Autism Therapy Services (ATS), a respected and growing ABA therapy provider in Houston, Texas, is seeking its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This national search aims to identify a compassionate, operationally grounded leader who can guide the organization through its next chapter of growth and evolution.

 

This is a unique opportunity to lead an organization that is deeply trusted by its community and positioned for thoughtful growth. With over 55 clients and strong demand for services, ATS is ready to transition from founder-led operations to a more formalized and scalable operating model. The co-founders are stepping back from day-to-day responsibilities and are seeking a CEO who can take the lead in shaping the company’s leadership structure, stabilizing operations, and strengthening the systems needed for growth.

 

ATS is grounded in care, connection, and the belief that children thrive when clinical excellence is paired with consistency and compassion. The organization offers a meaningful platform for a values driven, operationally strong leader to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families across the Houston region.. (https://asdtherapyservices.com/) 

 

About Autism Therapy Services (ATS)

 

Autism Therapy Services (ATS) is a privately owned ABA therapy provider based in Houston, Texas, serving more than 55 children through intensive, individualized applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment. With both clinic-based and in-home service delivery models, ATS is committed to delivering high-quality, personalized care that supports meaningful progress for children diagnosed with autism and provides peace of mind to their families.

 

ATS was founded and is currently led by two practicing BCBAs who have built the company from the ground up. Their clinical expertise and deep relationships with clients have shaped the organization’s hands-on, family-focused approach. Today, ATS operates with a small but passionate team and is poised for its next phase of growth. With high demand for services, a stable client base, and a reputation for care that feels personal and impactful, the organization offers a strong foundation for the right leader to build upon.

 

As the founders look to step back from day-to-day operations, the next CEO will have the rare opportunity to shape the company’s first formal leadership structure, bringing greater clarity, consistency, and growth to its clinical, operational, and financial systems. The Houston market offers tremendous growth potential, and the incoming leader will be supported by founders who are ready to empower a new executive to lead with confidence and vision.

 

ABOUT THE ROLE

 

As the CEO of Autism Therapy Services (ATS), you will step into a meaningful leadership role guiding a hands-on, family-centered ABA provider through an important period of transition. With the founders preparing to step back from day-to-day operations, the CEO will have the authority and support needed to lead the organization into its next chapter while honoring the clinical excellence, relationships, and values that define ATS.

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Over the next 12–24 months, the CEO will be responsible for establishing the operational infrastructure needed to support consistency, efficiency, and scale. This includes evaluating and strengthening existing systems, clarifying roles and responsibilities across the organization, and ensuring that day-to-day operations are both effective and replicable. A key expectation of this role is the ability to assess what is currently working, identify gaps in systems or processes, and implement practical solutions that bring greater reliability to scheduling, billing, staffing, training, and internal communication.

 

The CEO will be expected to strengthen the workforce by improving staff retention, enhancing training and support structures, and ensuring that management roles and performance expectations align with the organization’s current and future needs. This includes thoughtfully evaluating leadership effectiveness, addressing areas of inconsistency or underperformance, and reinforcing a culture that values accountability, diversity, and professional growth. The successful leader will bring a steady, transparent approach to people leadership, balancing compassion with clear expectations to create a stable, engaged, and high-performing team.

 

In addition to stabilizing operations, the CEO will play a central role in reigniting and sustaining organizational growth. ATS is seeking a leader who can evaluate current business development and marketing strategies, assess return on investment, and strengthen the organization’s visibility within the community and online. This includes using financial and operational data to understand client trends, utilization, retention, and revenue performance, as well as building budgets and tracking financial inputs and outputs by functional area to ensure resources are being used effectively in support of growth.

 

Reporting directly to the founders, the CEO will oversee business operations, clinical support structures, and organizational priorities with transparency and accountability. A central part of this work will include strengthening the management team, establishing clear expectations, and supporting staff and families through a period of organizational change. The CEO will need to bring a calm, grounded presence to address staffing challenges, operational inconsistencies, and the need for clearer communication and alignment across the company. With a strong grasp of service operations, the CEO will help bring structure and reliability to both clinic-based and home-based programs.

 

This is an exceptional opportunity for a relational, steady, and operationally strong leader to bring stability, strengthen culture, and help shape the future of an organization that is deeply committed to making a meaningful difference for children and families in the Houston area.

 

CANDIDATE PROFILE

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To be successful leading ATS, the “Ideal" candidate should:

 

• Bring at least five to seven years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare, human services, or a related service delivery environment, with demonstrated accountability for operations, people, and outcomes.

• Have experience in for-profit healthcare or a service-driven business environment, with a hands-on responsibility for financial sustainability, revenue cycle processes, and margin management.

• Bring experience leading organizations through growth or transition, ideally in a setting that has navigated start up or early growth phases where systems, processes, and leadership structures needed to be built, strengthened, or professionalized.

• Have experience managing community-based or home-based service models, with preference for candidates who have worked in applied behavior analysis, pediatric therapy, behavioral health, or other community-delivered care settings.

• Demonstrate strong operational leadership experience, including ownership of staffing models, workforce challenges, scheduling systems, and day-to-day execution.

• Bring experience leading teams through organizational change, cultural shifts, or periods of stabilization, showing an ability to guide staff with steadiness, transparency, and compassion while setting clear expectations and follow-through.

• Demonstrate integrity, consistency, and transparency, fostering trust and accountability with staff, families, and founders through clear, direct communication.

• Exhibit high emotional intelligence, with the ability to navigate a wide range of personalities, cultural backgrounds, and generational dynamics, while maintaining a positive and professional working environment.

• Lead with a people-centered, team-first approach, recognizing the importance of building culture through small gestures, staff recognition, and support while also setting and enforcing performance standards.

• Be operationally and financially disciplined, with the ability to assess, implement, and optimize systems related to billing, HR, scheduling, and clinical delivery. The CEO should be comfortable designing, improving, and enforcing systems and processes to streamline operations and ensure efficiency.

• Understand the intricacies of ABA service delivery, including in-home and clinic-based care, ABA billing practices, and the staffing and supervision requirements to deliver consistent, high-quality services to children and families.

• Bring a stabilizing leadership presence, capable of improving retention, reducing burnout, and creating consistency across key administrative and operational roles.

• Be a builder of systems and infrastructure, prepared to establish clear roles, professionalize leadership layers (including hiring multiple BCBAs and a future Clinical Director), and create a foundation for long-term growth and scalability.

• Show resilience and calm under pressure, able to address performance issues, cultural challenges, and demanding family dynamics thoughtfully and directly.

• Bring strong alignment and partnership skills, particularly in working closely with founders (Jamila and Anita) to ensure clear decision-making structures, clarity of leadership roles, and consistent internal messaging.

• Possess business development awareness, including evaluating outsourced functions, marketing effectiveness, and client growth strategies, with an eye toward growth and expansion in a high-demand regional market.

• Hold at minimum a bachelor’s degree, with preference for candidates who have advanced training or experience in business, operations, behavioral health, or healthcare leadership.

• Be based in or willing to relocate to Houston, Texas, with the expectation of being highly present and engaged in day-to-day leadership, in a hands-on, fast-paced ABA therapy provider serving a highly engaged and diverse community of families. 

 

LOCATION

 

Houston is a dynamic and diverse city located in southeastern Texas and is the fourth largest city in the United States. Known for its global culture, energy sector leadership, and commitment to innovation, Houston offers a vibrant blend of world class amenities, rich cultural heritage, and family friendly neighborhoods. With a metropolitan population exceeding seven million, Houston serves as a major hub for healthcare, education, aerospace, and technology, and is home to the renowned Texas Medical Center and NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

 

The city’s economy is one of the most diverse in the nation, supported by strong industries in energy, life sciences, logistics, and entrepreneurship. Houston’s neighborhoods offer a wide variety of living experiences, from walkable urban districts to quiet suburban communities, making it appealing to professionals, families, and individuals of all backgrounds. Its multicultural population brings with it a thriving food scene, dozens of international festivals, and a deep sense of community pride.

 

Residents enjoy year-round access to parks, museums, theaters, professional sports, and more than 300 days of sunshine annually. Houston’s affordability, cultural richness, and robust economy make it a highly desirable place to live and work.

 

For more information, visit the Greater Houston Partnership, Visit Houston, Houston Chronicle, or Houston Business Journal.

 

An attractive compensation package and benefits awaits our “ideal” candidate. For more information, please contact: