Chief Operating Officer — Health Ops Leader (SoCal)

Wellness Equity Alliance; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Wellness Equity Alliance in Southern California seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead operational performance, clinical integration, and financial optimization across our multi-state healthcare operations. This is an on-site role requiring hands-on leadership and direct engagement with regional teams.

The COO will implement integrated clinical systems, ensure regulatory compliance, supervise regional teams, and drive revenue and contract performance while advancing health equity and service

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, with at least 5 years in a senior/executive leadership role.
• Demonstrated success implementing integrated clinical operations across multiple service lines or regions.
• Proven experience optimizing revenue cycles, contract performance, or reimbursement strategies.
• Strong understanding of multi-state healthcare regulatory environments, licensing, and compliance requirements.
• Excellent financial acumen, including budget oversight and data-driven decision-making.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Southern California; this is a 100% in-person position.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership to regional teams, ensuring full alignment with organizational goals
• Directly implement and enforce integrated clinical operations across all program lines, including:
• HIV street medicine
• Mobile unit-based school health centers
• Reentry programs focused on substance use treatment
• Tribal health programs
• Public health extension services
• Ensure clinical programs are stood up, operated, and demobilized efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements
• Serve as the primary operational interface across divisions, translating executive decisions into on-the-ground execution
• Develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures that standardize and integrate clinical operations across regions and program types
• Represent WEA to external stakeholders — including payers, regulatory bodies, and community partners — regarding operational performance and capacity
• Partner closely with the Controller/CFO to oversee operational budgets, identify cost efficiencies, and ensure fiscal discipline across all programs
• Develop and execute strategies to optimize revenue streams, including contract performance, billing efficiency, reimbursement capture and grant/contract compliance
• Analyze operational and financial data to identify trends, risks, and growth opportunities that inform strategic and budgetary decisions
• Support contract negotiations and renewals by ensuring operational capacity and performance data align with revenue goals
• Directly supervise: Regional Director of Operations, National Director of Administrative Operations, Public Information Officer/Chief Pharmacy Officer
• Lead, coach, and develop regional directors and project managers, ensuring accountability, performance, and professional growth.
• Establish clear reporting structures and communication channels across regional operations leads.
• Delegate authority appropriately to build a scalable, accountable management structure.
• Lead the launch of new clinical and operational programs, defining objectives, deliverables, timelines and success metrics in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Oversee smooth handoff and transition of programs to regional teams post-launch, ensuring continuity and sustained performance.
• Track key performance metrics for all launched programmes to assess impact and guide future strategy.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA, OSHA and payer/contract-specific requirements.
• Develop and enforce performance metrics and quality improvement processes across all clinical and administrative functions.
• Conduct regular data analysis and site monitoring to proactively identify and resolve compliance or performance gaps.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clinics, managed care partners, government agencies, and regulatory bodies.
• Act as a key liaison between internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated, efficient service delivery.

Skills

Executive leadership

Financial acumen

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field

Job description

Wellness Equity Alliance in Southern California seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead operational performance, clinical integration, and financial optimization across our multi-state healthcare operations. This is an on-site role requiring hands-on leadership and direct engagement with regional teams.

The COO will implement integrated clinical systems, ensure regulatory compliance, supervise regional teams, and drive revenue and contract performance while advancing health equity and service