Chief Executive Officer - Lakeland Behavioral Health

About Lakeland Behavioral Health

Part of the Acadia Healthcare network, Lakeland offers a full continuum of behavioral health services, including:

• Acute inpatient psychiatric care for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors
• Residential treatment programs for children and adolescents, including specialized tracks for sexually maladaptive behaviors
• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for adolescents
• Trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies such as CBT, experiential therapies, and family counseling
• Accredited educational programming through Lakeland Regional School

Why Lead Here?

At Lakeland, leadership means more than managing operations — it means shaping the future of behavioral health for a community that needs it most. As CEO, you will:

• Set the vision for exceptional patient care and community impact
• Inspire and empower a diverse, mission-driven team
• Drive performance through operational excellence, growth, and innovation
• Build partnerships with schools, providers, and referral networks to expand access
• Champion mental health advocacy — turning challenges into opportunities for healing and hope

Responsibilities

The successful Chief Executive Officer candidate will:

• Be instrumental in developing a culture that emphasizes high quality care and patient safety
• Manage day-to-day operations and staff so that the facility achieves its objectives in all of the following key performance areas:
  • Effective patient care outcomes
  • Appropriate fiscal management
  • Maintenance of licensure, accreditation and other regulatory criteria
  • Implementation of focused business development processes
  • Medical staff compliance with regulatory and accreditation guidelines
• Organize the day-to-day management and operation of the Facility through departmentalization, delegation and alignment of responsibilities to meet the facility’s patient care and business objectives
• Create and maintain a network of local constituency groups to include government agencies, local businesses, affiliate health providers, and the surrounding community
• Appraise leadership team performance, both of individual members and the team, assess competencies, and provide coaching/corrective action as appropriate under the direction of the governing body
• Ensure participation of staff in facility/program-wide in-service and continuing education programs, including those specific to the treatment of adults, seniors, adolescents, and families
• Recruit allied health professionals and psychiatrists to increase the scope of service offerings at the facility
• Effectively work with corporate contracting team to manage and direct contract negotiations and contract compliance with the commercial payer community to include rate negotiations and services provided; oversee contract relationships to include regular reporting on contract performance as well as new revenue generation and growth
• Lead development of continuum of care to include comprehensive outpatient services and community-based programs
• Serve as the final authority for resolution of staff performance concerns and performance improvement activities as appropriate
• Routinely attend and, as appropriate, chair periodic meetings with the governing body, medical staff, executive management team, and other departments of the facility
• Abide by all company policies and procedures and operate with the highest personal integrity and professionalism
• Remain current in all national healthcare-based initiatives through participation in such organizations as NAPHS and the relevant state-based facility association
• Ensure an effective survey readiness plan is always active including a comprehensive auditing plan, corrective actions taken to address noncompliant areas, and preventative actions to maintain continuous accreditation and regulatory compliance
• Ensure adherence to the Corporate Compliance program including timely follow-up with reported compliance issues, staff training, and proactive auditing
• Confirm and lead accurate Governing Board reporting and quarterly calls
• Guarantee prompt, thorough follow-up of any patient safety issues including system-issue corrections and proactive assessment of high-risk areas
• Ensure appropriate support for QAPI activities including direct and leadership staff resources, training, and other requirements
• Consistently demonstrate a high level of leadership skills resulting in efficient planning, development and implementation; assist in the development of and implementation of long-range goals and annual objectives
• Identify critical issues and maintain a deep understanding of the marketplace, customers and the broad forces that affect the organization’s future
• Manage the performance of the organization to the budget and short- and long-term financial goals; focus on execution; practice financial acumen in managing budgets and census
• Support the executive team to achieve goals and objectives that fulfill the mission and vision of the organization
• Continually enhance the reputation of the organization within the community regarding mental health, addiction, treatment and recovery and broaden that community involvement
• Earn the trust and establish credibility among the organization and facility leadership, the staff nurses, medical staff, and nursing leadership; ensure visibility within the hospital
• Ensure the facility is financially sound and has a positive operating margin
• Increase both the occupancy and payor mix as well as increase customer satisfaction
• Shift the culture toward innovation, advancing opportunities for revenue diversification and virtual programs and services
• Promote a foundation for, and a culture of, diversity, equity, inclusiveness, transparency, and collaboration throughout facility; drive high employee engagement, strong employee morale, as well as high patient, physician, and clinical staff satisfaction that are continuously improving
• Continue to build a culture that is focused on performance improvement, quality, and service excellence as the organization strives to be the industry leader in addiction treatment
• Further develop and refine a clear strategy such that the organization is seen as the voice for mental health, addiction, treatment, and recovery in the U.S.

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Marketing, Clinical Discipline, or related discipline is required
• Master’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, Clinical Discipline or related field is preferred

Knowledge and Work Experience

• Minimum of three to five years of experience in senior leadership or CEO role in a behavioral health, acute care, and/or managed care environment
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of facility administration and clinical operations
• Experience in turning around an organization as well as the ability to direct crisis and inpatient behavioral health services
• Ability to manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously within inflexible timeframes; ability to adapt to frequent priority changes
• Initiative-taking and self-directed with effective communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work professionally with sensitive, proprietary data & information while maintaining confidentiality
• Excellent people skills including the ability to interact effectively and professionally with individuals at all levels; both internal and external
• Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and superior attention to detail
• Organized and works well under pressure while multi-tasking in a demanding environment; effectively reacts to emergencies
• Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules and regulations governing mental health and addiction treatment inpatient services and related funding (CMS, Joint Commission, AHCA, DCS, HIPAA, 42 CFR)
• Strong knowledge of Joint Commission accreditation standards and the proven ability to lead successful licensure, accreditation, and compliance efforts in a behavioral health facility
• Capable of working within established policies, procedures and practices prescribed by the organization
• Transformational leader, well known and well respected, ideally with Hospital Administrator experience or in a similarly visible leadership position
• Strong financial acumen and business orientation with a working knowledge of fiscal management and business development processes
• History of developing high-performing teams and creating followership
• Experience working with HR to develop robust succession plans that identify, develop, and advance the next generation of leaders
• English sufficient to provide and receive instructions/directions

Personal Characteristics

• Uncompromising passion for and alignment with the mission; empathy toward those who are in crisis or suffer a mental health and substance use disorder
• Authentic, honest individual with steadfast integrity who leads with empathy, trust and transparency, balanced with an ability to be decisive and firm, holding people and teams accountable and driving toward change
• Visible, inspiring leader who brings gravitas and one who carries themselves with humility and is a self-aware servant leader who listens and collaborates across the organization; leads with gratitude and grace
• Visionary, innovative leader, capable of leveraging technology and advancing the organization to achieve the greatest impact toward its mission
• Engaged leader who acts with courage and is willing and able to make complex decisions that are in the best interest of the organization
• Exceptional communicator with high emotional intelligence and outstanding people skills
• Promotes a culture of accountability
• Commitment to embrace and advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives
• Highly strategic with strong execution skills with the ability to direct crisis and inpatient behavioral health services

What We Offer

• Competitive executive compensation with performance incentives
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match and long-term equity opportunities
• Generous PTO and executive-level flexibility
• National network support through Acadia’s 250+ facilities nationwide
• Career mobility and professional growth across the Acadia system