Chief Operating Officer

About Us

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million. The Harris Center offers a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County, delivered in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language. With over 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents.

About the Role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a vital component of The Harris Center’s Executive Management, assisting the Chief Executive Officer with mission-critical, highly visible, and complex duties to ensure the effective administration and evolution of the agency’s programs and services. The COO acts as a trusted second to the CEO and, in the CEO’s absence, operates The Harris Center in that capacity. This role involves assisting the Board and CEO in developing policies, practices, and programs, as well as identifying common ground and gaining consensus with team members and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assure The Harris Center’s readiness for growth and adaptation to changing oversight, payer, and regulatory landscapes.
• Represent The Harris Center with County Commissioners Court, state/federal agencies, consumers, advocacy and professional associations, and the general public.
• Manage the overall service program operations in accordance with plans and budgets, ensuring internal and external accountability.
• Plan and coordinate program activities to ensure compliance with state, federal, and contractual requirements.
• Monitor Center departments to guarantee timely compliance with assigned tasks, goals, and objectives, and provide consultation to staff.
• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of Agency goals.
• Lead Center practice through design, implementation, and review of policies, procedures, and programs.
• Oversee the delivery and monitoring of patient care services and related programs, ensuring compliance with all laws, regulations, and accrediting body standards.
• Partner with Compliance for ongoing screening of deficiencies within all service and business practices based on regulatory rules, laws, standards, and contractual obligations.
• Manage and continuously improve the utilization review process.
• Coordinate Death Reviews in tandem with the CMO and Medical Staff.
• Interact with clients, their families, staff, and all Center employees in a positive and professional manner.
• Conduct job responsibilities in accordance with ethical standards, state contracts, professional standards, and applicable laws.
• Provide leadership and strategic planning for program and direct service operations.
• Manage Human Resources activities for direct reports, including recruiting, hiring, termination, training, professional development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.
• May chair organizational committees as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive senior leadership experience within a commercial, non-profit, or government environment.
• Managed care experience with an understanding of fee-for-service reimbursement models is highly desirable.
• Significant operational experience working in a large and complex healthcare delivery system with proven financial, budgetary, and capital planning expertise.

Skills

• Ability to understand and manage multiple operational delivery structures.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact tactfully with all levels of management, customers, stakeholders, and team members.
• Proven ability to collaborate across functions with direct responsibility for overall business success.
• Demonstrated ability to identify client/stakeholder requirements in an ambiguous, client-focused business.
• Ability to manage business and organizational vision by communicating a compelling purpose and driving excellence.
• Integrative thinker with demonstrated ability to solve complex, multi-faceted problems considering business and strategic consequences.
• Ability to lead under pressure in a dynamic environment with a high degree of initiative, motivation, and adaptability.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with a robust retirement plan and generous company matching.
• Prior service credit for accelerated Paid Time Off accrual.
• Cell Phone Discounts and exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work.
• Free Headspace subscription for mental wellness.
• Employee Assistance Program for overall well-being.
• Student loan forgiveness programs for eligible employees.

This role contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing values and applying a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.