Director - Inpatient Operations - Palmer

gundersenhealth; West Union (IA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gundersen Health, operating as Emplify Health by Gundersen Palmer in West Union, Iowa, is seeking a Director of Inpatient Operations to lead multiple inpatient departments and drive accountability, quality, and operational excellence.

This leadership role balances strategy with day-to-day operations, requires strong clinical background, and calls for partnering with physicians, managers, and staff to improve patient care. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field preferred, or ability to complete within 5 years.
• 5–7 years of experience leading system-level work in healthcare.
• Strong leadership experience in health care.
• Experience overseeing multiple departments or a diverse operational portfolio.
• Strong clinical background, preferably nursing.
• Experience as a PDN, charge nurse, quality leader, or similar clinical leadership role is a plus.
• Experience in rural or critical access hospital settings is helpful.
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to hold teams accountable.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of operational plans aligned with system strategy.
• Oversee fiscal performance, resource management, and cost-effective operations.
• Build, coach, and hold accountable a team of managers and staff across departments.
• Drive quality, safety, service, and patient experience improvements.
• Partner with physicians, leaders, and staff to remove barriers and improve care delivery.
• Support a culture of collaboration, respect, communication, and growth.
• Participate in senior leadership call rotation with four leaders sharing coverage.
• Contribute to system-level committees and initiatives.

Skills

Healthcare leadership

People leadership

Relationship-building

Quality improvement

Clinical leadership

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Love + medicine is who we are, it's what we do, it's why people want to work here.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Director of Inpatient Operations

Location: West Union, Iowa

Emplify Health by Gundersen Palmer is looking for a Director of Inpatient Operations who can lead across a diverse set of inpatient departments, build strong relationships, and drive accountability, quality, and operational excellence. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys working across teams, and understands both the clinical and operational sides of patient care.

This position serves as a key link between system strategy and day-to-day operations. The Director is responsible for anticipating market and environmental trends, responding to changing care delivery models, and leading the area of responsibility in support of Emplify Health by Gundersen's mission and goals. The role requires a leader who can balance strategy, fiscal stewardship, people leadership, and clinical quality while working closely with managers, clinicians, and system leaders.

What you'll do

• Lead the development and execution of operational plans aligned with system strategy
• Oversee fiscal performance, resource management, and cost-effective operations
• Build, coach, and hold accountable a team of managers and staff across multiple departments
• Drive quality, safety, service, and patient experience improvements
• Partner with physicians, leaders, and staff to remove barriers and improve care delivery
• Support a culture of collaboration, respect, communication, and professional growth
• Participate in senior leadership call rotation with four leaders sharing coverage
• Contribute to system-level committees and initiatives

What we're looking for

• Master's degree in a related field preferred, or the ability to complete a master's degree within 5 years of starting the role
• 5 to 7 years of experience leading system-level work
• Strong leadership experience in health care
• Experience overseeing multiple departments or a diverse operational portfolio
• Strong clinical background, preferably in nursing
• Experience as a PDN, charge nurse, quality leader, or similar clinical leadership role is a plus
• Experience in critical access hospital or rural health clinic settings is helpful
• Strong relationship-building skills and a proven ability to hold teams accountable

About the community

West Union, Iowa is a welcoming small town where you can build a meaningful career and still feel connected to the community around you. It offers a friendly atmosphere, beautiful outdoor spaces, and a downtown with real character. If you're looking for a place that feels grounded, supportive, and easy to call home, West Union may be the right fit.

We inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating. This is our purpose. Together with our values - belonging, respect, excellence, accountability, teamwork and humility - our pillars set our foundation and our future.

Equal Opportunity Employer