Director Strategic Operations

Overview

Ardent Health is a leading provider of healthcare in growing mid‑sized urban communities across the U.S. With a focus on people and investments in innovative services and technologies, Ardent is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. Through its subsidiaries, Ardent delivers care through a system of 30 acute care hospitals, 24,000+ team members and more than 280 sites of care with over 1,800 affiliated providers across six states.

Position Summary: The Director of Strategic Operations is responsible for driving innovative, system‑wide solutions that optimize operational performance and align with organizational goals. This role focuses on designing scalable models that integrate value‑based care principles, EPIC workflows, HUB (Healthcare Universal Business Practices) processes, and labor strategies to enhance connectivity, efficiency, and patient‑centered outcomes. The director collaborates with executive leadership, clinical teams, and technology partners to create forward‑thinking frameworks that drive sustainable growth and operational excellence.

• Support the President and SVP of Health Services in achieving full integration of operational and clinical strategies.
• Collaborate with leadership to create innovative connectivity solutions across provider groups and urgent care sites.
• Lead strategic projects focused on automation, interoperability, and advanced analytics for continuous improvement.
• Drive comprehensive alignment and utilization of standardized best‑practice business (HUB) processes and tools across the organization.
• Design and implement smart operational models leveraging technology and data analytics for system optimization.
• Align operational frameworks with value‑based care initiatives to improve patient experience and population health.
• Ensure seamless integration of EPIC workflows and digital tools to support clinical and administrative efficiency.
• Develop labor design strategies that balance workforce productivity, cost‑effectiveness, and quality outcomes.
• Drive and implement future AI‑driven solutions to enhance predictive capabilities, workflow automation, and decision support.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business, engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years in healthcare operations with demonstrated success in strategic design and technology integrations.
• Master’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or engineering, preferred.
• Experience with operational design and process improvement, preferred.
• Experience working in physician practices or urgent cares, preferred.
• Experience working within highly matrixed and complex organizations, preferred.
• Experience with implementing organization roles at various levels (system, regional/division, market, etc.), preferred.
• Expertise in EPIC systems, HUB processes, labor management, AI‑driven solutions, data analytics, and value‑based care models; strong leadership and innovative mindset, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Self‑directed, willingness to take initiatives.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize information, formulate and implement the plan, preferred.
• Knowledge of billing and collection process and systems, preferred.

Director

Full‑time

Management and Manufacturing

Hospitals and Health Care

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