We are seeking an entrepreneurial and strategic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead a premier 115-bed behavioral health hospital and its associated outpatient programs in the Alexandria/Falls Church, VA area. Following an upcoming ownership transition the incoming CEO will have a mandate to transition operations away from legacy corporate management, stabilize the post-close culture, and spearhead an aggressive growth strategy.
This role is ideal for a forward-thinking healthcare executive who thrives in a high-acuity, multi-service-line environment and wants to scale alongside a growing national platform.
Our client has a strong track record of empowering corporate leaders and aligning incentives accordingly - lots of upside to the role!
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Growth & Business Development
- Expand Existing Service Lines: Drive volume, optimize length of stay, and elevate clinical excellence across a diverse established mix, including adult, adolescent, and child psychiatry, trauma-informed care, and dedicated eating disorder programs.
- Launch New Lines of Business: Identify regional market gaps and successfully conceptualize, resource, and launch new behavioral health programs and specialized outpatient services to diversify revenue streams.
- Physician & Community Relations: Act as the primary face of the facility; build deep, trust-based relationships with local health systems, referral networks, payers, and elite clinical talent to support platform expansion.
Operations & Financial Leadership
- Post-Acquisition Integration: Smoothly transition hospital operations into the new ownership structure, building an agile, high-performing local leadership team to replace departing legacy corporate personnel.
- P&L Management: Assume full operational and financial accountability for the hospital and its two existing outpatient programs, ensuring strict alignment with EBITDA and growth targets.
- Regulatory Compliance: Maintain the highest standards of clinical quality, patient safety, and regulatory readiness (Joint Commission, CMS, and state licensing) across all inpatient and outpatient services.
- Cross functional leadership: Lead cross-functional (clinical, nursing, and operational) heads to review census, address high-acuity patient needs, and optimize staffing ratios.
- Milestone & Project Triage: Actively monitor and advance daily timelines for ongoing service line expansions and newly introduced programs, ensuring teams stay accountable to integration deadlines.
- On-the-Floor Visibility: Maintain a high-profile presence throughout the inpatient units and outpatient facilities, fostering a positive, talent-first culture during the post-close transition.
- Real-Time Quality & Incident Tracking: Oversee immediate resolutions for daily clinical or compliance escalations, ensuring continuous readiness for regulatory inspections.
- Revenue Cycle & Census Monitoring: Review daily intake metrics, referrals, and discharge data to maximize bed utilization and ensure alignment with financial growth targets.
Position Requirements
- 15+ years of progressive healthcare leadership experience, with a proven track record as a Behavioral Health CEO or senior executive. Experience managing multiple lines of business within behavioral health a strong plus.
- Demonstrated success in scaling complex clinical programs, launching new lines of business, and navigating ownership transitions or joint ventures.
- A focused but talent first management style and a adaptable approach (there will be many new initiatives and your job will be to triage and push things to the finish line.
