Executive Director - Mental Health Centers & Rehabilitation

Role: Executive Director - Mental Health Centers & Rehabilitation

Location: Mumbai

Role Type: Full-Time - Senior Leadership

Team Size: Large Cross-Functional Leadership Teams

About The Role:

We are seeking a visionary, purpose-driven, and results-oriented Executive Director to lead two of our most strategic healthcare verticals. This is a unique leadership opportunity for an individual who can successfully combine commercial excellence with a deep commitment to creating meaningful social impact.

The Executive Director will have end-to-end accountability for the strategic direction, operational excellence, financial performance, growth, innovation, and culture across both verticals. As the overall business leader, this role will serve as the single point of accountability for delivering sustainable business outcomes while advancing the organization's mission of making high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services more accessible, affordable, and impactful.

Leading a diverse team of business and clinical leaders, the ED will be responsible for building scalable, future-ready organizations, driving operational efficiencies, fostering innovation, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and ensuring the highest standards of patient care and service delivery. The role requires balancing commercial success with clinical excellence, creating an environment where people, purpose, and performance come together to achieve long-term, sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership:

- Develop and execute short-term and long-term strategic roadmaps ensuring alignment with the organization's vision, mission, and growth objectives.

- Establish and drive a unified strategic vision across both verticals while recognizing and addressing the distinct operational, clinical, and commercial requirements of each business.

- Identify, evaluate, and pursue new market opportunities, strategic partnerships, innovative business models, and expansion initiatives to drive sustainable growth and enhance market presence.

- Lead the annual strategic planning, business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and goal-setting processes, ensuring clear priorities, measurable outcomes, and effective resource allocation across both verticals.

2. Mental Health Unit:

- Provide strategic leadership and drive the growth, performance, and sustainability of all business verticals, including Corporates, Schools, Colleges, Communities and other digital mental health services and Technology platforms.

- Develop and execute business development strategies by forging strategic partnerships, institutional collaborations, and alliances that expand reach, enhance service offerings, and create new revenue opportunities.

- Ensure the highest standards of clinical governance, quality of care, ethical practice, regulatory compliance, and risk management across all mental health programmes and services.

- Partner closely with the Clinical Leadership team to align business strategy with clinical excellence, ensuring sustainable growth while delivering measurable mental health outcomes and an exceptional patient experience.

- Champion innovation, thought leadership, and brand positioning to establish the organization as a trusted, credible, and leading mental health organization, recognized for its quality, impact, and commitment to accessible mental healthcare.

3. Rehabilitation Unit:

- Provide strategic leadership and assume end-to-end accountability for the growth, operational excellence, and financial performance of the Mental Health Rehabilitation vertical which includes but is not restricted to In-Patient Rehabilitation Services (IPD), Hospital & Healthcare Provider Partnerships, Outpatient and Community based Rehabilitation services.

- Drive sustainable business growth by improving excellence and optimizing revenue, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional patient and caregiver experiences.

- Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with hospitals, psychiatrists, healthcare providers, insurers, and referral networks to enhance patient access, continuity of care, and referral volumes across geographies.

- Ensure the highest standards of clinical governance, patient safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, accreditation, and ethical practices across all rehabilitation facilities.

- Lead the expansion and modernization of rehabilitation services by identifying new growth opportunities, establishing new centers, expanding care capacity, and introducing innovative care models that address evolving mental healthcare needs.

- Partner closely with clinical leadership to ensure rehabilitation programmes are evidence-based, outcome-focused, and aligned with the organization's commitment to delivering holistic, patient-centric mental healthcare.

4. Business Continuity & Accountability:

- Own and drive the complete business continuity and accountability for both the verticals.

- Drive revenue targets, cost management, and margin improvement across both businesses.

- Build financial discipline and rigorous reporting structures within the teams.

- Present business performance, forecasts, and growth plans to the Board regularly.

- Identify and manage risks including financial, operational, clinical, and reputational.

5. Operations and Compliance:

- Ensure smooth, efficient, and scalable operations across all business lines.

- Build strong Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and ensure adherence across teams.

- Oversee all licensing, regulatory, and statutory compliance requirements for both verticals.

- Drive quality standards and accreditation processes where applicable.

- Ensure clinical governance frameworks are in place and functioning effectively.

6. Stakeholder Management and External Relations:

- Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders including government bodies, regulators, hospital networks, academic institutions, NGOs, and corporate clients.

- Represent the organisation at industry forums, conferences, and media platforms.

- Drive PR and brand positioning for both the Mental Health and the Rehabilitation Unit.

- Manage investor, donor, and grant relationships where applicable.

Qualifications & Education:

- MBA from a reputed institution is preferred; candidates with equivalent leadership experience will be considered.

- Background in Healthcare Management, Hospital Administration, Public Health, or Psychology/Psychiatry is a strong advantage.

- Clinical qualification is not mandatory but will be an added advantage.

- Additional certifications in Leadership, Business Strategy, or Healthcare Management are a plus.

Experience Required:

- Minimum 18 to 22 years of total experience with at least 10 to 12 years in a senior leadership or CEO/COO/Business Head role.

- Proven experience in healthcare, mental health, rehabilitation, hospitals, or allied health sectors is strongly preferred.

- Demonstrated experience in managing multiple business verticals simultaneously.

- Strong track record of owning and driving growth across businesses.

- Experience in building and scaling organisations or business units from the ground up.

- Exposure to both B2B (corporates, institutions) and B2C (direct consumer) business models.

- Experience working with clinical teams and understanding of clinical governance is a significant advantage.

Competencies & Skill Set:

1. Business & Strategic Skills:

- Strong business acumen with ability to think both strategically and operationally.

- Ability to build and execute multi-year growth strategies.

- Financial literacy including cost center management, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.

- Strong business development and partnerships capability.

- Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action and innovation.

2. Leadership & People Skills:

- Exceptional leadership presence that inspires trust and followership across large, diverse teams.

- Strong ability to build, mentor, and retain senior leadership teams.

- Collaborative yet decisive with the ability to drive consensus while making tough calls.

- High emotional intelligence, especially critical in a mental health and rehabilitation context.

- Ability to lead through ambiguity and drive clarity in complex, fast-changing environments.

3. Operational & Clinical Sensitivity:

- Deep understanding of healthcare operations, clinical workflows, and quality standards.

- Ability to balance business outcomes with clinical ethics and patient-first values.

- Knowledge of regulatory frameworks in mental health and rehabilitation (NIMHANS guidelines, MRC Act, state regulations, etc.).

- Understanding of accreditation bodies and quality frameworks in healthcare.

4. Communication & Stakeholder Skills:

- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to speak confidently to Boards, clients, media, and clinical teams alike.

- Strong relationship management with institutions, government, corporates, hospitals, and communities.

- Ability to position and build brand credibility in the mental health and rehabilitation space.

- Comfortable with public speaking, thought leadership, and representing the organisation externally.

What We Are Looking For:

Beyond qualifications and experience, we are looking for someone who genuinely believes in the power of mental health and rehabilitation care. Someone who understands that this is not just a business, it is a mission. The right person will bring sharp business thinking, strong people leadership, and deep empathy for the communities we serve. If you are someone who wants to build something meaningful while also building a strong, sustainable business, this role is for you.