Job Description

At The Centers, meaningful work is grounded in a culture where people feel valued. As a 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winner, the organization is nationally recognized, based entirely on employee feedback, for trust, purpose, and care. This position plays an important role in advancing our mission and supporting the communities we serve.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is a senior executive position reporting directly to the President & CEO, providing strategic medical leadership and clinical direction as The Centers advances its 2035 vision to build a comprehensive behavioral health system of care. The CMO is responsible for driving medical excellence, ensuring the highest quality of clinical care delivery, and leading the medical and nursing teams in support of The Centers' mission and judgment-free care.

Working hand-in-hand with the Chief Program Officer and in close collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, the CMO ensures integration of medical services across the behavioral health continuum. This position exercises high decision-making authority within the medical function while developing and implementing clinical strategies aligned with overall organizational goals. The CMO champions The Centers' values of Belonging, Purpose, Bravery, Gratitude & Growth, and We Can & We Will in all leadership activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Medical Leadership & Clinical Excellence

Develops and implements medical strategies that align with The Centers' 2035 vision to build a comprehensive behavioral health system of care, ensuring seamless support across prevention, early intervention, outpatient and residential treatment, crisis response, and inpatient treatment

Provides strategic oversight and clinical direction for all medical teams and nursing operations, ensuring the highest standards of medical practice, patient safety, and quality outcomes

Working closely with the Chief Program Officer, advances integrated care approaches that address physical, mental, and behavioral health concerns, supporting the development of coordinated systems of care

Drives evidence-based medical practices and clinical protocols that support trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally responsive care delivery

Leads the advancement of clinical quality improvement initiatives, establishing metrics and benchmarks for medical excellence and patient outcomes

Supports the organization's expansion initiatives including continuum of care expansion, merger/acquisition opportunities, and strategic partnerships from a medical and clinical perspective

Operational Leadership & Medical Team Management

Provides direct oversight and leadership to medical teams and nursing leadership, creating clear accountability structures and fostering high-performing, mission-driven teams

Establishes and monitors clinical productivity standards, quality metrics, and utilization management processes to ensure efficient and effective medical service delivery

Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and clinical best practices across medical and nursing operations

Collaborates with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure operational excellence in medical service delivery, including staffing models, workflow optimization, and resource allocation

Advances data-driven clinical decision-making through implementation and optimization of electronic health record (EHR) systems and clinical analytics

Partners with the Senior VP of Risk and Compliance to maintain clinical risk management protocols and ensure patient safety across all service lines

Executive Collaboration & Integration

Works hand-in-hand with the Chief Program Officer to align medical leadership with programmatic strategies, ensuring medical services support the full continuum of behavioral health care

Collaborates closely with the Chief Financial Officer to develop sustainable financial models for medical services, understanding revenue drivers and P&L implications of clinical decisions

Partners with the Chief Operating Officer on operational matters including technology integration, facility planning, and organizational transformation initiatives

Participates as a member of the executive leadership team in organizational strategy development, board presentations, and enterprise-wide decision-making

Supports the Chief Program Officer's efforts to identify and execute opportunities to integrate medical services across service lines

Clinical Workforce Development & Culture

Recruits, mentors, and retains high-performing medical and nursing professionals who embody The Centers' values and are committed to serving individuals with complex behavioral health needs

Advances leadership pipelines within medical and nursing functions, overseeing succession planning and professional development for key clinical positions

Fosters a culture of clinical excellence, innovation, accountability, and trauma-informed leadership across medical teams

Oversees clinical training, privileging, credentialing, and continuing medical education programs in collaboration with Revenue Cycle leadership

Partners with People & Culture leadership to ensure clinician well-being, engagement, and retention, creating a workplace where medical professionals thrive

Models and reinforces The Centers' values in all interactions, creating psychological safety and belonging for all team members

Community Partnerships & External Relations

Represents The Centers and the President & CEO in medical and clinical forums, building relationships with healthcare systems, community partners, and regulatory bodies

Serves as a clinical thought leader and advocate for behavioral health integration and access to comprehensive care in the Greater Cleveland community

Collaborates with External Affairs team to strengthen strategic alliances with medical partners, payers, and community health organizations

Supports Board of Directors engagement on clinical quality, patient safety, and medical service line performance

Strategic Planning & Innovation

Participates on the organization strategy team to explore opportunities for growth and expansion of medical services that advance The Centers' 10-year vision

Drives innovation in medical care delivery models, including telehealth, integrated behavioral health, and population health management approaches

Advances value-based care readiness and quality incentive program participation across medical service lines

Champions technology solutions and AI/data integration strategies to enhance clinical decision support and patient outcomes

Other Non-Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Serves on organizational committees and task forces as appropriate

Represents The Centers at community events, conferences, and professional association meetings

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education:

MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school required

Board certification in Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or other relevant specialty required

Master's degree in Public Health, Healthcare Administration, or Business Administration preferred but not required

License or Certification:

Current, unrestricted medical license to practice in the State of Ohio required (or ability to obtain upon hire)

DEA registration required

Active board certification in relevant specialty required

Additional certifications in addiction medicine, geriatric psychiatry, or related specialties preferred

Experience:

Minimum 10-15 years of progressive medical leadership experience, with at least 5-7 years in senior executive or medical director roles

Proven track record of leading medical teams in behavioral health, integrated care, community health center, or health system settings

Experience overseeing nursing operations and building collaborative interdisciplinary care teams

Demonstrated success in strategic planning, quality improvement, and implementing evidence-based clinical practices

Experience in non-profit healthcare organizations strongly preferred

Proven experience developing and implementing medical strategies that align with organizational mission and business strategy

Experience working collaboratively with executive leadership teams (CEO, CFO, COO, CPO) in complex healthcare organizations

Experience navigating regulatory environments, accreditation processes, and value-based care initiatives

Skills & Competencies:

Leadership & Communication:

Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with ability to articulate clinical vision clearly and inspire diverse teams around shared purpose

Strong visionary leadership capabilities with demonstrated ability to lead transformational change in healthcare delivery

Proven ability to lead with bravery, foster belonging, demonstrate gratitude, and model continuous growth aligned with The Centers' values

Ability to command respect of diverse medical professionals and effectively motivate individuals to achieve results

Strategic & Analytical Capabilities:

Strong strategic and systems thinking ability to align clinical strategies with organizational goals and industry trends

Financial acumen with understanding of healthcare economics, reimbursement models, and sustainable medical service line management

Highly data-driven with ability to integrate clinical, financial, and operational data into decision-making

Understanding of population health management, risk stratification, and outcome measurement strategies

Clinical Excellence & Quality:

Deep commitment to clinical integrity, evidence-based practice, and continuous quality improvement

Expertise in establishing quality benchmarks, safety standards, and clinical best practices

Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and person-centered care delivery models

Understanding of behavioral health crisis intervention, psychiatric emergency services, and continuum of care coordination

Cultural Competence & Inclusive Leadership:

Deep commitment to equity, cultural humility, and serving diverse populations with dignity and respect

Demonstrates inclusive leadership and promotes belonging across all clinical teams

Broad awareness of community behavioral health needs, health disparities, and social determinants of health

Demonstrated commitment to judgment-free, stigma-reducing approaches to behavioral health care

Collaborative Partnership:

Exceptional ability to build trust and synergy among clinicians, administrators, executive leadership, and community partners

Proven track record of successful collaboration with non-clinical executives (CFO, COO, CPO)

Political savvy with ability to navigate complex organizational and community dynamics while maintaining clinical integrity

Innovation & Change Leadership:

Fosters a learning environment that embraces change and advances new models of care

Entrepreneurial mindset with willingness to test new clinical approaches and support informed risk-taking

Comfort with ambiguity and ability to lead through organizational transformation

Working Conditions

This position operates in a professional office environment with hybrid work flexibility. Regular travel to The Centers' 11 locations, community partner sites, and external stakeholder meetings across Greater Cleveland is required (estimated 20-30%). The role requires regular interaction with Board members, executive leadership, medical and nursing staff, program leaders serving 20,000+ individuals annually, external partners, and community stakeholders. Standard business hours with flexibility required for evening and occasional weekend commitments for on-call clinical coverage, board meetings, community events, and organizational priorities. Some direct patient care responsibilities may be included depending on organizational need and the incumbent's clinical specialty. The Centers supports team member wellbeing and provides resources to ensure leaders can sustain their important work.

Core Values & Culture

The Chief Medical Officer is expected to champion and model The Centers' culture of:

Belonging - Creating inclusive environments where all team members and those we serve feel valued, seen, and psychologically safe

Purpose - Connecting daily clinical work to our mission of healing, teaching, and inspiring; making mission-driven decisions

Bravery - Taking courageous action to innovate, challenge assumptions, test new approaches, and advocate for comprehensive behavioral health care

Gratitude & Growth - Recognizing effort and progress, seeking and responding to feedback, reflecting on learnings, and investing in development with humility

We Can & We Will - Taking ownership, holding each other accountable, persisting through setbacks, honoring commitments, and embodying optimism and determination

The Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.