Overview
The Director of Center Operations (DCO) is a senior leader responsible for the performance, culture, and operational success of Verbal Beginnings Centers. This role oversees all Center Directors and ensures each center functions as a financially healthy, culturally aligned, and clinically integrated business unit. The DCO is responsible for implementing strategic initiatives, monitoring center KPIs, leading center expansion or improvement efforts, and serving as the primary liaison between center leadership and the executive team.
Company Overview
Verbal Beginnings is a growing, BHCOE-accredited and BCBA-owned and operated autism therapy provider serving children diagnosed with autism. Join our dedicated and quality-focused clinical team, where you can mentor trained professionals to excel with their ABA skills while receiving mentorship so you can grow as a clinician yourself. Work for a company that believes in educating parents, disseminating evidence-based ABA, collaborating as a team, innovating in the field with new research, and inspiring others to pursue long-term careers helping our clients. VB offers a variety of programs, including our Early Intervention Center program, In-home program, Social Skills program, Feeding program, Diagnostic program, and our new Comprehensive Services program, which includes Speech and OT services! VB also prioritizes, supports, and funds the professional development of our staff to ensure our staff has the resources and knowledge to provide top-quality services to our clients and families.
Responsibilities
- Provide direct supervision to all Center Directors, supporting their execution of organizational strategy through the Balanced Scorecard framework.
- Monitor and manage center-level KPIs, including census, utilization, engagement scores, and financial performance.
- Partner with the CFO and clinical leadership to ensure budget adherence and profitability of each center.
- Drive consistency in center operations through oversight of SOP implementation, tools, and systems (CRM, EMR, HRIS, etc.).
- Develop and execute strategies for new center openings, expansions, or reorgs in alignment with strategic growth goals.
- Mentor and coach Center Directors to build their leadership capacity and management effectiveness.
- Lead quarterly performance reviews of Center Directors and ensure follow-through on staff development and succession planning.
- Monitor center culture audits, client outcomes, and employee satisfaction to ensure alignment with organizational values.
- Facilitate ongoing leadership training and coordination with the Learning & Development team.
- Serve as the operational point person between centers and internal departments, including Clinical, HR, Family Financial Services, Talent Acquisition, and Facilities.
- Collaborate with Clinical Operations and Program Directors to ensure smooth interdisciplinary service delivery (Social Beginnings, Healthy Beginnings, Comprehensive Services, etc.).
- Partner with the Director of Field Operations to coordinate client transitions across programs and settings.
- Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and operational policies across centers.
- Provide guidance to Center Directors on implementation and enforcement of disciplinary action, resignations, and employee relations in collaboration with HR.
- Proactively identify operational risks and lead corrective action planning.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Education, or related field (Master’s preferred)
- Minimum 5-7 years in multi-site operations leadership, preferably in healthcare, behavioral health, or education settings
- Proven experience managing people leaders and driving operational excellence through data-driven decision-making
- Deep understanding of organizational culture, leadership development, and strategic execution
- Proficient in business tools and systems such as Salesforce, Central Reach, ADP, and G Suite
- Strong interpersonal, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills
Work Environment
This job operates onsite from the corporate headquarters as well as onsite at the VB centers.
Travel
Travel onsite to center locations required.
Physical Demands
The physical requirements here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions.
- Movements in response to aggressive and self-injurious behavior
- Ability to move quickly and confidently to intervene in situations when protective carries or environmental arrangement are deemed necessary
- Ability to pursue a bolting student, including but not limited to: running, moving quickly from side to side
- Successful completion of Safety Care training and Re-Certifications
- Including but not limited to: pivoting, knee squats, shuffling front and backwards, and carrying children
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Verbal Beginnings’ personnel policies, procedures, and practices prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age, or sex. Verbal Beginnings’ employment opportunities are provided for applicants with disabilities and reasonable accommodation(s) are made to meet the physical or mental limitations of qualified applicants or employees.
Salary Range
USD $110,000.00 - USD $125,000.00 /Yr.
