SVP - Chief Operating Officer - Baroness

Erlanger Health System • Chattanooga, TN

1d

About The Position

As the SVP, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Erlanger’s flagship Baroness Hospital, you will be the top executive responsible for driving strategic vision, operational excellence, and financial performance. This role provides comprehensive operational management for Erlanger’s Baroness Hospital and system clinical support leaders across a portfolio of projects and teams. This role includes full operational oversight of the hospital's status as a Level I Trauma Center. This individual will lead collaborative efforts with healthcare partners on strategic and operational issues and provide oversight and guidance to departmental/hospital operations as assigned. In addition will be expected to collaborate with other executive leaders to meet strategic and operations goals and established KPIs. The SVP, COO reports directly to the System EVP, Chief Operating Officer (EVP,COO) and is responsible for managing a mixed team structure:
Direct Reports: VP Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Erlanger Baroness, VP of Radiology, VP of Laboratory, VP of Surgical Services, VP of Respiratory, VP Pharmacy, VP Physical Therapy
Matrixed Clinical Support Services Oversight: Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO)
Matrixed Team Oversight: Human Resources, Finance, Patient Experience, Marketing department, and Contracted Services.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Hospital Administration (MHA), Business Administration (MBA), or related field.
• 10 years of progressive senior executive leadership experience in a complex acute care hospital setting.
• 5-8 years of experience leading multiple departments/business units within a complex acute care hospital/system setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in healthcare regulations, complex hospital operations, and patient care standards, with a proven track record of ensuring survey readiness.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Strong financial acumen and operations management expertise.
• Proven ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with medical staff, academic partners, and physician leaders to drive clinical quality and growth.

Nice To Haves

• Clinical background a plus but not required.
• Experience leading a hospital affiliated with a medical school or university health system.
• Knowledge of DNV accreditation standards.
• Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) credential.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Vision: Develop and implement strategic plans for Baroness Hospital that align with Erlanger Health System's overall mission and vision.
• Strategic Leadership & Vision: Identify critical issues and market forces impacting the hospital's future, guiding organizational adaptation and growth.
• Strategic Leadership & Vision: Drive business development initiatives and explore opportunities to enhance service offerings, community impact, and market share.
• Operational & Clinical Management: Manage all day-to-day operations of the Level I Trauma Center and other departments to ensure efficiency, high quality care, and safety standards are consistently met.
• Operational & Clinical Management: Ensure continuous compliance with rigorous state, federal, and American College of Surgeons (ACS) standards required for a Level I Trauma designation, including robust performance improvement and patient safety programs.
• Operational & Clinical Management: Oversee clinical and nursing functions in direct collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) to ensure alignment of medical staff activities, quality outcomes, and patient care delivery.
• Operational & Clinical Management: Lead the facility through crises and emergencies, ensuring effective response protocols and operational continuity.
• Operational & Clinical Management: Champion a culture of safety, quality, and continuous performance improvement, serving as the executive leader for all accreditation and regulatory activities at the facility.
• Financial & Performance Accountability: Manage the hospital's financial performance to the budget and long-term financial goals, including fiscal management and revenue generation processes.
• Financial & Performance Accountability: Oversee and analyze all Monthly Operating Reports (MORs), presenting comprehensive performance data, financial metrics, and operational updates to the System COO.
• Financial & Performance Accountability: Direct contract negotiations and manage compliance with commercial payers and external vendors, working closely with the matrixed Finance leader.
• Talent Management & Culture: Build and retain an engaged and high-performing workforce across all direct and matrixed teams.
• Talent Management & Culture: Foster a positive and inclusive organizational culture that emphasizes accountability, high employee engagement, and patient, physician, and staff satisfaction.
• Talent Management & Culture: Appraise leadership team performance, provide coaching, and ensure robust succession plans are in place, collaborating with Human Resources.
• Stakeholder & Community Relations: Serve as the primary liaison for the hospital, cultivating strong, collaborative relationships with the medical staff, system leadership community leaders, government agencies, and the public.
• Stakeholder & Community Relations: Enhance the hospital's reputation within the community by promoting awareness of services, especially those unique to a Level I Trauma Center.
• Stakeholder & Community Relations: Ensure alignment and effective communication between the hospital and system-level matrixed departments.
• Stakeholder & Community Relations: Serve as a key advocate for the hospital and health system, engaging in local, state, and regional advocacy efforts to support the hospital's mission and community health needs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive