Executive Director - Emergency Services

UnityPoint Health; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401K matching

Employee recognition program

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Short and long-term disability

Pet insurance

Daily Pay access to earned wages

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Job summary

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines seeks an Executive Director for Emergency Services (ED & EMS) to provide strategic, operational, and clinical leadership across Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, and Methodist West Hospital.

Lead risk, quality, patient experience, and regulatory compliance while partnering with physicians and leaders to drive care coordination and performance in a complex multi-campus environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in healthcare, nursing, or business.
• At least 5 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience in hospital, outpatient, or clinical settings.
• Demonstrated success improving operational, clinical, quality, and/or patient experience outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead leaders, develop high-performing teams, manage change, and build cross-functional partnerships.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and executive leadership skills.
• Current RN license in the State of Iowa or ability to obtain before start date.
• Professional certification in nursing or healthcare leadership preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required if operating a vehicle for work-related responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, operational, and financial leadership for Emergency Services, Nursing Operations, and assigned clinical/support departments.
• Lead departmental budgeting, resource allocation, operational planning, and performance management.
• Partner with physicians, clinical leaders, and service line stakeholders to advance organizational goals and strengthen care delivery.
• Develop and support high-performing leaders through coaching, mentorship, and succession planning.
• Align and standardize care delivery across multiple campuses while recognizing the unique needs of each patient population.
• Drive operational improvement initiatives using evidence, performance metrics, and outcomes data.
• Collaborate across service lines to enhance patient flow, care coordination, and organizational performance.
• Ensure compliance with specialty program standards and accreditation requirements, including Trauma, Stroke, Residency, and other regulatory distinctions.
• Foster a culture of safety, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support emergency preparedness and organizational response efforts as part of the hospital incident command structure.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Partnership building

Change management

Communication

Regulatory compliance

Education

Master's degree in healthcare, nursing, or business

Job description

Overview

• Area of Interest: Management
• FTE/Hours per pay period: 1.0
• Department: Administration
• Shift: 40 hours/week, exempt
• Job ID: 186026

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines is seeking a dynamic and collaborative healthcare leader to serve as Executive Director, Emergency Services (ED & EMS). This executive leadership role provides strategic, operational, and clinical oversight across key patient care and support service areas spanning Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, and Methodist West Hospital.

Guided by the UnityPoint Health mission, vision, and values, the Executive Director is responsible for advancing operational excellence, quality and safety outcomes, employee engagement, patient experience, financial stewardship, and regulatory compliance across assigned service lines.

This leader will partner closely with physicians, nursing leaders, operational teams, and executive stakeholders to drive care coordination, strengthen organizational performance, and support innovation across a complex, multi-campus environment. The ideal candidate brings strong healthcare leadership experience, a collaborative leadership style, and a passion for developing high-performing teams and advancing exceptional patient care.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

As Executive Director, you will provide leadership and direction for designated service lines, partnering closely with physicians, operational leaders, and executive stakeholders to drive performance, quality, and strategic growth.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic, operational, and financial leadership for Emergency Services, Nursing Operations, and assigned clinical/support departments
• Lead departmental budgeting, resource allocation, operational planning, and performance management
• Partner with physicians, clinical leaders, and service line stakeholders to advance organizational goals and strengthen care delivery
• Develop and support high-performing leaders through coaching, mentorship, and succession planning
• Align and standardize care delivery across multiple campuses while recognizing the unique needs of each patient population
• Drive operational improvement initiatives using evidence, performance metrics, and outcomes data
• Collaborate across service lines to enhance patient flow, care coordination, and organizational performance
• Ensure compliance with specialty program standards and accreditation requirements, including Trauma, Stroke, Residency, and other regulatory distinctions
• Foster a culture of safety, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Support emergency preparedness and organizational response efforts as part of the hospital incident command structure

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required (MSN, MHA, MBA, or other healthcare, nursing, or business-related master's degree)
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience within a hospital, outpatient, or clinical environment, including responsibility for operational, financial, and people leadership
• Demonstrated success improving operational, clinical, quality, and/or patient experience outcomes
• Proven ability to lead leaders, develop high-performing teams, manage change, and build strong cross-functional partnerships
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and executive leadership skills required
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Iowa required (or ability to obtain prior to start date, if applicable)
• Professional certification applicable to nursing or healthcare leadership preferred
• Valid driver’s license required if operating a vehicle for work-related responsibilities