Chief Operating Officer

About New Horizons

New Horizons is the leading mental health and addiction recovery provider serving the Treasure Coast and surrounding areas, assisting over 15,000 children and adults annually through a combination of inpatient crisis care, a 24-hour helpline, mobile response teams, and outpatient programs across Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties. Additionally, New Horizons supports 22,000 students in local schools and partners closely with courts, law enforcement, jails, and hospitals to enhance community health and wellbeing.

Role Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) acts as an executive leader responsible for overseeing daily operations, executing strategic plans, and maintaining high organizational performance for New Horizons of the Treasure Coast & Okeechobee. Collaborating with the CEO, Chief Medical Officer, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors, the COO manages all operational functions to ensure excellence in service delivery, fiscal management, regulatory compliance, continuous quality improvement, and organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate organizational functions including Information Technology, Finance, Quality Assurance, Revenue Cycle Management, Utilization Review, Facilities, Operational Support Services, and strategic initiatives.
• Act as the main conduit between the executive leadership and departmental directors, fostering transparency and streamlined decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to optimize operations and recommend structural adjustments when necessary.
• Provide leadership development, mentorship, and coaching to directors and executive staff.
• Conduct skip-level meetings to gauge employee feedback on leadership, culture, and communication.
• Work collaboratively with Human Resources on recruitment for executive roles, leadership competency development, and initiatives promoting employee engagement and retention.
• Oversee financial stewardship by reviewing financial statements, payroll, labor costs, and collaborate with finance teams and consultants to enhance fiscal performance.
• Assist in preparing budgets, forecasting, and long-term financial strategies.
• Review, negotiate, and manage contracts; partner with legal counsel on contractual and operational issues.
• Evaluate vendor relationships for organizational benefit and support enterprise risk management programs.
• Ensure all communications align with the organization's mission, strategy, and branding; coordinate with HR and Marketing on recruitment and community engagement efforts.
• Lead regulatory compliance efforts including accreditation surveys and audits; manage corrective actions to maintain standards.

Educational and Experience Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree is mandatory; a Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, Healthcare Leadership, or related fields is preferred.
• Must successfully pass Level 2 Background screening through the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and AHCA Clearinghouse.
• At least 10 years of ascending leadership roles required; 5 or more years in executive healthcare leadership preferred.
• Experience in behavioral healthcare, nonprofit healthcare organizations, hospital operations, or community mental health services desirable.
• Proven track record in leading regulatory surveys, accreditation processes, strategic planning, financial oversight, and operational management.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Exceptional executive leadership capabilities.
• Strong expertise in financial and operational management.
• In-depth knowledge of behavioral healthcare regulations and accreditation (CARF).
• Understanding of Revenue Cycle Management and healthcare finance processes.
• Competence in strategic organizational development and planning.
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.
• Ability to influence senior leadership and steer organizational change.
• Strong written and verbal communication proficiency.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications.
• Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems, Paylocity, data reporting tools, and business analytics platforms.