VP, Hospital Operations

Kaiser Permanente; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente in Oakland seeks a Vice President for Hospital Operations Strategy & Performance to lead systemwide performance strategy and execution at medical centers and regions. The role links enterprise strategy with hospital operations, value-based performance, and regulatory readiness, translating priorities into measurable outcomes.

You will define national strategies, drive operational performance with hospital leadership across finance, quality, care delivery, and IT, and establish

Qualifications

• Ten years of progressive leadership in healthcare operations/strategy.
• Eight years of experience minimum.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and advance the national hospital operations strategy.
• Translate enterprise priorities into clear expectations for hospital performance.
• Align strategy across Hospital Operations, Medical Groups, and Health Plan partners.
• Ensure strategy is scalable, standardized, and measurable.
• Improve hospital operations performance across quality, utilization, access, and cost.
• Establish enterprise-level monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
• Represent Hospital Operations in governance forums and cross-enterprise workgroups.
• Provide executive-level communication and analysis to senior leadership.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Change management

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Job Summary:

The VP (Vice President) , Hospital Operations Strategy & Performance serves as a senior enterprise and operational leader responsible for advancing systemwide hospital performance strategy while ensuring execution at the medical center and regional level.

This role integrates:

• Enterprise strategy leadership (e.g., Hospital Operations, value-based performance, regulatory readiness), and
• Operational execution (e.g., hospital throughput, quality, workforce, and cost performance)

The leader acts as a critical connector across Hospital Operations, Health Plan, and Permanente Medical Groups, translating policy, payment models, and strategic priorities into measurable operational outcomes across hospitals.

Accountable for both:

• Designing systemwide strategies, and
• Driving operational performance through influence and (where applicable) direct hospital accountability

this role ensures quality, affordability, access, and regulatory performance improve in a measurable, sustainable way.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Enterprise Hospital Strategy
• Define and advance the national hospital operations strategy
• Translate enterprise priorities into clear expectations for hospital performance and operations
• Align strategy across Hospital Operations, Medical Groups, and Health Plan partners
• Ensure strategy is grounded in scalability, standardization, and measurable outcomes
• Operational Alignment and Performance
• Works in partnership with hospital operations, finance, quality, and care delivery leaders to improve hospital operations performance across quality, utilization, access, and cost.
• Identifies opportunities to standardize and scale best practices that improve Hospital operations, quality metrics, and member experience.
• Supports hospitals in preparing for and responding to CMS audits, surveys, and regulatory oversight
• Establishes enterprise-level monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track hospital operational performance and readiness.
• Communication and Relationship Management
• Builds trusted relationships with senior leaders across Hospital Operations, Health Plan, Permanente Medical Groups, Finance, Quality, Compliance, and IT.
• Represents Hospital Operations in hospital-related governance forums, strategy discussions, and cross-enterprise workgroups.
• Provides executive-level communication, presentations, and analysis to support informed decision-making by senior leadership.
• Facilitates alignment and shared accountability across regions and medical centers through structured governance and influence.
• Leadership and Change Management
• Leads complex, cross-functional initiatives requiring coordination across multiple entities without direct authority.
• Acts as a change agent to support hospitals and regions
• Promotes a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensures that operational, clinical, and financial perspectives are integrated into Hospital strategy and execution.
• Hospital Operations Performance
• Drive improvement in key operational domains
• Throughput and length of stay
• Capacity management and access
• Quality and patient safety
• Workforce performance and productivity
• Joint Operating Committees: structure, partnerships, best practices
• Partner with market COOs to ensure consistent execution and accountability
• Identify and address systemwide performance gaps

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

• Minimum ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, strategy, government programs, or hospital operations.
• Minimum eight (8) years of experience.

Education

• Bachelors Degree required.

License, Certification, Registration

• N/A

Additional Requirements:

• Experience leading complex, enterprise-level initiatives across hospitals, health plans, and physician organizations.
• Strong executive communication, analytical, and change leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree (Health Administration, Public Health, Business, Policy, or related field) preferred.