Located on the southwest corner of Main and Van Buren, Lutheran Downtown Hospital opened for patient care in November 2021 with 60 beds and room to expand. A modern hospital in the heart of the city, patients receive care from a team dedicated to providing compassionate care, with excellence, to every patient, every time.
A proud member of Lutheran Health Network, Lutheran Downtown Hospital offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient services, opening with a 19-room emergency department, four operating suites, three gastroenterology suites, diagnostic imaging services, robotic-assisted surgery capabilities and laboratory services.
The decision to build a modern, vibrant facility aligns with the Network's goals to remain downtown, continue to contribute to its growth and success and to make a positive impact on our community.
Job Summary
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the overall operational management and strategic execution of non-nursing departments within the hospital. This role oversees key business functions including patient throughput, service line development, resource utilization, operational efficiency, and revenue growth. The COO collaborates with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and other senior leaders to ensure financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, and exceptional patient care outcomes. This position is also designed to develop future executive leaders, with the expectation of preparing for a potential promotion to a Chief Executive Officer role at another location. As part of the CEO Development Program, this position will require relocation within an acceptable timeframe for promotion/transfer.
Essential Functions
- Provides operational oversight of assigned non-nursing departments, ensuring high-quality service delivery, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
- Collaborates with the CEO and CFO to develop, monitor, and manage strategic business plans and financial goals, including revenue growth and expense control.
- Drives process improvement initiatives that enhance patient throughput, resource utilization, and operational outcomes.
- Partners with the CEO to identify opportunities for business development, service line expansion, and physician recruitment aligned with community needs.
- Supports medical staff relationships by addressing operational concerns, facilitating communication, and strengthening physician engagement.
- Reviews department-level performance metrics and collaborates with managers on corrective action plans and ongoing improvement.
- Coaches and mentors department leaders to build leadership capacity, identify development opportunities, and share operational best practices.
- Contributes to budgeting and capital planning, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to support strategic priorities.
- Ensures operations comply with internal policies, external regulations, and accreditation standards.
- Participates in executive leadership meetings, strategic planning activities, and board presentations as requested.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
- Complies with all policies and standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field required
- Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Healthcare Administration (MHA), or related field preferred
- 7-9 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience, including 3–5 years in operational or executive-level management roles with responsibility for multiple departments or service lines required
- Prior experience overseeing multiple hospital departments or service lines preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong executive leadership and strategic planning skills, with the ability to drive operational performance and lead cross-functional initiatives.
- Advanced knowledge of hospital operations, including finance, facilities, ancillary services, and regulatory compliance.
- Exceptional business acumen, including the ability to interpret financial statements, drive cost control strategies, and support revenue growth.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build credibility with physicians, department leaders, and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to develop, coach, and retain high-performing teams, fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field
- Master's Degree (MBA, MHA, or related)
- 7-9 years progressive healthcare leadership experience
- 3-5 years operational or executive-level management with responsibility for multiple departments or service lines
- Prior experience overseeing multiple hospital departments or service lines
- Advanced knowledge of hospital operations, including finance, facilities, ancillary services, and regulatory compliance
- Ability to interpret financial statements and drive cost control and revenue growth strategies
- Strong executive leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional initiative management skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to engage physicians and external stakeholders
- Proven ability to develop, coach, and retain high-performing teams
Community Health Systems Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Community Health Systems and has not been reviewed or approved by Community Health Systems.
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Healthcare Strength — Stated offerings include medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, alongside life and disability insurance. Coverage breadth is presented as a core part of the package across affiliated hospitals.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and illness is part of the package. Time-away benefits are included as a standard element across roles and facilities, subject to local terms.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Tuition assistance, student-loan support, and license or certification reimbursement are emphasized, particularly for clinical roles. These programs can reduce education costs and support ongoing professional development.
Community Health Systems Insights
What We Do
Community Health Systems, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading operators of general acute care hospitals. The organization’s affiliates own, operate or lease more than 80 hospitals in 16 states with approximately 15,000 licensed beds. Affiliated hospitals are dedicated to providing quality healthcare for local residents and contribute to the economic development of their communities. Based on the unique needs of each community served, these hospitals offer a wide range of diagnostic, medical and surgical services in inpatient and outpatient settings.
