Director of Behavioral Health
Job Description
A 267-bed hospital in Fort Walton Beach, FL — offering an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, a Cancer Care Center, open-heart surgery, and Level II Trauma Center designation — is seeking a Director of Behavioral Health. The hospital operates a main emergency room, a pediatric ER, and two freestanding ERs, serving a broad range of acute care needs across the region.
The role. Reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer, the Director of Behavioral Health leads the day-to-day operations of a 48-bed Behavioral Health Unit with an average daily census of 38, overseeing approximately 24 FTEs. This leader drives clinical quality by identifying and implementing evidence-based practices that advance patient safety and outcomes, while managing variation in clinical practice to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The Director develops and enforces policies and procedures in compliance with legal and regulatory standards, monitors equipment maintenance schedules, and coordinates patient flow through volume forecasting and admission/discharge planning. Budget accountability is central to the role — including annual revenue and expense forecasting, productivity management, premium pay oversight, and identifying cost-reduction opportunities across staffing and supplies.
What we're looking for.
- Bachelor's Degree required
- RN License required
- 5 years of Recent (Within the last year) Acute Care Inpatient Behavioral Health Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager experience required
- Basic Cardiac Life Support must be obtained within 30 days of employment start date
- Nonviolent Crisis Intervention must be obtained within 90 days of employment start date
- Fingerprint required
Schedule. Day shift, full-time.
Compensation. $110,000 - $130,000 per year plus Sign on: No Sign on; Relocation Assistance: Case by Case
Meet Your Recruiter
Brent McKenzie
Franchise Partner (Southwest FL)
Brent McKenzie’s career in hospitality began at his family’s resort, where he learned the business from the ground up. From there, he moved into restaurants, starting as a dishwasher and working through every role a restaurant has to offer. Over 25 years, that hands-on experience grew into more than a decade of management, including opening several new businesses of varying sizes. He capped off his hospitality career running restaurant operations at a large luxury convention hotel. Along the way, he developed a sharp eye for talent: the ability to recognize who’s ready to perform on day one, and who has the potential to grow into something bigger.
When COVID reshaped the hospitality industry in 2020, Brent brought those same instincts into healthcare recruiting. Six years in, he’s built a reputation for taking the time to understand what each client actually needs, not just the job description, but the team dynamics, the culture, and the kind of person who’ll thrive there. For candidates, he’s the kind of recruiter who listens first. He wants to know where you’re trying to go in your career, what you’re looking for in your next role, and what would make a move worth making. That way, when he brings an opportunity to the table, it’s one worth considering.
Brent is dedicated to seeing every search through. His attention to detail, persistence, and genuine interest in the people on both sides of the hire are what his clients and candidates come back for.