Job Description

***To be considered, candidates must possess 7–10 years of progressive senior leadership in behavioral health facilities***

At the Hitchcock Center for Women, “Where Healing Begins” is more than just a slogan—it’s a daily commitment realized in the heart of Cleveland’s Hough-Glenville neighborhood. Since its inception in 1978, the Center has served as a beacon for women striving to break free from substance abuse and rebuild their lives with hope, dignity, and unwavering support. Founded by Jayne Mazzarella, a nurse who recognized the distinct challenges women face in addiction and recovery, the agency has evolved from a modest 10-bed halfway house into one of the region’s few residential treatment centers where mothers can keep their children—up to age 12—by their side during the healing process.

The Hitchcock Center’s mission is clear and deeply felt: to provide compassionate care in a safe environment, empowering every woman who enters to chart her own course to recovery and wellness. Every program and service is anchored in core values—empathy, compassion, personalized support, and respect. The Center acknowledges that addiction frequently coexists with trauma, mental health concerns, and complex personal histories. For this reason, care is tailored to each woman’s circumstances, ensuring she is met with understanding and genuine acceptance.

Unlike most treatment options, the Hitchcock Center offers mothers a rare opportunity to seek help without being separated from their children. This unique approach not only prevents additional trauma from family separation but also helps preserve and strengthen the bonds that are so vital to long-term recovery. Each year, over 300 women find a new path forward at Hitchcock, benefiting from specialized counseling, multidisciplinary care teams, nutritious meals, wellness and recreational activities, job readiness programs, and transitional housing assistance. In a community where many children are placed in foster care and families are fractured, the Center’s programs provide a lifeline—restoring hope and keeping families together.

The results speak for themselves. Many women who once felt lost and hopeless now live healthy, substance-free lives, supported by a community that recognizes their strength and potential. At the Hitchcock Center for Women, healing is not just a destination—it’s a journey walked side by side, with each woman and each family moving forward together.

POSITION SUMMARY

This is a unique and rare leadership opportunity with a mission-driven, nonprofit behavioral healthcare agency with an annual operating budget of $4 million. The CEO will assume responsibility for the overall strategic leadership, operational oversight, and financial management of the organization. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors, the CEO will shepherd the organization's vision, drive efforts to improve behavioral health outcomes, and ensure the agency delivers high-quality evidence-based behavioral health services while maintaining regulatory compliance, fiscal sustainability, and a strong organizational culture. Success requires that the CEO combine strong leadership, clinical expertise, and business acumen to transform lives, while also serving as the agency’s public face and leading efforts in community engagement, fundraising, and advocacy.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

Strategic Leadership

• Drive the implementation and continued development of the agency’s strategic plan.
• Guide the organization’s mission, vision and values in alignment with the agency’s strategic plan.
• Foster a vision and organizational culture that promotes equity, innovation, collaboration, and clinical excellence.
• Keep the Board informed on significant issues, trends, and opportunities.

Operations & Program Oversight

• Oversee delivery of clinical services, ensuring compliance with all state and federal regulations (e.g., Medicaid, HIPAA, CARF).
• Manages daily operations, including clinical and non-clinical departments, to ensure efficient service delivery and patient outcomes.
• Ensure effective program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Promote integration of care across behavioral health, physical health, and social support systems.
• Drives quality metrics and ensures services meet regulatory standards from agencies like The Joint Commission and state guidelines.

Financial Management

• Oversees the financial health of the organization through budget development, financial planning, revenue generation and reporting.
• Ensure the agency meets revenue targets, manages expenses, and maintains strong internal controls.
• Work with finance staff and external auditors to maintain transparent financial practices.

Staff Leadership

• Builds, supports, and supervises executive leadership teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Lead, manage, and develop a high-performing executive team and staff of approximately thirty employees.
• Promote staff development and accountability across all levels of the organization.
• Uphold a positive, inclusive organizational culture aligned with the agency’s mission and values.

Board Relations

• Partner with the Board of Directors to support governance and strategic planning.
• Provide timely and accurate reporting to the Board on operational, financial, and programmatic performance.

Fundraising & Development

• Cultivate relationships with funders, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Lead or support fundraising initiatives, including grants, major gifts, and partnerships.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the agency’s primary spokesperson and advocates for behavioral health needs and serves as a voice for patients and the community.
• Represents the agency to community partners, stakeholders, and the public, building strong relationships to promote services.
• Build partnerships with healthcare providers, government agencies, funders, and community organizations.
• Represent the agency in public forums, legislative settings, and collaborative networks.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Healthcare Administration, Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, or a related field, with at least 7–10 years of progressive senior leadership in behavioral health facilities.
• Brings hands-on experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets, overseeing complex operations (including IT, HR, safety, and compliance), and leading organizational growth and change while ensuring alignment with evolving community needs.
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of behavioral healthcare systems—Medicaid, Medicare, managed care, licensing, accreditation—and a solid grasp of state and federal policy and integrated care models.
• Comfortable navigating regulatory environments, including CARF, Ohio Recovery Housing, and all relevant compliance and risk management requirements.
• Adept at nonprofit governance, supporting Boards of Directors, aligning governance and strategy, and fostering transparent committee communication.
• Excels in fostering teamwork across senior leadership, building relationships with community stakeholders, referral partners, and public officials, and maintaining operational flexibility and adaptability.
• Exhibits cultural competence and a visible community presence, regularly engaging with diverse communities and clients while embracing person-centered care.
• Supports talent development, recruiting and mentoring staff, and cultivating an inclusive organizational culture.
• Practices data-driven decision-making using KPIs and outcomes data to drive quality improvement and demonstrate impact for funders and regulators.
• Brings financial and strategic acumen in behavioral health billing, budget management, and leading effective discussions around fiscal strategy and initiatives.
• Confidently represents the organization in media and public forums, tailoring communication for a variety of audiences, and proactively advances the mission through advocacy, fundraising, donor relations, and assertive pursuit of grants and funding opportunities

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in business, Healthcare Administration, Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, or related field.
• Independent licensure in Behavioral Health (Ohio) with the ability to supervise and bill for other clinicians.

Key Competencies/Characteristics

• Passionate advocate for the mission
• Strategic thinking
• Confident, collaborative leader
• Financial acumen & analytical mindset
• Operational excellence
• Communication and advocacy
• Innovative visionary
• Relationship builder – both internal and external
• Presentation and public speaking
• High emotional intelligence & empathy
• Results-oriented
• Maturity and self-awareness

If you are an exceptional leader who is deeply passionate about advocating for enhanced mental health and recovery services, we are very interested in speaking with you.

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