Executive Director

Executive Director

Employment Type: W-2 Full-Time; Exempt

Reports To: ARC Health Leadership

Direct Reports: Practice leadership team — may include Practice/General Manager, Clinical Director(s), Human Resources lead, Business Development team, and other department leads

Location: San Diego, CA; On-site or Hybrid

FLSA Status: Exempt

Role Summary

The Executive Director (ED) is the senior executive and clinical leader of the practice, providing visionary, strategic, financial, and operational leadership in partnership with ARC Health. The ED serves as the practice's chief ambassador and culture leader — cultivating community and referral relationships, driving growth and innovation across service lines, and ensuring the operational, financial, and clinical integrity of the practice. This person is a problem solver and big picture thinker. The ED is accountable for high-quality client care, strong team performance, and sustainable business results, and they function as the strategic executive and as the clinical decision maker for the practice.

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction

• Provide overall executive leadership to advance the practice's mission, vision, values, and long-term strategic plan.
• Establish and communicate annual and quarterly organizational goals and priorities, ensuring alignment and clear communication across departments and with ARC Health objectives.
• Determine when service line expansion, new locations, or facility growth is appropriate, in consultation with ARC Health leadership.
• Serve as the primary liaison to ARC Health leadership; participate in ARC and other enterprise forums.
• Articulate and reinforce the practice's strategic priorities across teams, translating enterprise strategy into clear, measurable local priorities. Align teams to address organizational needs and strategic priorities.

Business Development & Strategic Growth

• Develop and execute the practice's business development strategy in alignment with organizational growth objectives.
• Lead strategic partnership development with health systems, schools, and other key healthcare or community organizations, including preparing and facilitating executive-level partnership meetings and presentations.
• Partner with the ARC Health Marketing team to develop and execute lead-generation, outreach, and market-development strategies.
• Identify and cultivate strategic relationships that expand the practice's referral network, market presence, and growth opportunities.
• In coordination with ARC Health and the business development function, identify and implement opportunities for growth, including new locations, expansion of existing facilities, and new service lines.

Financial Stewardship & Operational Oversight

• Achieve annual budget targets for revenue, expenses, and operational sustainability, in partnership with ARC Health leadership.
• Translate performance data into actionable strategies and measurable improvement initiatives, including KPI review of encounters, revenue, retention, CRM metrics, phone/access trends, and profit-and-loss statements — and drive responsive, data-informed decision-making.
• Manage pricing strategy for services; ensure financial models support both growth and mission delivery.
• Oversee salary structures, raises, and bonus processes to ensure equity and organizational alignment.
• Oversee leadership team’s management of clinician/provider caseload expectations and set appropriate productivity and utilization targets.
• Collaborate with leadership on provider utilization, productivity, and capacity-management initiatives.
• Review financial performance, identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency, and drive accountability for initiatives that improve profitability and sustainability.
• Partner with billing/revenue cycle staff to ensure optimal revenue cycle performance.

Program Development, Service Lines & Clinical Quality

• Provide oversight of practice service lines to ensure quality, efficiency, and responsiveness to client needs.
• Recommend and approve additions or modifications to the service menu for the practice.
• Oversee development and delivery of community outreach and professional development trainings to community organizations.
• Partner with the Clinical Director(s) to oversee the practice's Clinical Quality Program, including implementation of outcomes-measurement tools to ensure superior clinical service.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen clinical outcomes, quality of care, patient experience, and provider performance.
• Collaborate with clinical leadership to implement new clinical initiatives and priorities as needed, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, regulatory expectations, and ARC Health standards.

Culture, People Leadership & Organizational Climate

• Serve as the chief culture ambassador, modeling and reinforcing a positive, inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing practice culture.
• Promote cultural competence and inclusiveness throughout the organization.
• Provide direct oversight of practice level Human Resources services and serve as the final decision-maker, overseeing leadership team in performance and resource management, in partnership with HR.
• Oversee recruitment, selection, onboarding, and credentialing processes for director-level and clinical team members, ensuring efficient and compliant workflows.
• Supervise the leadership team, providing coaching, accountability, and shared strategic alignment; foster leadership development to guide the practice through growth and change.
• Oversee internal committees, help define their mission, and review their progress on a regular (e.g., quarterly) cadence.
• Organize and lead quarterly all-staff meetings and other culture-building events; establish and maintain an effective communication cadence (leadership meetings, KPI meetings, newsletters, company events).
• Partner with Human Resources and leadership team to monitor and improve provider satisfaction, engagement, retention, and overall employee experience.

Community Engagement & External Relations

• Ensure the practice's mission, values, and services are consistently and accurately represented in the community; elevate the practice's public image.
• Drive authentic community engagement and develop partnerships with local organizations, health systems, and advocacy groups to expand mental health awareness and access, in coordination with the business development team.
• Address escalated concerns from clients, partners, or outside entities, ensuring timely and thoughtful resolution.
• Represent the practice and ARC Health in key external relationships and strategic partnership discussions.

Compliance, Risk Management & Professional Standards

• Serve as the practice's compliance officer (or partner closely with the designated compliance officer/General Manager) to oversee organizational compliance among providers and staff.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, CMIA, OSHA, payer requirements, and applicable state and federal behavioral healthcare regulations across all jurisdictions in which the practice operates.
• Oversee development, implementation, and quality assurance of clinical and operational standards.
• Identify potential compliance risks and partner with appropriate leadership to develop and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain readiness for audits, inspections, and payer reviews.
• Promote a culture of accountability and adherence to organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and professional/ethical standards.

Cross-Functional & Enterprise Leadership

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Practice/General Manager, Clinical Director(s), Human Resources, Marketing, and to ARC Health leadership.
• Facilitate alignment across clinical, operational, financial, marketing, and business development functions.
• Translate practice strategy into clear priorities, measurable goals, and coordinated execution across teams.
• Provide executive-level leadership in navigating organizational challenges, growth opportunities, and strategic initiatives.

Compensation and Benefits

• Up to $175K annual salary with annual metrics-based performance bonuses.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Generous PTO.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
• HSA (with employer contribution) and/or FSA options.
• Employer-paid life insurance and AD&D coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with confidential mental health and life support resources.

Core Competencies:

• Leadership & Vision — Ability to articulate a compelling vision, inspire teams, and lead through change with clarity and purpose.
• Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making — Skilled at analyzing data, anticipating trends, and making informed decisions that balance mission, finances, and community needs.
• Financial & Operational Acumen — Strong understanding of budgeting, pricing, productivity, KPIs, and financial performance in a healthcare environment.
• Culture Building & People Development — Demonstrates a commitment to inclusiveness, transparency, professional growth, and collaborative team functioning.
• Communication & Relationship Building — Exceptional interpersonal, public-speaking, and relationship-building skills; represents the organization with professionalism and integrity.
• Ethics, Compliance & Clinical Excellence — Upholds the highest standards of clinical quality, ethical practice, and regulatory compliance.