Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. Acadia operates a growing network of 253 plus behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 11,200 beds in 38 states and Puerto Rico. With more than 23,500 employees serving approximately 75,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the U.S.

Acadia Healthcare’s purpose is to Lead Care With Light and our mission is to be a world-class organization that sets the standard for excellence in the treatment of mental health and addiction concerns. We strive to maintain our standing as a thought leader in the behavioral healthcare industry, providing treatment that is synonymous with compassion and innovation. 

Director of Admissions - Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital  

We are looking for our Director of Admissions at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital. 

Methodist Health System, the region’s most established not-for-profit provider, has partnered with Acadia Healthcare, the nation’s largest standalone behavioral health company, to open a new 96-bed inpatient behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This marks Acadia’s first acute psychiatric facility in Iowa, expanding much-needed access to behavioral health services across Southwest Iowa and the Greater Omaha area.  Just minutes from downtown Omaha, Council Bluffs blends small-town charm with city convenience—offering affordable living, great schools, and a strong sense of community—making it an ideal location for this important new facility.

Scheduled to open in early 2026, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Behavioral Health Hospital will offer a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient care for adults, seniors, and youth, including programs for mood disorders, dual diagnosis, geriatric psychiatry, child & adolescent care, PHP/IOP, and ECT. The facility will play a vital role in addressing the region’s significant behavioral health bed shortage.

What would you do in this role?

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to join our Admissions Department team. As the Admissions Department Leader, you will be responsible for providing direction, implementing strategic plans, and ensuring operation of our admissions and intake processes. Your strong leadership skills, ability to cultivate collaboration, and commitment to quality management will be key in the success of the department. We are a renowned healthcare facility committed to providing exceptional mental health services to our community and as the leader of Intake and Admissions, you make a real difference in the lives of our patients. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide leadership to the Admissions Department and cultivate the function of the department as an integrated team.
• Implement the strategic plan of the business development and marketing department as it pertains to admission to the facility and direct potential clients to treatment.
• Provide leadership in addressing quality management issues related to crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission to the facility.
• Assign/distribute scheduled evaluations, intakes, or admissions as dictated by request and hospital census.
• Conduct quality assurance and quality improvement programs for all crisis triage, evaluation, intake, and admission services.
• Perform follow-up communication functions and generate recommendations for organization leadership.
• Develop and implement program policies and procedures that guide the provision of services.
• Responsible for the hiring decisions for Admissions Department personnel, providing orientation, in-service, and continuing education programs for department staff and other internal positions responsible for crisis triage and/or evaluation services.
• Serve as a clinical liaison with referral sources.
• Work to improve efficiency and quality in delivering services within the department, responsible for developing and meeting departmental goals and objectives.
• Ensure that the department is up to date on and compliant with new laws and regulations.
• Recruit, train, and supervise staff.
• Manage the finances of the department and prepare and monitor budgets and spending to ensure the department operates within allocated funds.
• Determine and implement admissions best practices, promote the hospital, and maintain a satisfied patient base.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s Degree in Human Services Field or RN nursing license required.
• Three plus years’ experience in healthcare-related admissions preferred.
• Three years of work experience as a Director of Admissions in a Behavioral health facility preferred.

LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• May require licensure by the state for this position.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the requirements of the job, management reserves the right to add or remove duties from particular jobs when circumstances (e.g. emergencies, changes in workload, rush jobs or technological developments) dictate.