Director Strategic Operations

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.