Executive Director, Behavioral Health

Job Description Summary

Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer (EVP/COO) and working in close collaboration with the Chair of Psychiatry through a dotted-line reporting structure, this role provides strategic, operational, and administrative oversight for the newly formed Behavioral Health Department. The Executive Director will also partner closely with the Physician Director of Addiction Medicine, nursing leadership, and operational leaders to ensure seamless integration and alignment of behavioral health services across the system.The Executive Director will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans that enhance access to high-quality behavioral health services. This includes overseeing operations for critical initiatives such as the Grayken Center for Treatment, Aspire clinical affiliation programs, and emergency psychiatric services. The role encompasses managing contracts, provider staffing, financial performance, facilities planning, and resource allocation to support departmental goals.Aligned with South Shore Health's mission, vision, and values, the Executive Director will lead efforts to expand behavioral health services through innovative care models and community partnerships. The role requires close collaboration with clinical teams to optimize workflows for emergency psychiatric evaluations, discharge planning, and care transitions. Additionally, leveraging data analytics to monitor outcomes and drive continuous improvement will be a critical component of this position.The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in building a multidisciplinary team committed to excellence in behavioral health care. This includes recruiting and mentoring clinicians and staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth. The position requires a dynamic leader with expertise in behavioral health management, financial stewardship, quality improvement, team development, and strategic planning.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

General Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the SVP/COO and in close partnership with the Chair of Psychiatry, the Physician Director of Addictions Medicine, operational managers, and Directors of Patient Access, Nursing, and administrative leadership, the Executive Director will support the development and implementation of the overall Behavioral Health (BH) mission, vision, and goals. This includes participating in the development and execution of strategic and capital plans and ensuring the implementation of strategic business plans aligned with South Shore Health's organizational objectives.
• The Executive Director will define, evaluate, and recommend new business ventures, affiliations, and partnerships to advance the growth and service objectives of the Department and South Shore Health. This involves working with departmental and hospital leadership as well as the Office of General Counsel to prepare necessary business plans and documentation. The Executive Director will also be responsible for renewing such arrangements.
• In collaboration with the Chair of Psychiatry and the Physician Director of Addictions Medicine, the Executive Director will develop and implement hospital- and department-level policies and procedures. This includes assessing clinical, human resource, and financial factors required to meet patient needs effectively.
• The Executive Director will maintain effective communication with clinicians and staff to ensure alignment and collaboration across all aspects of Behavioral Health services.
• Utilizing heuristic methods, including principles from High Reliability Organizations (HRO), the Executive Director will work to enhance the efficiency, safety, and efficacy of systems and processes across the Behavioral Health Service Line.
• As a critical member of the department's administrative leadership team, the Executive Director will support Behavioral Health Services meetings, including weekly operational committees, case presentations, and quarterly executive/strategic committee meetings with Aspire leadership, senior South Shore Health executives, and other relevant forums as required.

Clinical Program Management

• In partnership with the Chair of Psychiatry and the Physician Director of Addictions Medicine, the Executive Director will oversee service call schedules to ensure 24/7 service coverage for Behavioral Health. This includes managing all contractual relationships and invoicing for call coverage services and providers for South Shore Hospital.
• The Executive Director will maintain a comprehensive understanding of the evolving healthcare landscape, monitoring and evaluating the adequacy of existing Behavioral Health Service Line programs. They will ensure the development of new programs and services to meet market demands, focusing on improving clinical outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing network development.
• The Executive Director will resolve administrative challenges as they arise and lead the planning and implementation of improvements for both existing and new clinical services.
• The Executive Director will manage the Aspire clinical affiliation agreement, including oversight of its associated budget, as well as any other Behavioral Health-related contracts that may arise.
• External contract management for staffing, equipment, and supplies will fall under the Executive Director's purview. They will recommend and create business plans for capital equipment purchases to support programmatic needs.
• Under the direction of South Shore Health's Quality Program leadership, the Executive Director will serve as the lead administrative resource for Behavioral Health's clinical quality and safety programs. They will foster a culture aligned with South Shore Health's Collaborative High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles.
• The Executive Director will ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements, including those set by The Joint Commission (TJC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Public Health (DPH), Department of Mental Health (DMH), and other state and federal regulations. They will lead the department's participation in compliance audits in collaboration with South Shore Health's Risk Department.
• The Executive Director will participate in negotiating contracts for clinical services provided by division providers. They will assess these agreements on an ongoing basis to ensure financial viability and compliance with current regulatory standards.
• The Executive Director will lead initiatives to support programmatic growth, operational efficiency, and quality/safety improvements across Behavioral Health services. This includes utilizing dashboards and data analytics to identify opportunities, oversee project plans, and monitor programmatic interventions.
• The Executive Director will provide administrative support for clinical research within the Behavioral Health Service Line, leveraging the robust Behavioral Health Registry built within Epic. They will oversee processes related to research development, submission, review, notification, and administrative planning for potential new research funding sources in collaboration with South Shore Health's Institutional Review Board (IRB) leadership.

Financial Management

• Establishes and achieves financial goals and monitors the ongoing financial performance of the Behavioral Health (BH) Service Line to ensure alignment with departmental and organizational objectives.
• Understands and meets all financial reporting requirements for the department, ensuring compliance with the prescribed formats and timelines set forth by the SVP/COO, Chair of Psychiatry, Physician Director of Addictions Medicine, and the South Shore Health Finance Team.
• Prepares and executes the annual budget for the BH Service Line in collaboration with the SSH Finance Team. Presents and justifies budget requests to the SVP/COO, Chair of Psychiatry, Physician Director of Addictions Medicine, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Develops and oversees compensation plans for providers within the department under the guidance of the Chair of Psychiatry and Physician Director of Addictions Medicine. Recommends salary levels for employed providers, communicates compensation plans to team members as directed, and monitors productivity to recommend financial adjustments as needed.
• Oversees fiduciary management of funds for the BH Service Line. Examines, analyzes, and interprets financial data to ensure fiscal responsibility. Supervises activities related to expenditure approvals, cost center assignments, budget compliance monitoring, and problem resolution. Recommends cost-saving measures based on a thorough understanding of operations, policies, funding agency regulations, and strategic priorities.
• Establishes and maintains a financial management system within SSH's Accounting and Finance Department structure to provide accurate, detailed, real-time reporting on financial status and staffing distribution across all operating accounts. Manages grant fund flows through Foundation Accounts and oversees billable revenue for all BH Service Line services.
• Supervises staff responsible for generating monthly, annual, and ad-hoc financial reports on division funds. These reports include current expenditures, future expense projections, budget variances, and compliance assurances in collaboration with SSH's Compliance Department.
• Represents the BH Service Line on professional billing and collection matters . click apply for full job details