Director of Access Operations

Health Solutions West is the Western slope’s largest behavioral health care organization, covering more than 23,000 square miles across 10 counties. With over 250 employees in Western Colorado, you would be joining a mighty team of support and administrative staff, case managers, clinicians, physicians, nurses, and others in our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our community.

Position: Director of Access Operations

Location: Grand Junction, Aspen, Craig, or Eagle

A Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) applies to rural onsite positions only based on applicable FTE. Telehealth employees are not eligible. Grand Junction (Mesa County) does not receive COLA.

• Salaried employees working in Aspen receive a bi-weekly COLA of $310.62
• Salaried employees working in Eagle receive a bi-weekly COLA of $236.31
• Salaried employees working in Craig receive a bi-weekly COLA of $13.85

Benefits offered to Full-Time Employees:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Paid time off accrual and generous leave policy
• 403(b) benefits with 6% company match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance

Position qualifications: Master’s degree in a recognized mental health profession required; minimum five (5) years' experience in a human services setting, such as a community mental health center, chemical dependency setting, or residential treatment facility; experience must include at least three (3) years of administrative and/or supervisory experience. Licensure in the State of Colorado required. Experience with access management, intake services, scheduling operations, customer service operations, or patient navigation strongly preferred. Knowledge of Medicaid, Medicare, commercial insurance, and behavioral health service delivery. Experience utilizing data and performance metrics to improve operational outcomes. Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, develop programs, analyze data, and manage complex operational initiatives.

Job purpose: The Director of Access Operations is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational performance, and continuous improvement of Health Solutions West's access system. This position oversees Open Access and Support Services to ensure timely, equitable, efficient, and client-centered entry into services across the organization.

The Director develops and implements access strategies that improve service availability, reduce barriers to care, enhance the client experience, and support organizational growth. This position works collaboratively with clinical, operational, quality, compliance, and revenue cycle leaders to ensure that individuals seeking care are connected to the appropriate services in a timely manner while maintaining compliance with all applicable regulations, accreditation standards, payer requirements, and organizational policies.

As a licensed clinical leader, the Director provides oversight related to intake processes, clinical triage, level-of-care decisions, access workflows, and quality standards affecting client entry into services.

Knowledge, Skill & Ability:

• Comprehensive knowledge of behavioral health systems, client access models, intake practices, triage processes, and levels of care.
• Knowledge of healthcare operations including registration, scheduling, insurance verification, customer service, and client onboarding workflows.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, Medicaid, Medicare, accreditation standards, and behavioral health compliance requirements.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to effectively supervise, coach, mentor, and develop supervisors, team leads, and multidisciplinary staff.
• Ability to analyze operational and clinical performance data, identify trends, and implement data-driven improvement strategies.
• Ability to develop, manage, and improve complex operational workflows while balancing quality, compliance, efficiency, and client experience.
• Exceptional verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to lead organizational change initiatives, build consensus, manage competing priorities, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills with the ability to exercise sound professional judgment in complex situations.
• Proficiency in electronic health record systems, Microsoft Office applications, reporting tools, and healthcare technology platforms.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal departments, community partners, regulatory agencies, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical standards while managing sensitive clinical, operational, and personnel matters.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands: Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop. Must have ability to sit for longer periods of time at a computer. Employee must be able to travel between Health Solutions West’ sites or within the community. May be exposed to stressful situations that involve enraged, distraught and/or intoxicated individuals with possible mental disorders. Possible potential for exposure to communicable disease. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must already be authorized to work in the US; sponsorships not available.