Position SummaryWe are seeking an exceptional executive leader to drive sustainable growth, expand market presence, strengthen admissions performance, and position Heritage as a premier provider in the behavioral health and special education landscape.
This is not a traditional marketing position. This is a high-impact, strategic executive role responsible for leading growth initiatives across multiple service lines while serving as a key member of the organization's leadership team. The Associate Executive Director will develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy that drives census, expands referral relationships, increases direct-to-parent engagement, and strengthens our overall brand reputation.
Working closely with executive leadership, you will evaluate emerging markets, identify expansion opportunities, and ensure Heritage remains highly competitive in a rapidly evolving behavioral health environment.
Core Responsibilities- Strategic Growth: Develop and execute a unified marketing strategy across multiple specialized business units (SBUs).
- Admissions Optimization: Audit, refine, and continuously improve the admissions funnel for each SBU.
- Referral Network Management: Maintain and expand referrals from Educational Consultants and governmental agencies, while aggressively pursuing direct-to-parent digital strategies.
- Market Adaptation: Lead the tactical response to regulatory shifts by identifying new funding pathways and geographic markets.
- Digital Brand Shielding: Proactively manage the organization's digital footprint and LLM/AI presence to counter negative industry perceptions and improve online reputation.
Requirements & Qualifications- Proven Performance: 5+ years of leadership experience demonstrating the ability to utilize data, strategy, and execution to drive measurable growth, operational excellence, and positive culture change.
- Growth Leadership: Demonstrated success developing and executing growth strategies that increase revenue, census, enrollment, market share, or customer acquisition.
- Data Literacy: Advanced ability to analyze financial reports, admissions metrics, marketing performance, and operational data to inform strategic decision-making and forecasting.
- Relationship Architect: Exceptional ability to build trust, influence stakeholders, and develop strategic partnerships with referral sources, families, community leaders, and internal teams.
- Executive Presence: Ability to communicate vision, lead organizational change, present to executive leadership, and align teams around strategic priorities.
- Strategic Agility: Demonstrated ability to identify market trends, adapt to changing regulatory environments, and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Preferred Qualifications- Clinical Intelligence: Understanding of neurodiverse populations, trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and adolescent behavioral health (or a demonstrated ability to quickly develop expertise in these areas).
- Marketing Acumen: Experience leveraging digital marketing, brand strategy, reputation management, SEO, AI search visibility, and consumer engagement strategies to drive measurable results.
- Admissions Optimization: Experience evaluating and improving admissions processes, conversion funnels, CRM systems, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
- Business Development Expertise: Experience developing referral networks, cultivating strategic partnerships, and expanding services into new markets or geographic regions.
- Behavioral Health Experience: Prior leadership experience in behavioral health, residential treatment, healthcare, special education, or other mission-driven human services organizations.
Education- Required: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Healthcare Administration, Education, Behavioral Health, or a related field.
- Preferred: Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Healthcare Administration (MHA), Marketing, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
