President & CEO- Weeks Medical Center

About North Country Healthcare (NCH):

North Country Healthcare is a non-profit affiliation of four medical facilities, Androscoggin Valley Hospital, North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency, Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, and Weeks Medical Center, located in the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire. NCH includes numerous physicians and medical providers at multiple locations. This leading comprehensive healthcare network which employs hundreds of highly-trained individuals delivers integrated patient care through three community hospitals, specialty clinics, and home health and hospice services. NCH remains committed to the health and well-being of the communities we serve. As a leader in a management position this role emphasizes advancing High-Reliability Organization (HRO) principles, embedding a culture of safety, accountability, and consistent high performance.

 

Position Summary:

Adhering to System Values, Service Excellence and Standards of Behavior, the President & CEO is the face of the hospital organization, responsible for overall leadership and strategic planning in concert with and support of the NCH system’s Mission, Vision and Values. Selected by the relevant board(s) of directors and the system CEO, the President & CEO has the responsibility to carry out the mission and is responsible for the overall management and operation of all aspects of the hospital. The President & CEO focuses on long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies routinely exercising discretion and independent judgment in the performance of job duties. The President & CEO is accountable for the overall programmatic and fiscal integrity of the organization. Responsible for providing overall direction and guidance to the operational activities of the organization with the objective of maximizing growth and profitability as well as day-to-day leadership and management to all hospital functions. Given that NCH is an integrated health system, the goal is to not only manage the operations of the hospital, but also to participate and work collaboratively in optimizing operations across all affiliates and communities.

 

Reporting Relationships:

The hospital President & CEO reports to the system CEO on all matters that are ceded to the sole member of the system, North Country Healthcare. These matters include, but are not limited to, preparation of annual hospital operating and capital budgets, material changes in clinical services, approval of information technology programs, changes in financial accounting systems and auditors and other major operational matters, as defined in the relevant bylaws. The President & CEO reports to the respective affiliate board for matters reserved to that affiliate board, and it’s further expected that the hospital President & CEO will work directly with the affiliate board chair to develop agendas and keep them closely apprised of governance-related issues. The President & CEO will meet with the system CEO on a regular basis and keep the CEO informed of significant operational issues at the hospital. The President & CEO shall prepare annual goals and objectives in collaboration with both the affiliate board and the system CEO.

 

Education:

• A Masters's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Management, MD, DO, or a related field is required, or in lieu of formal education, an additional 10+ years of experience in the field is acceptable.

 

Certification:

• FACHE Certification is preferred.
• All employees and contracted staff will have either successful completion of an American Heart Association* accredited course in Basic Life Support (BLS), or ACLS and PALS combined. (for clinical staff), Heartsaver CPR AED (for nonclinical staff), and renewal on a regular basis.

*Refer to the NCH Life Support Certification Policy for position specific requirements.

 

Skills:

• Exhibits strong interpersonal skills, being able to lead people and have them rally behind their ideas and keeps team morale high. Articulates leadership practice of holding himself/herself and others in leadership positions accountable for achieving system and personal goals as well as the ability to effectively resolve conflict.
• Able to always represent North Country Healthcare positively as an individual of unquestioned personal and professional integrity. Possesses an open, visible, accessible and collaborative management style, able to interact in an authentic way at all levels of the organization and community.
• Exhibits qualities of being fair, compassionate, transparent and open-minded; has a facilitative personality and the ability to lead the organization through complex and continuous change with strong change management skills.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, including the ability to articulate the vision, mission and values of the organization; outstanding written, oral and presentation skills are required.
• Demonstrates the ability to leverage financial and operational knowledge to lead, manage and promote the financial stability of the organization by reducing costs and growing revenue.
• Is comfortable and experienced with active fundraising and engaging with donors in support of the organization’s strategic and capital imperatives.
• Is familiar with and embraces the complexities of functioning within an integrated health system, including matrixed reporting relationships.
• Is familiar with, and embraces the principles of High Reliability, and is further experienced in Performance Improvement (LEAN, Six Sigma) methodologies.

 

Work Experience:

• Should have senior leadership experience with a proven track record of success of at least 7-10 years, ideally some of which is in a complex, multi-faceted, integrated healthcare delivery system. Experience in a rural setting and/or CAH preferred
• Must have demonstrated success in developing trusting provider relationships, engaging provider leaders in future plans and collaborating on clinical quality, service and program growth; must have worked with a sophisticated medical staff and be creative in establishing collaborative partnerships with providers.
• Must have extensive experience in developing and implementing effective operational, clinical quality and financial systems and controls as well as demonstrated excellence with strategic planning.
• Has a demonstrated history of engaged and productive Board relationships and understands governance committee structures.
• Has a clear track record as an active, respected, visible and dedicated community leader and healthcare thought leader and experience with community partnerships to improve the overall health of the community.
• Has a firm grasp of current and future healthcare policies, practices, and trends affecting the industry to position North Country Healthcare for success in this era of unprecedented change

 

Key Attributes:

• An innovative, visionary leader who has personality, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, commitment to diversity, and ability to communicate with people from various social and economic backgrounds in a clear, concise and confident manner across a broad range of audiences.
• A passionate and dedicated to identifying and addressing determinants of health within the North Country communities, and who will support and appreciate North Country Healthcare’s patient-centered approach, vision and mission.
• An effective leader with the breadth of capabilities to lead both internal operational work and external relationships and business development.
• A strategic leader with the discipline and persistence to support a strong, energized team environment based on trust and invites diverse viewpoints.
• A leader who manages business intelligence is data driven and balanced with practical and reality-based experience.
• Deep commitment to shared leadership and to a collaborative and transparent approach in the management of the organization.
• Understands and optimizes the roles and relationships between governance, administration and the medical staff.
• Capable of addressing potential conflicts amongst various constituencies and ensures that key decisions are made in the best interests of patients and communities. Principle Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide visible, innovative, and inspired leadership for North Country Healthcare in a manner reflective of its mission, vision and values. Live the values of the organization and inspire others to do the same; prioritize the mission of the organization in all areas of responsibility.
• Develop and nurture an organizational culture that is: patient focused, driven by quality, provider responsive, cost effective and value-driven while promoting positive, engaged, collaborative relationships with leaders, caregivers and providers. Lead, support and advance a culture of unparalleled patient safety and satisfaction, service excellence and a caring environment.
• Develop and advance the organization’s long-range and strategic plans to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the North Country communities.
• Foster positive relationships with the provider staff to integrate providers, nurses and other care-team members into the decision-making process and to ensure that all care-teams embrace and advance the vision of North Country Healthcare and its affiliates.
• Ensure that sound financial and operating strategies and policies are developed and implemented so that North Country Healthcare continues to grow and expand from its current sound fiscal base. Prepare and adhere to an annual operating and capital expenditure budget as approved by the Board(s) to ensure the long-term financial viability of the institution.
• Ensure the financial success of the organization through rigorous expense control and top line revenue growth, evaluating new and existing programs and services to drive increased revenue. Evaluate capital needs and reinvest in the facilities, as well as anticipate growth by utilizing and maximizing the current campuses and considering future development in the service area.
• Evaluate the existing organizational structure and make changes as necessary; create an organizational culture that empowers managers and employees to be innovative and progressive and holds them accountable for their areas of responsibility.
• Provide the Board(s) with pertinent information regarding quality and financial results, ongoing operations and development of future healthcare services of the organization.
• Provide for ongoing Board of Director education and orientation to ensure that the Board remains current regarding trends, issues and activities in healthcare in order to facilitate effective governance.
• Attract, retain and motivate key personnel of the highest caliber who will contribute significantly to the growth of the organization through teamwork, and assure that quality people are available for management succession. Build and mentor the management staff of the organization including senior and middle management. Promote a management culture of ethical decision-making, integrity, transparency, good judgment and accountability, in alignment with both the NCH and hospital’s values.
• Be responsible for ensuring that the hospital remains up to date on all federal, state and local laws, CMS standards or regulatory agency requirements and ensure compliance with all such laws and regulations.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with local, regional, state, civic and community leaders. Be visibly involved in the community as a spokesperson for the organization, presenting an honest, positive and responsive profile; promote the organization in the community and build on its reputation of providing high quality, compassionate care to its patients.
• Collaborate in a highly effective manner with medical, administrative, hospital staff and leadership.

• Performs additional duties as assigned.

 

North Country Healthcare is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. North Country Healthcare and its affiliates do not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or any other protected class. Employment decisions are made based on job‑related qualifications, skills, and business needs, and without unlawful discrimination in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

North Country Healthcare provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, participate in interviews, or undergo pre‑employment testing should contact [email protected].