Senior Director of Operations; COO-Track

Description

The Senior Director of Operations is a key executive leader responsible for driving operational excellence across Frontera’s multi-site rural health center network. This role oversees Nursing Operations, Human Resources, and Compliance, ensuring seamless integration of clinical and administrative workflows, regulatory readiness, and financial sustainability. The position is designed as a succession pathway to Chief Operating Officer (COO) for candidates who demonstrate strategic vision, execution capability, and leadership development skills.

Abide by Frontera’s Mission, Vision and Values daily.

• Direct daily operations for nursing, HR, and compliance teams.
• Standardize workflows across sites to improve patient access, throughput, and satisfaction.
• Monitor key metrics and implement process improvements for efficiency and quality.
• Maintain continuous readiness for HRSA, FTCA, PCMH, and UDS audits.
• Oversee credentialing, privileging, incident reporting, and corrective action plans.
• Lead preparation for site visits and ensure compliance with all federal and state regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall success of the organization.

• Partner with HR to build leadership pathways, succession plans, and retention strategies.
• Foster a high-performance culture emphasizing accountability, growth, and teamwork.
• Support recruitment for critical roles and mentor emerging leaders.

• Develop and execute strategies for value-based care and billable nursing programs (CCM, RPM).
• Align operational workflows with quality improvement and payer requirements.
• Identify and implement new service lines and partnerships to expand access and revenue.

• Master’s degree required in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Nursing Leadership, or related.
• Certifications (FACHE, CPHQ, CHC) are a plus.
• 7+ years of progressive healthcare operations leadership; 3+ years of managing multi-function teams.
• FQHC or community health experience strongly preferred; rural healthcare experience a plus.
• Proven success in value-based care, regulatory compliance, and budget management.
• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
• Expertise in clinical operations, HR processes, and compliance standards.
• Financial acumen and ability to optimize revenue through operational improvements.
• Proficiency with EHR system (Next Gen preferred) and HRIS/ERP platforms.

• Mission-driven, collaborative, and resilient.
• Able to lead through complexity, inspire teams, and deliver measurable results in a resource-constrained rural environment.

This role is intentionally structured as a COO-track position, offering growth opportunities based on performance in operational leadership, strategic execution, and team development.

• Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent standing, walking, and patient handling.
• Exposure to clinical environments, including infectious diseases and biohazards.
• Occasional travel and irregular hours may be required.