Position Overview
DIVERSUS HEALTH, INC. is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER (COO). The COO will serve as a key strategic partner to the President & CEO and is responsible for advancing organizational performance, operational excellence, workforce effectiveness, and strategic execution across the organization.
This role demands a leader with both the vision to shape long-term direction and the operational discipline to deliver near-term results. The COO will be responsible for operational, financial, and organizational performance. Working closely with the President & CEO, the COO ensures alignment across service delivery, finance, technology, client experience, operational excellence, and strategic execution to achieve sustainable organizational success and measurable community impact.
The COO leads the translation of organizational strategy into measurable outcomes while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, continuous process improvement, and mission-driven service. Through exceptional leadership and influence, the COO helps ensure Diversus Health achieves its mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability.
The COO serves as a visible and trusted leader internally and externally, fostering strong relationships with the Board of Directors, executive leaders, staff, community partners, healthcare systems, governmental entities, funders, and other key stakeholders.
Organization Name: DIVERSUS HEALTH, INC.
Position Title: CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel Requirements: Minimal
Compensation Range: See Compensation & Benefits section
Company Overview
About the Organization:
DIVERSUS HEALTH, INC. is a premier provider of mental and behavioral health services in Colorado. Headquartered in Colorado Springs and operating in El Paso, Park, and Teller counties, Diversus Health offers counseling, psychiatric, crisis, and addiction serves based upon a personalized treatment plan fit for each individual’s mental and behavioral health goals. Diversus Health proudly celebrated their 150- year anniversary in 2025.
In 2025, Diversus Health served over 11,000 persons via in excess of 162,000 patient encounters. In-person encounters occurred 55% of the time while telehealth/virtual encounters accounted for the remaining 45%.
Diversus Health connects with prospective patients and the community through a
number of means, including:
- The Outreach Team delivered a number of evidence-based trainings, including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Youth MFHA, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention courses.
- The Child & Family Services team with clinician-led therapy and skills group meetings that create safe spaces for youth to explore their experiences, strengthen self-regulation, and connect with peers facing similar challenges.
- The School-Based Team provides support to schools across eight districts offering assistance tailored to unique needs of each community.
- Working in conjunction with the El Paso County Public Health department, The Dinosaur School curriculum includes 60 different lessons of early childhood classrooms. Trained staff lead the lessons focusing on problem-solving, anger control, self-monitoring emotions, success in school and making friends.
- The Disaster Emergency Response Team provides critical support to community disasters through Psychological First Aid and Field Response.
- The Same Day Access (SDA) program is an entryway to mental health services that offers intake assessments without an appointment. By eliminating the need for an initial appointment, this services significantly reduces the time it takes to commence treatment.
- The Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program provides group programs focused on Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Education, Relapse Prevention, and Criminal Justice Strategies for Self-Improvement and Change (SSC). In 2025, the SUD program achieved a significant milestone through a new contractual partnership with Drug Court, allowing clients to be referred to SUD as an alternative to incarceration.
- The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team delivers community-based care to those experiencing psychotic disorder symptoms by providing a multidisciplinary approach for clients that includes therapy, medication, nursing services, skills development, and case management to address housing, occupational, and educational needs.
- ASCENT is a fidelity-based program that serves individuals within the first two years of experiencing psychosis symptoms. The ASCENT team works closely with hospitals and youth-service related agencies to form connections that can support identification of need and referrals quickly after onset.
- C.R.E.A.T.E (Collaborative Recovery through Empowering Adolescents in Treatment Experiences) program is to provide treatment and support to adolescents 12-18 with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. C.R.E.A.T.E promotes recovery skills, relapse prevention, and harm reduction while empowering young individuals to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
Mission & Vision
Mission: Provide exceptional behavioral health care to our community one person at a time.
Vision: We are trusted partners, improving the behavioral health of our community by eliminating barriers, providing quality care, and restoring hope.
Size & Structure
Total Employees: Approximately 300 FTE’s
Annual Revenue / Operating Budget: $47 million / $47 million
Number of Locations / Offices: 11
Governance Structure: Nonprofit
Parent Company / Affiliates (if applicable): N/A
Key Responsibilities
● Partner closely with the Board and executive leadership to develop key strategic initiatives; translate strategic priorities into operational plans, measurable goals, timelines, and accountability systems; ensure alignment across operational, clinical, digital, financial, administrative, and service delivery functions.
● Ensure operational systems support exceptional client experience, timely access to care, quality outcomes, and financial stability; establish, monitor, and improve key performance indicators aligned with organizational priorities.
● Provide executive oversight of facilities management, security operations, emergency preparedness, and business continuity planning; ensure organizational facilities and infrastructure support safe, effective, and efficient service delivery.
● Provide executive oversight of the CFO and all financial operations; oversee enterprise-wide budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, revenue optimization, and financial performance management; partner with the CFO to develop and execute long-term financial strategies that support mission achievement and organizational growth.
● Provide executive oversight and support for clinical and programmatic service lines; partner with clinical leadership to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, accessible, and client-centered care.
● Serve as a visible, values-driven leader who strengthens a culture of accountability, teamwork, innovation, integrity, and meaningful impact; ensure organizational culture and leadership practices support exceptional client experience, workforce sustainability, and achievement of strategic priorities; model and reinforce Diversus Health’s values of Teamwork, Solution Mindedness, Integrity, and Impact.
● Advance a culture where performance improvement is continuous, transparent, and connected to mission impact; champion Lean Six Sigma principles to drive organizational effectiveness and reduce inefficiencies.
● Build credibility and trust with the Board of Directors through transparency, responsiveness, strategic insight, and effective communication.
Direct reports to the COO include: Chief Financial Officer; Chief Clinical Officer; Chief Medical Officer; Chief Digital & Innovation Officer; and the Chief Experience Officer.
Candidate Profile
Required Qualifications
Education
● Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required.
● Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public
Administration, Public Health, Organizational Leadership or related field is
highly preferred.
Years of Experience
● Minimum of 10 years of executive leadership experience with responsibility for
both operational and financial performance.
Functional Expertise
● Demonstrated ability to work effectively with governing boards and executive
leadership teams.
● Experience managing large-scale operations, strategic initiatives,
organizational transformation, and growth.
● Demonstrated ability to lead through change, ambiguity, complexity, and
growth.
● Proven ability to develop leaders, strengthen culture, and deliver measurable
outcomes.
Industry Background
● Demonstrated success leading large, complex healthcare, behavioral health,
integrated care, or nonprofit organizations.
Preferred Qualifications
● Experience within community behavioral health, integrated care, Medicaid-
funded healthcare, or nonprofit healthcare systems.
● Experience overseeing multi-site healthcare operations.
● Familiarity with value-based care, Medicaid managed care, behavioral health
reimbursement, crisis services, and integrated care models.
● Experience with Lean Six Sigma, continuous process improvement,
operational excellence, and organizational transformation methodologies.
Leadership Competencies
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strength across the following competencies:
● Strategic Vision & Enterprise Thinking: Ability to see the big picture,
anticipate trends, and develop strategies that position the organization for
sustained success and delivery of exceptional care.
● Team Leadership & Talent Development: Proven ability to recruit, develop,
and inspire high-performing, diverse teams.
● Executive Communication & Presence: Strong verbal and written
communication skills; ability to engage and influence at the Board, C-suite, and
community levels.
● Change Leadership & Results Orientation: Demonstrated track record of
driving meaningful organizational change and delivering measurable
outcomes.
● Collaborative & Inclusive Leadership: Operates with transparency, builds trust
across organizational boundaries, and values diverse perspectives.
● Emotional Intelligence & Stakeholder Acumen: High self-awareness; skilled
at navigating complex interpersonal dynamics and building durable
relationships.
Success Metrics — First 12 Months
Success in the first year will be measured by the COO's ability to translate strategy into execution, improve operational and financial performance, strengthen workforce engagement and accountability, enhance access and client experience, establish meaningful community relationships, and build a high-performing operational culture that supports Diversus Health's mission and long-term sustainability.
1. Strategic Execution & Organizational Alignment -- Successfully translate the strategic plan into an operational execution framework with clear accountability, performance expectations, and reporting mechanisms across the organization.
2. Access, Client Experience & Exceptional Outcomes -- Improve access, consistency, and client experience while maintaining focus on quality and clinical outcomes.
3. Operational Performance & Financial Stewardship -- Strengthen operational effectiveness and financial sustainability while supporting mission access and quality care.
4. Workforce Stability & Leadership Development -- Enhance organizational effectiveness by strengthening leadership accountability, employee engagement, and workforce retention.
5. Service Line Optimization -- Evaluate and improve operational, financial, and clinical performance across service lines to ensure long-term sustainability and mission impact.
6. Data-Driven Performance Management -- Establish a culture of accountability through consistent use of operational, quality, workforce, and financial data.
7. Community Connection & Organizational Representation -- Establish a visible and engaged presence within the Colorado Springs community, develop strong relationships with key stakeholders, and serve as a trusted ambassador for Diversus Health, its mission, and its values both inside and outside the organization.
8. Executive Team Integration & COO Role Development -- Build trust and credibility across the organization while establishing the COO role as a strategic partner to the CEO and leadership team.
Culture & Leadership Attributes
CLS partners with organizations whose cultures are defined by purpose, performance, and people. The ideal candidate will not only possess the functional expertise and track record required for this role — they will bring a leadership philosophy that resonates deeply with the organization's values and the people they serve. The following attributes are particularly important:
- Authentic and values-driven leadership: Commitment to fostering a respectful, collaborative, and supportive workplace environment.
- Bias for action balanced with thoughtful decision-making: Resilience and adaptability in a changing and dynamic environment.
- Comfort with ambiguity and organizational complexity: Curiosity, humility, and a genuine growth mindset.
Diversus Health's culture can be characterized as mission-driven and fast-paced, with a keen eye on process improvement to deliver exceptional care. Leaders who thrive here tend to have a strong outcomes orientation that is consistent with the organizational mission and are open and flexible to embrace change that drives those outcomes. Commitment to both internal and external engagement with the communities served by Diversus Health is imperative.
Compensation & Benefits:
Compensation details are provided in confidence and are subject to negotiation
based on candidate experience and qualifications.
Component Detail:
- Base Salary Range: $252,000 – $325,000 annually, commensurate with experience
- Bonus / Incentive Compensation: Discretionary subject to company performance with a maximum target of 10% for this role
- Equity / Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP): N/A
- Health & Wellness Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance; FSA/HSA options; Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability insurance; Employee Assistance Program
- Retirement: 401(k) with 100% employer match of up to 4%; 100% vesting immediately
- Paid Time Off: Generous PTO and paid holiday schedule
- Additional Perks & Benefits: Negotiated relocation assistance, professional development stipend, administrative leave policy, 457(b) plan funded $20,000 by Diversus Health on an annual basis and paid monthly in installments of $1,666.66 commencing on the first month of hire.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Diversus Health, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Diversus Health is committed to fostering a respectful, collaborative, and supportive workplace environment.
About CLS & Search Contact Information
About Cummings Leadership Search
Cummings Leadership Search (CLS) is a retained executive search and leadership advisory firm committed to connecting exceptional leaders with organizations poised for impact. We partner deeply with our clients to understand culture, strategy, and the human dimensions of leadership — going far beyond credentials to identify leaders who will truly transform organizations. CLS brings a rigorous, relationship- centered approach to every search, ensuring that both our clients and candidates experience a process defined by transparency, professionalism, and care.
Contact:
Lauren McElderry
lauren@cummingsleadershipsearch.com
www.cummingsleadershipsearch.com
