Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Description

OUR MISSION

Wellness Equity Alliance is a national multidisciplinary health organization that designs and delivers integrated, community-based care for populations most impacted by health inequities. We do this through mobile and field-based models, providing medical care, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, harm reduction, and care coordination in nontraditional settings such as encampments, schools, reentry sites, and rural communities as well as with sovereign tribal nations. Grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and data-driven practices, WEA combines clinical expertise, lived experience, and advanced population health analytics to reduce barriers to care, improve continuity, and strengthen local systems. We have partnered with more than 60 public agencies, managed care plans, and community-based organizations across the U.S. to implement scalable, sustainable programs that are advancing health equity and improving outcomes for historically marginalized populations.

We are known as Renegades, Rebels, Disruptors and Dreamers. If that sounds like you, we want you on our team.

Purpose of the position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a hands-on, in-person executive leader based in Southern California, responsible for the operational performance, clinical integration, and financial optimization of WEA's multi-state healthcare operations. This role requires exceptional leadership, deep healthcare operations expertise, and a track record of building and enforcing integrated clinical systems across diverse care settings. The COO will work on-site to directly implement operational infrastructure, enforce compliance and quality standards, and drive revenue optimization strategies that support WEA's mission and long-term sustainability. 

This is not a remote or fractional role — the COO must be physically present to lead cross-functional teams, engage directly with regional operations, and maintain close, real-time oversight of clinical and administrative functions.

Key Highlights

• Compensation: The compensation range for this role is $170,000–$240,000/year, with final compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and role scope.
• Work Location & Expectations: This role requires daily in-person engagement at Southern California headquarters/operational sites; this is not a remote or hybrid position. 
• Travel Required: Approximately 20% regional travel across multi-state operations, based on organizational needs.
• Professional Development: Opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional leaders across Behavioral Health, Medical, Street Medicine, Public Health, Rural Health, and Tribal Health initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Clinical Integration

• Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership to regional teams, ensuring full alignment with organizational goals
• Directly implement and enforce integrated clinical operations across all program lines, including:
• HIV street medicine
• Mobile unit-based school health centers
• Reentry programs focused on substance use treatment
• Tribal health programs
• Public health extension services
• Ensure clinical programs are stood up, operated, and demobilized efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements
• Serve as the primary operational interface across divisions, translating executive decisions into on-the-ground execution
• Develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures that standardize and integrate clinical operations across regions and program types
• Represent WEA to external stakeholders — including payers, regulatory bodies, and community partners — regarding operational performance and capacity

Revenue Optimization & Financial Oversight

• Partner closely with the Controller/CFO to oversee operational budgets, identify cost efficiencies, and ensure fiscal discipline across all programs
• Develop and execute strategies to optimize revenue streams, including contract performance, billing efficiency, reimbursement capture, and grant/contract compliance
• Analyze operational and financial data to identify trends, risks, and growth opportunities that inform strategic and budgetary decisions
• Support contract negotiations and renewals by ensuring operational capacity and performance data align with revenue goals

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Directly supervise: Regional Director of Operations, National Director of Administrative Operations, Public Information Officer/Chief Pharmacy Officer
• Lead, coach, and develop regional directors and project managers, ensuring accountability, performance, and professional growth.
• Establish clear reporting structures and communication channels across regional operations leads.
• Delegate authority appropriately to build a scalable, accountable management structure.

Program Development & Launch

• Lead the launch of new clinical and operational programs, defining objectives, deliverables, timelines, and success metrics in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Oversee smooth handoff and transition of programs to regional teams post-launch, ensuring continuity and sustained performance.
• Track key performance metrics for all launched programs to assess impact and guide future strategy.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including HIPAA, OSHA, and payer/contract-specific requirements.
• Develop and enforce performance metrics and quality improvement processes across all clinical and administrative functions.
• Conduct regular data analysis and site monitoring to proactively identify and resolve compliance or performance gaps.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clinics, managed care partners, government agencies, and regulatory bodies.
• Act as a key liaison between internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated, efficient service delivery.

Requirements

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, with at least 5 years in a senior/executive leadership role.
• Demonstrated success implementing and enforcing integrated clinical operations across multiple service lines or regions.
• Proven experience optimizing revenue cycles, contract performance, or reimbursement strategies within a healthcare organization.
• Strong understanding of multi-state healthcare regulatory environments, licensing, and compliance requirements.
• Excellent financial acumen, including budget oversight and data-driven decision-making.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to Southern California; this is a 100% in-person position.

Preferred Skills

• A master’s degree in a relevant field is strongly preferred.
• Experience with mobile health, street medicine, tribal health, or reentry program operations.
• Familiarity with managed care contracts, public health funding structures, and grant compliance.
• A track record of scaling operations across multiple states or regions.
• Flexible, adaptive, and resilient leadership style suited to a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Commitment to mentoring staff and building sustainable leadership pipelines.
• Alignment with WEA's mission of health equity and service to historically marginalized populations.