Executive Director

LifeSpring Recovery of Andover
Andover, Kansas (Greater Wichita Area)
Full-Time | On-Site | Exempt

Join a Foundational Launch in Kansas

Ascension Recovery Services (ARS), the nation’s first Substance Use Disorder Management Services Organization (SUD-MSO), has partnered with LifeSpring Recovery of Andover LLC to launch an 80-bed detox and residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment center serving the greater Wichita region.

Projected to open May 2026, LifeSpring Recovery of Andover will address critical behavioral health access gaps across Kansas—bringing structured, evidence-based treatment, strong clinical leadership, and operational rigor to the region.

We are seeking a high-caliber Executive Director (ED) to lead this flagship Kansas facility from pre-opening through sustained operational excellence.

This is not a maintenance role. This is a build role.

Position Overview

The Executive Director is the senior operational and administrative leader of the facility and is accountable for:

• Operational readiness and launch execution

• Regulatory compliance and licensure

• Clinical and quality oversight in partnership with the Clinical Director and Medical Director

• Financial stewardship and census performance

• Team development and culture

• Community and referral relationships

The ED operates in close collaboration with Ascension Recovery Services’ centralized platform (HR, Compliance, Revenue Cycle, IT, Marketing, and Payer Contracting) while maintaining full local accountability for performance.

Core Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership & Launch Execution

• Lead pre-opening readiness including staffing, training, workflows, and policy implementation

• Ensure alignment with ARS SUD-MSO operational standards

• Establish daily management cadence and performance tracking systems

• Implement structured processes for admissions, documentation, clinical programming, and safety

2. Regulatory & Accreditation Oversight

• Ensure compliance with Kansas state licensure requirements

• Prepare and lead Joint Commission accreditation readiness

• Oversee policy implementation aligned with ASAM criteria and evidence-based care

• Ensure adherence to HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and applicable federal/state laws

3. Clinical & Program Oversight

• Partner with Clinical Director and Medical Director to ensure:

  • ASAM-aligned treatment planning

  • Quality documentation standards

  • Appropriate level-of-care decisions

  • Safe detox operations

• Participate in utilization review and quality assurance meetings

• Monitor patient outcomes, length of stay, and discharge planning

4. Financial Performance & Census Growth

• Manage budget and operating margin in collaboration with ARS finance

• Monitor KPIs: census, staffing ratios, labor management, payer mix, AR days

• Collaborate with Business Development to support referral growth

• Ensure disciplined expense control without compromising clinical quality

5. People Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing interdisciplinary team

• Build a culture rooted in accountability, compassion, and professionalism

• Lead structured supervision and performance management processes

• Promote trauma-informed, recovery-oriented leadership practices

6. Community & Market Presence

• Represent LifeSpring Recovery in the Wichita and surrounding markets

• Build relationships with hospitals, community partners, and referral sources

• Serve as a visible leader in addressing Kansas’ behavioral health access gaps

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Behavioral Health, Business, or related field strongly preferred

• Minimum 5+ years of leadership experience in behavioral health, SUD treatment, healthcare, or residential treatment settings

• Demonstrated experience managing multi-disciplinary teams

• Experience with state licensure and regulatory compliance

• Strong financial acumen and operational oversight experience

• Ability to lead in a startup or turnaround environment

Preferred:

• Experience opening a new treatment facility

• Joint Commission survey experience

• Familiarity with ASAM Criteria and SUD levels of care

• Experience in detox or residential treatment settings

Leadership Competencies

• Operational Discipline & Execution

• Financial Acumen

• Regulatory & Compliance Expertise

• High Emotional Intelligence

• Talent Builder & Culture Shaper

• Strategic Thinker with Tactical Follow-Through

• Mission-Driven Leadership

Benefits

Employee Benefits Include:

• Eligible for performance-based incentive compensation.

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

• 401(k) 

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Paid Holidays

• Professional Development Support

• Employee Assistance Program

ARS also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Reasonable Accommodations

The organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. The organization provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you require accommodation to perform the essential functions of this position, please notify your supervisor or Human Resources. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure equal employment opportunities.

Why This Role Matters

Kansas needs sustainable, high-quality addiction treatment capacity.

LifeSpring Recovery of Andover is positioned to become a cornerstone provider in the region’s behavioral health continuum. This Executive Director will shape not only a facility—but a legacy of care.

If you are disciplined, mission-driven, and ready to build something that matters from day one, we invite you to apply.