Reporting to the President of Lahey Clinic, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior vice president responsible for leading and executing organizational strategy and overseeing day-to-day operations. The COO ensures alignment with Lahey's goals by delivering a high-quality, patient-centered care experience supported by safe, efficient, and effective operations.
Working closely with the President and senior leadership team, the COO drives operational excellence, strengthens organizational performance, and advances strategic priorities. This role requires regular communication with the President regarding major initiatives, operational performance, and issues affecting the health system, community, or institutional direction.
The COO leads the Senior Leadership Team in operational execution, strategic and operational planning, and goal setting. The role ensures strong collaboration across departments and clinical areas throughout Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) to enhance patient satisfaction, clinical quality, and operational efficiency. The COO also fosters a culture of accountability, teamwork, engagement, and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate is an experienced, collaborative leader with deep expertise in hospital and ambulatory operations, quality improvement, facilities, and real estate, and a track record of inspiring innovation and high performance.
Job Description:Primary Responsibilities - Within the first year, align with BILH strategy to define next steps for organizational design across Lahey Clinic and BILH
- Build credibility and trust across leadership, physicians, clinicians, and staff through visible, transparent communication and engagement
- Establish strong relationships with key stakeholders, including front-line staff, and maintain a consistent presence across departments
- Develop a deep understanding of Lahey, BILH, its culture, community, market dynamics, and competitive landscape
- Serve as a visible advocate for patients, employees, and the community
- Reinforce a culture of accountability and teamwork using clear performance metrics and data-driven decision-making
- Conduct a comprehensive assessment of operations and prioritize improvement opportunities
- Partner with leadership to enhance patient experience and clinical quality
- Support the development and growth of key service lines aligned with community needs and organizational goals
Key ResponsibilitiesOperational Leadership- Plan, direct, and evaluate hospital operations to ensure efficiency, quality, and compliance with organizational and regulatory standards
- Lead implementation of strategic and operational plans in partnership with senior leadership
- Align and optimize resources to achieve organizational goals, manage budgets, and address performance variances
Strategy & Growth- Collaborate on strategic planning, business development, and service line expansion
- Evaluate market opportunities, demographics, and performance data to guide growth and investment decisions
- Develop and measure ROI and effectiveness of programs and initiatives
Performance Management- Establish and monitor key performance indicators and benchmarking metrics
- Oversee reporting processes and communicate results to executive stakeholders
- Promote continuous improvement and adoption of best practices
Governance & Compliance- Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, and accreditation standards
- Stay current on healthcare trends, regulations, and industry practices and assess their impact on operations
Leadership & Talent Development- Lead, develop, and evaluate senior and matrixed leaders
- Establish performance expectations and foster leadership development
- Promote a culture of accountability, engagement, and collaboration
- Provide strategic direction and mentorship to a team of leaders, strengthening operational performance, leadership capability, and alignment with enterprise priorities across clinical, academic, and administrative domains
External Engagement- Represent Lahey within the community and across the BILH system
- Build strong relationships with community stakeholders and enhance organizational reputation
Required Qualifications- Master's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field (clinical background preferred)
- Prior experience as a Chief Operating Officer, preferred
- Minimum of 10 years in healthcare leadership, including at least 5 years in an executive role within a multi-hospital system
- Demonstrated success leading within a matrixed organization
- Experience in service line operations, program development, and physician relations
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- Deep knowledge of hospital and health system operations, strategic planning, and performance improvement
- Command of the operational frameworks that underpin academic medicine, including trainee integration into clinical workflows, compensation structures, and funding models that support the teaching mission.
- Experience with population health management, ACO models, and risk-based contracting
- Knowledge of managed care, including capitation and alternative payment models
- Expertise in financial management, budgeting, and resource allocation
- Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and compliance standards
- Experience with organizational design and transformation
- Familiarity with the New Hampshire healthcare landscape, regulations, and market dynamics
- Experience driving community engagement through business development and clinical program deployment
- Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills
- Ability to influence, negotiate, and build alignment across diverse stakeholders
- Proven ability to lead and develop teams and achieve measurable results
Additional Focus Areas- Strengthen partnerships across clinical, operational, and executive teams
- Balance internal operational excellence with external community leadership and engagement
Pay Range: $500,000.00 USD - $520,000.00 USD
The pay range listed for this position is the annual base salary range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. In addition to base compensation, this position may be eligible for additional compensation, which may include performance-based incentive bonuses.
