Executive Director, PHP/IOP

Atlantic Health Strategies is a recruitment firm posting this opportunity on behalf of Wisconsin Behavioral Health. This is a direct hire role with Wisconsin Behavioral Health.

The Opportunity

In this full-time, on-site leadership role in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the Executive Director will lead the launch of a new PHP/IOP program from the ground up. This position is responsible for operational execution across facility readiness, licensure, staffing, referral development, and early-stage program stabilization.

As the senior on-site leader, the Executive Director will coordinate closely with outsourced HR, compliance, and IT partners while maintaining full accountability for operational performance. This role is ideal for a clinically-informed, hands-on healthcare operator who has worked directly within behavioral health programs, brings structure to ambiguity, and can successfully move a program from empty building to licensed, staffed, open, and admitting.

This position does not require clinical licensure and includes no direct clinical responsibilities.

What You Will Do at Wisconsin Behavioral Health

• Lead operational readiness for a new PHP/IOP program, including facility setup, workflow development, staffing ramp-up, and launch sequencing.
  
• Serve as the on-site operational lead during state licensure and payer credentialing processes.
  
• Hire, onboard, and manage non-clinical and program staff aligned with licensure timelines and census projections
  
• Develop and execute referral relationship strategies and community outreach prior to opening and throughout early operations
  
• Own census management, staffing efficiency, scheduling optimization, and operational KPIs post-launch
  
• Partner with outsourced HR, compliance, and IT teams while retaining accountability for execution and issue resolution
  
• Maintain financial discipline during start-up, ensuring budget adherence and resource optimization
  
• Act as the primary on-site point of contact for ownership, regulators, vendors, and referral partners.
  

What You Bring to Wisconsin Behavioral Health

• Minimum 5+ years of direct, hands-on experience in behavioral health operations, including time spent working within PHP, IOP, or outpatient behavioral health programs at the program or facility level.
  
• Firsthand familiarity with day-to-day behavioral health workflows, including clinical team structures, treatment schedules, group programming logistics, and patient flow, gained through direct program involvement, not solely executive oversight.
  
• Proven success launching, scaling, or stabilizing behavioral health programs, with preference for candidates who have been actively involved in execution, not just strategic direction.
  
• Demonstrated ability to build teams and operate effectively without pre-existing infrastructure.
  
• Strong working knowledge of behavioral health staffing models, census-driven economics, payer expectations, and regulatory requirements as applied in a clinical program environment.
  
• Experience collaborating with outsourced operational partners while maintaining accountability.
  
• Exceptional organizational, leadership, and decision-making skills.
  
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field preferred.
  

Why Join Us at Wisconsin Behavioral Health

• Opportunity to lead a high-impact program launch with significant operational ownership.
  
• Be part of a mission-driven organization expanding access to quality behavioral healthcare.
  
• Visible leadership role with direct influence on program success and growth.
  
• Dynamic start-up environment ideal for operators who enjoy building from the ground up.
  
• Competitive salary range of $85,000 – $115,000 annually, commensurate with experience and start-up leadership scope.
  
• Performance-based incentives may be available based on launch milestones and operational outcomes.
  
  
  
  

• Ability to work full-time, on-site in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
  
• Direct experience working within behavioral health program operations at the facility or program level. Candidates whose experience is primarily corporate or multi-site executive leadership without hands-on program involvement may not be the right fit for this role.
  
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field preferred.
  
• Strong financial and operational management capabilities.
  
• Knowledge of regulatory environments and healthcare program implementation gained through direct operational involvement.
  
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive execution in a fast-paced start-up environment.
  
  
  

• Competitive compensation package
  
• Performance-based incentives
  
  Wisconsin Behavioral Health is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.