Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Garner, North Carolina
Charlotte, NC (Ballantyne)
Posted: 08-May-26
Location: Camden, South Carolina
Type: Full Time
Sector:
Required Education:
Internal Number: COO05082026
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior executive leader at Sandhills Medical and a key member of the C-suite reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The COO holds enterprise-wide accountability for the strategic direction and day-to-day operational performance of Sandhills Medical as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This role is both strategic and hands-on: the COO is expected to be visibly present across sites, actively supporting clinical and administrative teams, removing barriers to effective care delivery, and modeling a culture of excellence from the front lines. The COO translates the organization’s mission and strategic goals into measurable results while remaining accessible and engaged at the operational level — ensuring that the work happening in every department and at every site reflects Sandhills Medical’s commitment to high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-effective community healthcare.
Executive & Strategic Leadership
• Serves as the primary operational leader of Sandhills Medical, partnering with the CEO to shape and execute the organization’s long-term strategic vision.
• Translates board-level and CEO directives into operational strategies, goals, and accountability structures across all departments and service lines.
• Leads annual and multi-year operational planning processes, ensuring alignment with HRSA requirements, FQHC standards, and community health needs.
• Represents the organization in the absence of the CEO and provides executive-level engagement with the Board of Directors as needed.
• Identifies emerging opportunities, risks, and trends in the community health landscape and positions Sandhills Medical to respond proactively.
Operational Leadership & Day-to-Day Presence
• Provides enterprise-wide oversight of all clinical and administrative operations across all Sandhills Medical sites and service lines, including primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, and ancillary services.
• Maintains consistent, visible presence across all clinical sites — engaging directly with staff, providers, and patients to assess operational performance, identify barriers, and ensure care delivery standards are met.
• Works alongside site teams to troubleshoot operational challenges, support workflow improvements, and model a service-oriented, solutions-focused culture.
• Directs and holds accountable senior leaders, including the VP of Operations and department directors, to ensure efficient, effective, and consistent service delivery.
• Establishes performance standards, operational benchmarks, and accountability frameworks across all business units.
• Drives operational excellence through process improvement, standardization, and the implementation of best practices organization-wide.
• Ensures facilities, resources, and infrastructure are adequately managed, maintained, and positioned for sustainable growth.
Financial Stewardship & Sustainability
• Partners with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to develop, manage, and monitor organizational budgets that balance fiscal responsibility with mission-driven community needs.
• Oversees resource allocation, cost efficiency strategies, and operational sustainability across all departments and sites.
• Provides operational oversight to support grant management, funding opportunities, and HRSA compliance reporting requirements.
• Drives revenue cycle optimization and financial performance by aligning operational metrics with financial goals.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities for service expansion, new revenue streams, and strategic partnerships that advance the organization’s mission.
Emergency Preparedness & Organizational Resilience
• Provides executive leadership for organizational safety, security, and disaster preparedness planning and response.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of business continuity plans to ensure operational resilience during emergencies.
• Ensures cross-departmental coordination and readiness for public health emergencies and other unplanned disruptions.
Leadership & Workforce Development
• Provides direct leadership, mentorship, and professional development to senior leaders including the VP of Operations and department directors.
• Is regularly visible and accessible to managers, frontline staff, and providers — fostering trust, open communication, and a strong organizational culture at every level.
• Builds a high-performance organizational culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, equity, and continuous improvement.
• Promotes staff engagement, succession planning, and a sustainable talent pipeline to ensure long-term organizational stability.
• Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring, development, and organizational practices.
• Models and instills Sandhills Medical’s mission and values across all levels of the organization.
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
• Represents Sandhills Medical with external partners, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and the public, serving as a trusted ambassador of the organization’s mission.
• Builds and sustains productive relationships with patients, employees, the Board of Directors, HRSA, and community stakeholders.
• Leads cross-sector partnership development to expand access to care, enhance community health outcomes, and advance the organization’s strategic priorities.
• Collaborates with the CEO on advocacy efforts, legislative engagement, and health policy matters that impact FQHC operations and community health.
Requirements:
• Education: Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, or related field required; Doctoral-level preparation (e.g., DHA, MBA, MPH with executive experience) is a plus.
• Experience: Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, with at least 7 years in a C-suite, VP, or equivalent senior executive role. FQHC or community health center experience is strongly preferred.
Skills and Abilities:
• Visionary executive leadership with demonstrated ability to set direction, align teams, and drive organizational transformation.
• Proven capacity to operate effectively at both a strategic and operational level — equally comfortable in the boardroom and on the clinic floor.
• Comprehensive knowledge of FQHC operations, HRSA requirements, UDS reporting, and value-based care models.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical reasoning, and complex problem-solving skills.
• Proven financial acumen, including operational budget management, revenue cycle oversight, and resource optimization.
• Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills with the ability to engage effectively across diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and motivate high-performing multi-disciplinary senior leadership teams.
• Strong change management and organizational development expertise.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite, EHR systems, and data analytics platforms.
• Ability to work with autonomy, exercise sound executive judgment, and maintain a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
• Deep commitment to health equity, cultural humility, and the mission of serving underserved and vulnerable populations.
Other Duties: Other duties as assigned.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions)
• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.
• Frequent travel between all Sandhills Medical sites is required as part of the day-to-day responsibilities of this role.
• Normal business hours with flexibility for evenings and weekends, as needed.
