Healthcare Chief Operating Officer (COO) Job Description Template

A healthcare chief operating officer (COO) is a key member of the senior management team, responsible for overseeing and implementing the daily operations strategy of a medical organization and its various departments. They work closely with the CEO to plan and carry out improvement initiatives, and can have a significant influence on the culture of your workplace. If you’re working to fill this important position in your facility, you’ll need a first-rate COO job description to reach qualified candidates.

Choosing a senior executive to help lead your organization can be a daunting task, so we’ve crafted this template to help you find the right person for the job. As you use this template, be sure to adapt the descriptions to fit your organization’s needs. Refer to the tips in each section to optimize your posting and attract as many high-quality candidates as possible.

Healthcare Chief Operating Officer

Tips: Your COO job description should begin with an introduction to your organization. Share information about your mission and values, special recognitions, awards, and other noteworthy accomplishments. This will help you make a good first impression and establish credibility. If the position comes with unique benefits, share those here to hook the reader’s interest.

Next, provide a straightforward description of the position. A healthcare COO can work in a number of organizations, like hospitals, health systems, and skilled nursing facilities. Make sure to give candidates a clear picture of the work environment. Also, candidates might plan to relocate for the role, so briefly describe the area’s cultural attractions, recreation, and transportation options.

Template:

[Facility name] is looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our C-suite. Consistently ranked one of the best places to work, we pride ourselves on being able to support both our patients and employees. If you’re looking for a challenging but rewarding step in your leadership career, we invite you to join our organization.

In collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will be responsible for leading the long-term strategic direction of our organization. You will be working with the rest of the executive team to ensure that our operations continue to drive forward our facility’s mission and goals.

Healthcare COO Benefits

Tips: In this part of your COO job description, show that your organization values its employees by outlining the perks of the role. This should include standard benefits like health insurance, but also any unique offerings that other employers might not provide. Before sharing benefit information, check with your human resources team to make sure your posting avoids misleading information and aligns with company policy.

Template:

• Work arrangement: hybrid or flexible work hours
• Sign-on bonuses
• Retirement plans: 401(k), 403(b), or pension
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee and family
• Generous PTO policy
• Life insurance options
• Professional development: conferences, seminars, and workshops

Chief Operating Officer Responsibilities

Tips: When it comes to COO responsibilities, there are several models that your company might follow. This makes your description of responsibilities especially important to provide candidates an idea of how the role might differ from their past experiences. Use straightforward language to describe responsibilities in order of importance.

Template:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of various departments: human relations, marketing, finance, IT, etc.
• Foster collaboration between departments, staff leadership, and other services to support improvements in patient outcomes
• Manage workforce decisions and resource allocation for the organization
• Develop strategic plans to improve quality of care, generate revenue, and accomplish organizational objectives
• Support departments in maintaining regulatory compliance under standards set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Analyze budgets and financial data to identify opportunities for cost savings

Chief Operating Officer Compensation

Tips: Candidates appreciate knowing compensation details before applying, so consider including a salary range in your COO job description. This will ensure that applicants know what to expect and save you time interviewing someone who has differing salary requirements.

Be sure to mention any additional pay offered with the role as well, such as bonuses or travel reimbursements. Also, if the role offers special scheduling options, like hybrid or flexible hours, be sure to mention it in this section.

Template:

• COO salary range: $150k-250k per year
• Commitment bonus
• Bi-weekly pay periods
• Flexible scheduling or hybrid options

Healthcare COO Requirements and Qualifications

Tips: In this section, outline competencies and qualifications for the role. C-suite executives serve as the public face of the organization, so you’ll want to make sure you attract candidates with the right poise and demeanor for the role. It’s important to remember that excessive requirements might deter a qualified candidate from applying, so limit this list to the essentials. If you do have preferred items to include, be sure to clearly label them as such.

Template:

• Understanding of the unique needs and challenges that healthcare organizations face
• Strong leadership skills at all organizational levels
• Excellent public speaking and interpersonal skills
• Complex problem-solving skills in individual and group settings
• Demonstrated success leading improvement initiatives
• Ability to work with staff to promote a culturally competent workplace
• Knowledge of information systems (such as EHR systems) and data analysis
• 3 to 5 years of experience in a healthcare administration role preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in business or relevant field required
• Master’s degree in business administration or equivalent preferred

Call to Action

Tips: You’ve set the stage for your targeted job description to attract qualified candidates. Now, you just need to tell them how to apply. Explain the next steps applicants should take, like applying through a form on the company website or job board or sending materials by email. If you require supporting application documents, be sure to explain that process here.

Template: Ready to lead a purposeful, dynamic team to implement both short- and long-term business strategies? Take your career to the next level by clicking “apply now” on our website and submitting your application materials today.

Still Need to Fill Open Positions?

You’ve got a handle on how to write the best COO job description for your facility, but you still might be facing a number of other open positions. Need help finding candidates? IntelyCare’s job board can connect you to a nationwide network of qualified healthcare professionals. .

IntelyCare B2B content editor Steve Tanner contributed to the writing and research for this article.