TARIK JAMES
Phoenix
Summary
Healthcare operations and behavioral health leader with 20+ years of experience driving operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and team performance across outpatient behavioral health settings. Proven success leading teams of 60+ employees, improving retention from 21% to 81%, increasing clinical performance metrics from 37% to 87%, and implementing scalable processes that enhance patient outcomes, employee engagement, and organizational growth.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
DIRECTOR/GM OF AAU BASKETBALL
AZ Select
Phoenix
02.2020 - Current
- Founded and led a competitive youth basketball program focused on athlete development, operational excellence, and community engagement.
- Built strategic partnerships and sponsorships that increased program visibility and fundraising opportunities.
- Implemented player analytics systems that improved coaching decisions and athlete performance.
- Developed and mentored young athletes, fostering leadership, resilience, and long-term program retention.
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
Meadows Behavioral Health
Surprise
04.2025 - 11.2025
- Redesigned admissions workflows, improving client engagement and creating a more seamless intake experience.
- Implemented digital documentation processes that increased data accuracy and operational efficiency.
- Partnered with clinical teams to streamline transitions of care and improve patient satisfaction.
- Leveraged market and referral trend analysis to expand outreach efforts and diversify admissions sources.
- Led staff development initiatives that strengthened onboarding effectiveness and elevated client experience metrics.
SITE ADMINISTRATOR
Lifewell Behavioral Wellness
Phoenix
10.2016 - 02.2025
- Directed daily operations of adult SMI outpatient behavioral health clinic serving large patient population, leading team of 60+ employees and 13 direct reports to meet operational goals.
- Supervised 13 direct reports, consisting of 4 psychiatrists, 1 clinical director, 4 psychiatric nurses, and 4 clinical coordinators, and over 50 indirect clinical staff members.
- Led workforce planning, talent management, performance improvement initiatives, and regulatory compliance while managing departmental budgets and resource allocation.
- Enhanced admissions processes, boosting client engagement and satisfaction.
- Implemented digital systems for accurate data handling, optimizing workflows.
- Collaborated with clinical teams to streamline client transitions, improving satisfaction.
- Refined outreach strategies based on trend analysis, increasing enrollment diversity.
- Led training sessions to foster excellence, enhancing client satisfaction metrics.
- Cultivated a welcoming atmosphere for potential clients, fostering trust and improving their initial engagement with the facility.
- Evaluated client feedback to refine outreach strategies, leading to noticeable gains in enrollment and improved community engagement.
- Met with CEO and was asked to train out the successful management ideas with the other struggling clinics; Saved the company $75,000 in sanctions as all 4 clinics were meeting metrics within a 5-month span.
- Spearheaded the clinic from an underperforming 37% in contact and assessment/service plan metrics monthly to meeting all metrics at 87% monthly in a 7-month span; Continued to meet metrics for the next 3 years monthly.
- Increased staff retention from 21% to 81% within first year, achieving highest rating for company.
- Developed efficient home visit processes by establishing the 'Dream Team' of select case managers who utilized geo-mapping to schedule visits.
- Created a process for Assessment/Service plan completion called the 'Writer's Guild' that completed clients paperwork in scheduled 2-hour blocks.
- Established a rotating schedule for case managers in the clinic lobby to address outstanding paperwork.
- Evaluated performance metrics in an Excel Spreadsheet that helped identify workflow inefficiencies for the clinic and each clinical team. Resulted in substantial improvements in service delivery.
- Employee satisfaction scored at a 97 percentile, the highest rate yearly for 7 years running.
CLINICAL COORDINATOR
Lifewell Behavioral Wellness
Phoenix
08.2015 - 10.2016
- Led multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and increase client satisfaction through targeted treatment planning.
- Streamlined intake processes, reducing wait times and improving access to care.
- Developed a digital patient monitoring system that improved follow-up care and patient engagement.
- Expanded community partnerships and referral networks, increasing access to behavioral health services.
LEAD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN
Arizona Baptist Children's Services
Phoenix
11.1998 - 02.2016
- Supervised daily activities for children in behavioral health programs.
- Assisted in developing individualized treatment plans for each child.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance care strategies.
- Trained and mentored new staff on best practices in behavioral health support.
- Implemented therapeutic interventions to promote positive behaviors among children.
- Maintained a safe and supportive environment for all participants.
CASE MANAGER II
Lifewell Behavioral Wellness
Phoenix
03.2015 - 08.2015
- Managed a caseload of 40+ clients while consistently exceeding performance targets and service expectations.
- Introduced a real-time case tracking system that increased operational efficiency and improved proactive client support.
- Advocated for client needs and successfully addressed critical service gaps through collaborative resource coordination.
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Glendale Union High School District
Phoenix
08.2000 - 05.2014
- Coordinated IEP development and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve educational outcomes for students with diverse learning needs.
- Implemented data-driven interventions that increased student engagement and academic performance.
- Introduced assistive technology tools that improved accessibility and enhanced classroom instruction.
- Mentored new educators and promoted evidence-based teaching practices.
Education
MASTER OF ARTS - SPECIAL EDUCATION MILD TO MODERATE DISABILITIES
University of Phoenix
Tempe, AZ 08.1998 - 06.2000
BACHELOR OF ARTS - LIBERAL ARTS/PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Concordia University
Irvine, CA 08.1994 - 05.1996
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS - LIBERAL STUDIES
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ 08.1992 - 05.1994
Skills
- Team Leadership & Development
- Strategic Planning
- Operational Excellence
- Performance Improvement
- Budget Management
- Data Analytics & Reporting
- Regulatory Compliance
- AHCCCS & RBHA Compliance
- Process Improvement
- Change Management
- Patient Experience
- Behavioral Health Operations
Timeline
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
Meadows Behavioral Health
04.2025 - 11.2025
DIRECTOR/GM OF AAU BASKETBALL
AZ Select
02.2020 - Current
SITE ADMINISTRATOR
Lifewell Behavioral Wellness
10.2016 - 02.2025
CLINICAL COORDINATOR
Lifewell Behavioral Wellness
08.2015 - 10.2016
CASE MANAGER II
Lifewell Behavioral Wellness
03.2015 - 08.2015
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Glendale Union High School District
08.2000 - 05.2014
LEAD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN
Arizona Baptist Children's Services
11.1998 - 02.2016
MASTER OF ARTS - SPECIAL EDUCATION MILD TO MODERATE DISABILITIES
University of Phoenix
08.1998 - 06.2000
BACHELOR OF ARTS - LIBERAL ARTS/PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Concordia University
08.1994 - 05.1996
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS - LIBERAL STUDIES
Phoenix College
08.1992 - 05.1994