Chief Program Officer - Onsite Manhattan

About the Role

AthenaPsych, a New York State mental health-approved provider, is seeking a Chief Program Officer (CPO) to provide strategic and clinical leadership across existing service lines and drive the expansion of programs to address community needs. The CPO is a senior clinical and programmatic executive responsible for the quality, effectiveness, consistency, and development of clinical programs and services across New York State.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight of clinical quality, clinical leaders, and standards of care across locations and service lines.
• Establish evidence-based, patient-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive clinical practices.
• Develop and implement systems for clinical supervision, high-risk case review, treatment planning, care coordination, and continuity of care.
• Mentor clinical and program leaders, promoting accountability, collaboration, and professional excellence.
• Establish and monitor clinical quality, outcomes, access, engagement, retention, and program performance metrics.
• Use clinical data to identify risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure adherence to OMH and other regulatory requirements.
• Lead clinical quality-improvement initiatives and support regulatory reviews, audits, and corrective actions.
• Provide clinical leadership for new program development, implementation, and stabilization.
• Evaluate opportunities for program expansion based on community need, outcomes, and organizational strategy.
• Align clinical strategy with organizational growth, operations, workforce planning, and financial sustainability.
• Represent Athena’s clinical programs to external stakeholders, including regulators, health systems, and community organizations.

Key Performance Areas

• Patient access and timely engagement in care.
• Clinical quality and patient outcomes.
• Patient retention and continuity of care.
• High-risk patient management and clinical safety.
• Clinical documentation and regulatory compliance.
• Clinician productivity, retention, and engagement.
• Clinical supervision and leadership effectiveness.
• Successful implementation and stabilization of new programs.
• Patient and referral-partner experience.
• Consistency of clinical standards across programs and locations.
• Financial stability of behavioral health programs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or doctorate in social work, psychology, counseling, mental health counseling, or a relevant behavioral health discipline.
• Active New York State clinical licensure (LCSW, LMHC, or psychologist) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive behavioral health leadership experience, including oversight of clinical programs and staff.
• Experience overseeing multi-site and/or large-scale outpatient behavioral health services.
• Strong knowledge of New York State behavioral health regulations and OMH-licensed services.
• Experience developing, implementing, and scaling clinical programs.
• Understanding of evidence-based treatment, clinical risk management, quality improvement, and measurement-based care.
• Experience leading senior clinical leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to use clinical and operational data to drive decision-making.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, collaboration, and change-management skills.

Working Conditions

This position is located at our Manhattan clinic. It is a professional work environment with a computer, desk, chair, and office supplies provided on-site.

Physical Requirements

The role requires the ability to hear and speak on the phone or computer throughout the day, stand and sit for extended periods, write and answer emails, and carry objects up to 25 pounds when needed.

This position has direct reports. Athena is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, considering reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants/employees.