Chief Operating Officer

Northwestern Medical Center; St. Albans (VT); On-site; USD 225,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medical Center is seeking a strategic, collaborative Chief Operating Officer to lead major hospital operations and drive operational excellence in our community. Reporting to the CEO, the COO will partner with physicians and leadership to improve patient experiences, financial performance, and reliability across services.

This executive will mentor leaders, implement growth initiatives, and ensure high standards of quality while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive healthcare leadership experience in a hospital setting.
• Strong financial, operational, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Demonstrated success leading complex operations and multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for major hospital operations and business units.
• Partner with CEO and senior leaders to execute strategic plan and priorities.
• Lead efforts to improve operational performance, service excellence, and financial outcomes.
• Mentor and develop leaders, strengthening succession planning and organizational capability.
• Serve as acting executive leader in the absence of the CEO.

Skills

Healthcare leadership

Strategic planning

Financial acumen

Operations management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration or related

Master's degree preferred

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $225,000 USD to $300,000 USD
  The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

Description

Hiring Range: $225,000 - $300,000

Chief Operating Officer

Lead. Innovate. Make a Difference.

Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and results-driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to help shape the future of healthcare delivery in our community.

As a key member of the executive leadership team reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will play a pivotal role in advancing NMC's mission, driving operational excellence, and leading a diverse portfolio of hospital services. This leader will partner closely with physicians, clinical and operational leaders, board members, and community stakeholders to ensure exceptional patient experiences, strong financial performance, and a culture of high reliability.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished healthcare executive who thrives on leading change, developing talent, improving performance, and creating innovative solutions that strengthen healthcare delivery for patients and families.

What You'll Do

As COO, you will:

• Provide executive leadership for major hospital operations and business units.
• Partner with the CEO and senior leaders to execute NMC's strategic plan and organizational priorities.
• Lead efforts to improve operational performance, quality, service excellence, and financial outcomes.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Build strong partnerships with physicians, medical staff, and community stakeholders.
• Identify and implement growth opportunities that enhance market position and expand services.
• Drive operational and service excellence initiatives across the organization.
• Oversee significant workforce, resource, and operational decisions.
• Mentor and develop leaders, strengthening succession planning and organizational capability.
• Serve as acting executive leader in the absence of the CEO.

Leadership Scope

The COO provides executive oversight for key operational areas, including:

• Laboratory Services
• Facilities & Support Services
• Additional departments and operational functions as assigned

This role works closely with the Board of Directors, executive leadership team, physicians, regulatory agencies, community partners, and employees across the organization.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will:

• Inspire teams around a shared vision and strategic direction.
• Build high-performing leadership teams and develop future talent.
• Lead through change with transparency and resilience.
• Utilize data and financial insights to drive decision-making.
• Improve operational efficiency while maintaining exceptional quality and patient outcomes.
• Create meaningful relationships that enhance collaboration throughout the organization.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive healthcare leadership experience in a hospital setting.
• Demonstrated success leading complex operations and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong financial, operational, and strategic planning capabilities.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, or a related field.
• Experience leading large-scale operational improvement and growth initiatives.
• Experience working within complex healthcare systems and matrixed environments.

Why Northwestern Medical Center?

At NMC, we are committed to delivering exceptional care close to home while fostering a culture where employees and leaders can thrive. We believe our people are our greatest strength and seek leaders who are passionate about improving healthcare, supporting employees, and serving our community.

If you are a collaborative executive leader who is energized by operational excellence, strategic growth, and making a lasting impact, we invite you to explore this opportunity.

Join us in shaping the future of healthcare at Northwestern Medical Center.

Northwestern Medical Center is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds and experiences and make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and organizational need. Northwestern Medical Center provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.