Chief Operating Officer

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, known as "The HARRIS CENTER," is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer to join our team. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a vital component of The Harris Center’s Executive Management, assisting with mission-critical, highly visible, and complex duties to assure the effective administration and evolution of the agency. The 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 assure the effective administration and evolution of the programs and services throughout the agency. This will require assisting the Board and CEO in examining, deliberating, and developing policies, practices, and programs as well as identifying common ground and gaining consensus with team members and stakeholders. The COO acts as a trusted second to the CEO and in CEO’s absence, operates The Harris Center within that capacity.

Your role in Action:

What qualifications you will need:

• The COO will be responsible for assuring The Harris Center’s readiness for growth and the adaptation of the agency to changing oversight, payer and regulatory landscapes.
• The COO will be required to represent The Harris Center with County Commissioners Court and state/federal agencies, consumers, advocacy and professional associations, and the general public
• The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for managing the overall service program operations of The Harris Center in accordance with plans and budgets ensuring internal and external accountability.
• The COO plans and coordinates program activities to ensure compliance with state, federal and contractual requirements, monitors Center departments to guarantee timely compliance with assigned tasks, goals, and objectives of the Center, and provides consultation to staff 
• Leading role in supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of Agency goals
• Leads Center practice through design, implementation and review of policies, procedures, and programs
• Continually oversees delivery and monitoring of patient care services operation and related programs ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations governing health care delivery in community mental health centers, the standards of the accrediting bodies and the policies of the agencies 
• Partners with Compliance for ongoing screening of deficiencies within all service and business practices based on all appropriate regulatory rules, laws, standards, and contractual obligations
• Responsible for the management and continuous improvement of utilization review process 
• Coordination of Death Reviews in tandem with the CMO and Medical Staff
• Interacts with clients, their families, other unit staff colleagues, and all Center employees in a positive and professional manner
• Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with the ethical standards of conduct, state contract, appropriate professional standards, and applicable state/federal laws
• The Chief Operating Officer provides the leadership and strategic planning for program and direct service operations  
• Manages Human Resources activities for direct reports in regard to: recruiting and selection, hiring and termination, training, professional development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning 
• May chair organizational committees as requested 
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education :

• Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent MBA preferred.

Experience:

• 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-services 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

 Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Understand and manage multiple operational delivery structures.
• Ability to interact tactfully with all levels of management and customers and to work with stakeholders and team members at all levels of the business 
• 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, supporting change cross-organizationally, and driving business and customer excellence
• Integrative thinker with demonstrated ability to solve complex, multi-faceted problems with consideration for business and strategic consequences 
• Ability to lead under pressure in a dynamic environment with a high degree of initiative, motivation and the ability to manage multiple tasks and changing priorities 
  

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.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The Harris Center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.

What else you should know:

• This posting is associated with position #1004
• This role is onsite 
• Salary Commensurate with Applicable Experience

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

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