellence and long-term strategic growth. The organization is seeking a leader who can balance culture, quality, compliance, and business performance while helping shape the next chapter of the hospital’s evolution.
This broader Midwest market offers an appealing balance of affordability, community connection, and quality of life. Leaders who value a more grounded lifestyle often appreciate the area’s lower cost of living, strong family-oriented communities, and access to outdoor recreation, while still having the ability to make a meaningful leadership impact in healthcare.