Rural Lead, Central Corridor

Alberta Health Services; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 79,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Alberta Health Services (AHS) seeks a visionary Rural Lead for the Central Corridor to steer a portfolio of rural hospitals. You will work with Site Leaders to ensure efficient operations, strong patient care, and sustained performance under the Hospital-Based Leadership framework.

The role demands strategic leadership, collaboration with multiple stakeholders, and a commitment to innovation in a dynamic rural health environment. Excellent organizational and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in a management role in a healthcare environment.
• Progressive leadership experience in rural healthcare delivery.
• Current professional registration with an applicable regulatory body.
• A valid Alberta driver’s license is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and operational oversight for a group of rural hospitals within Central Corridor.
• Drive performance across clinical operations, patient flow, quality and safety.
• Oversee workforce planning, financial stewardship, capital investments and procurement.
• Engage with stakeholders, care givers and community partners to advance hospital-based leadership goals.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Change management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in healthcare management or business administration

Job description

Alberta Health Services (AHS) seeks a visionary, strategic leader for the role of Rural Lead - Central Corridor. AHS is a nation-leading hospital-based service provider operating 106 facilities. Dedicated to excellence in patient care, AHS serves over 4.5 million people across the province.The Rural Lead is a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for providing strategic direction and operational leadership across a portfolio of rural hospitals in Alberta. The role champions excellence in patient care, operational effectiveness, and community partnership while supporting hospital-based Site Leaders in the successful implementation of the Hospital-Based Leadership (HBL) framework. The Rural Lead drives performance across clinical operations, service delivery, patient flow, quality and safety, workforce planning, financial stewardship, capital investments, procurement, innovation, and stakeholder engagement.This role resides in the Central Corridor. Bordered by the Rocky Mountains on the west and Saskatchewan to the east and covers Red Deer, Drumheller, Camrose, Wetaskiwin, and surrounding communities, Central Corridor serves over 120,000 people living in Red Deer and the 103 surrounding communities. It is supported by Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, a regional referral centre, and local healthcare centres, primary care, and long-term care in the corridor. With a diverse economy, varied landscape, and charming cities and small towns, Central Corridor offers a beautiful, peaceful backdrop to a fulfilling career.

Description:

Reporting to a Chief Operating Officer, the Rural Lead will provide leadership and operational oversight for an assigned grouping of acute care delivery sites, supporting hospital-based Site Leaders to operate in a Hospital-Based Leadership (HBL) framework. The Rural Lead works collaboratively to achieve established targets through accountability and performance management framework which includes the following domains: service configuration, clinical care delivery, patient flow, quality improvement and innovation, financial management, workforce management, capital expenditures, procurement, community engagement, and risk management and safety.The Rural Lead will collaborate with Site Leaders, COOs, peer Rural Leads, medical leadership, Corridor Lead, and internal and external stakeholders, including community leaders and representatives.

• Union: Exempt
• Unit and Program: Clinical Operations
• Negotiable Location: Within Central Zone
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 24-NOV-2026
• Date Available: 07-DEC-2026
• Length of Shift in weeks: 2
• Shifts per cycle: 10
• Shift Pattern: Days
• Days Off: Saturday/Sunday
• Minimum Salary: $57.07
• Maximum Salary: $100.39
• Vehicle Requirement: Driver's License, Vehicle Required

• Classification: Rural Lead
• Union: Exempt
• Unit and Program: Clinical Operations
• Primary Location: AHS Michener Bend
• Location Details: As Per Location
• Negotiable Location: Within Central Zone
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 24-NOV-2026
• Date Available: 07-DEC-2026
• Hours per Shift: 7.75
• Length of Shift in weeks: 2
• Shifts per cycle: 10
• Shift Pattern: Days
• Days Off: Saturday/Sunday
• Minimum Salary: $57.07
• Maximum Salary: $100.39
• Vehicle Requirement: Driver's License, Vehicle Required

Required Qualifications:

The successful candidate possesses an undergraduate degree in a healthcare profession, healthcare management or business administration.The position requires a minimum of 5 years in a management capacity in a healthcare environment.Leadership experience in rural healthcare delivery is also required.A current professional registration with an applicable regulatory body is also typically required.A combination of education, credentials, and experience may be considered.

Additional Required Qualifications:

The position requires progressive leadership experience in health services delivery, and a demonstrated clear pattern of professional and personal development. The incumbent is an effective communicator with strong organizational skills, customer focused orientation and commitment to provide a quality service. Leadership skills including demonstrated ability and comfort with decision-making responsibilities, coaching and teaching with an ability to inspire and build confidence in others is vital. Demonstrated ability to manage change and create innovative solutions for complex and diverse issues. The position requires an ability to manage resources in a complex environment, and an ability to build and foster collaboration with stakeholders, care givers, senior management and external agencies.A valid Alberta’s driver’s license is required for this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree preferred.

Please note:

All postings close at 23:59 MT of the postingend date indicated.

Security Screening:

A satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search is required prior to your first day of work. Additionally, all employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any charges or convictions that may occur during their employment with AHS.

Healthy Albertans. Healthy
Communities. Together.

We’re passionate about what we do. Our team of skilled and dedicated health care professionals, support staff, and physicians promote wellness and provide health care all across Alberta.

Everything we do at AHS reflects a patient and family centred approach; it’s about putting patients’ and families’ experiences, priorities and trust first.

We are an equal opportunity employer. AHS values the diversity of the people and communities we serve and is committed to attracting, engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.

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