The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides senior executive leadership oversight for all administrative operations for EPPA, including the Urgency Room acute care clinics. The COO reports directly to the President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The COO translates organizational strategy into actionable plans, ensures optimal financial performance, and drives overall operational efficiency and sustainable growth across the organization.
Key Result Areas: The primary responsibilities for the Chief Operating Officer include, but are not limited to:
Strategic Execution / Operational Oversight
- Translates the Board of Directors and the CEO's long-term vision into actionable, short- and long-term objectives for the organization
- Manages day-to-day operations across multiple departments, including Human Resources, Urgency Room Operations, Information Technology, Marketing, Credentialing, and Scheduling
- Leads organizational change and innovation with minimal disruption
- Communicates proactively and effectively with internal teams, physicians, executives, and external partners
Organizational Performance and Budget Management
- Oversees organization performance, including budget accountability for hospital sites, Urgency Rooms, and administration
- Reports organization performance to the Board of Directors, Finance & Audit Committee, and physician leaders
- Identifies cost-improvement opportunities with accountability for P&L performance
- Negotiates contracts and manages relationships with hospitals, payers, and vendors
- Facilitates a team-based approach to financial stewardship, along with the CEO, CFO, and senior leadership
Urgency Room Operations
- Oversees non-clinical aspects of Urgency Room operations, including landlord relations, staffing, marketing, supplies and inventory management, property management, facility maintenance, website management, facility credentialing (lab/imaging), equipment acquisition/maintenance, reference lab support, and equipment leasing
- Partners with clinical leadership to ensure premium patient care and compliance with applicable legal, credentialing, payer contracts, and other standards
- Explores business development opportunities for expansion of the Urgency Room concept, locally and nationally
Human Resources / Workforce Management
- Oversees staffing, recruitment, training, management, and retention of non-physician employees in the organization
- Develops optimal workforce planning to achieve appropriate staffing levels for all positions, based on clearly defined benchmarked staffing levels, duties, compensation, and performance standards
- Fosters a positive, engaged, inclusive workplace culture that proactively addresses staffing shortages and avoids employee burnout
- Builds high-performing teams; fosters idea sharing, collaboration, and consensus
- Directs the activities of the Vice President of Human Resources
Vendor Management
- Negotiates contracts for outsourced services and systems, including revenue cycle management, HRIS, electronic health records, clinician scheduling, data analytics, information technology support, Urgency Room radiology and lab services; Urgency Room patient scheduling and telemedicine, data security/monitoring, and real estate leases
- For vendors with access to patient information, ensure compliance with privacy protections and security standards
- Establishes durable, transparent vendor relationships, based on benchmarked pricing and service level agreements, facilitating open communication, conflict management, and evolving organizational needs
Data Analytics
- Delivers timely, accurate, complete requests for analysis, based on data-driven, evidence-based analysis, exploring strategic initiatives and organizational improvement
- Liaisons between the Board of Directors, CEO, and physician leadership to provide data support for all aspects of clinician and organizational performance
Information Technology
- Identifies evolving organizational information technology, data storage, and data security needs for current and planned operations, building and maintaining, and overseeing a collaborative team of internal and external experts
- Maintains working expertise for HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity risk standards benchmarks for independent practices
- Ensure that IT supports organization programs in a compliant, risk-aware, and cost-efficient manner that anticipates and updates with technology advancement
Clinician Scheduling
- Oversee physician and non-physician administrative teams to facilitate and implement the organization's clinician scheduling needs
- Identify and communicate challenges, improvements, and evolving needs of the organization, presenting focused solution-based responses and follow-through
Corporate Culture and Communication
- Defines and models impeccable professionalism and standards of behavior, promoting an inspiring culture for all employees
- Communicates frequently and clearly about organizational developments, strategic priorities, expected standards of behavior, and change management, across all levels of organization
Direct Reports: Vice President, Finance; Vice President, Human Resources; Director of Operations, UR; Director of Information Technology; Marketing Director; Scheduling Manager.
Required Education, Skills, And Experience
- A bachelor's degree is generally required, with a master's degree in business administration (MBA), health administration (MHA), or a related field often preferred or required for executive roles
- 8 -10 years in healthcare operations and administration. Specifically, it requires extensive and progressive leadership experience and success within a mid-sized to large, independent, physician-led, and owned single-specialty private practice.
- Experience with Board governance is a must.
- Experience leading payor contracting.
- The ability to provide strong leadership, inspire teams, and develop strategic plans that drive organizational growth
- Solid understanding of financial management, budgeting, and reimbursement models, including value-based care
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex operational challenges in a fast-paced environment
- Exceptional interpersonal and public speaking skills to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders, from staff to board members
- Familiarity with healthcare technologies, such as Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems and data analytics, is increasingly important
Performance Expectations:
- Demonstrate strong leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills
- Maintains courteous, honest, and professional interactions with all stakeholders
- Communicates effectively across diverse teams and organizational levels
- Ensures efficient, compliant, and high-quality operations
- Sets and monitors KPIs across operations, clinical quality, financial performance, and patient satisfaction
Core Competencies:
- Strategic leadership and operational oversight
- Financial and budget management
- Healthcare regulatory compliance
- Quality and patient safety focus
- Data-driven decision-making
- Team leadership and talent development
- Effective communication and collaboration
- Change management and adaptability
- High standards of professionalism and ethics
Working Conditions: (This is not intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all working conditions)
This is a full-time, on-site position based at EPPA's corporate office. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, with a typical work week ranging between 40 and 60 hours, depending on business needs. The COO must be flexible, as occasional evening or weekend work may be required to meet organizational demands or respond to operational issues.
The work is primarily performed in a quiet, professional office environment. While performing the duties of this role, the employee may experience frequent interruptions and regular interaction with staff, leadership, and external partners through in-person meetings, email, and telephone.
Physical demands include the ability to sit for extended periods, perform repetitive hand and finger motions for keyboard and office equipment use, and communicate effectively through speech and hearing. Specific vision requirements include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus for computer and document work.
This description complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and outlines general physical requirements and working conditions. It is not an exhaustive list of duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Performance Standards
- Meet annual performance evaluation objectives
- Establishes priorities appropriately, demonstrating an understanding of the urgency of tasks in the department and company
- Demonstrates high professional ethical standards of integrity, honesty, and a sense of responsibility in the performance of all tasks
- Supports the Employer's mission and vision at all times
- Plans effectively, anticipating issues, taking the initiative to address issues, and developing innovative approaches to resolving issues
- Maintain and enhance, when appropriate, the distribution and flow of information and information management
- Guide organizational planning and effectiveness for maximum operational effectiveness
- Will be a trusted source for precise and accurate information to senior leaders and stakeholders
About Versique
Versique: /ver-seek/
adj. being both versatile and unique; n. a high-performance recruiting firm specializing in executive leadership search, direct hire, and interim hiring solutions.
Versique Executive, Professional, & Interim Recruiting is a locally owned and operated hiring and placement firm based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. With specialized practice areas across our three divisions, Versique delivers tailored expertise to a wide range of industries. What sets us apart is our team of recruiters—seasoned professionals who have worked in the very fields they now hire for, providing unmatched industry insight and connections.
We believe people are more than resumes—they are transformative, unlocking the potential for organizational growth and success.
Versique is proud to be an award-winning company, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal's Fast 50 list for 2023. We are also consistently recognized as a Star Tribune Top Workplace and were named a Best Place to Work in 2022 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
Let's find your people, together.
Versique is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.
