Chief Administrative Officer

Thundermist Health Center

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for the strategic oversight and operational excellence of the following administrative functions: Human Resources, Information Technology, Compliance & Risk Management, Marketing & Communications, Philanthropy and Community Relations. The CAO promotes decisions based on data and ensures transparency in performance in each area's service levels. The CAO will improve overall efficiencies in each area by focusing on building effective teams and leveraging improvements in workflow and technology. The CAO serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Team and will regularly present at Board meetings and relevant committees. This executive translates strategy into disciplined execution with clear metrics, accountability, and continuous improvement efforts. The CAO inspires a passion for service to internal and external customers while serving as a visible model of Thundermist behavioral values. The CAO champions equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices in all administrative functions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred: MHA, MBA, MPH, or related field.
5+ years progressive leadership in healthcare administration; FQHC or community health experience strongly preferred. At least 5 years of hands-on Human Resource generalist or HRBP experience required; significant experience overseeing at least two of the additional listed domains; familiarity with all is expected.
Proven track record in project management, planning, budget ownership, technology enablement, risk management, and organizational change.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills; ability to engage Board, funders, community partners, SLT members, and staff at all levels.
Exceptional written, verbal, analytical, organizational, problem-solving and presentation skills.
Thundermist is dedicated to securing the privacy and confidentiality of protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It is the responsibility of all employees to comply with state and federal guidelines in accessing sensitive information. Additionally, this role will have access to sensitive agency information. The incumbent must apply strict confidentiality.

Responsibilities

The CAO is a member of the executive team, and plays a key role in supporting the board, shaping development, and guiding strategic direction.
The CAO is responsible for leading, developing, organizing and supporting strong performance in the following areas:
Human Resources
Oversee the full HR lifecycle, including workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compensation and benefits, learning and development, and employee relations.
Implement scalable HR systems (HRIS), policies, and metrics to support 700+ employees across multiple sites and shifts.
Sync employee relations legal issues with AVP of Compliance and Risk Management.
Foster a culture of trust, accountability, and engagement; support leadership development and succession planning.
Assure compliance with federal and state labor laws (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, NLRA, EEOC), and manage investigations and grievances with appropriate confidentiality and transparency.
Direct retention strategies, workforce well-being programs, occupational health and safety, and frontline leadership training aimed at reducing turnover and improving employee and patient experience.
Lead and implement organizational design strategies.
Information Technology
Lead development of IT strategy, cybersecurity posture, infrastructure, service desk, and enterprise systems (EHR, practice management, HRIS, ERP, data warehouse, telehealth).
Partner with clinical and revenue cycle leaders to improve EHR usability, interoperability, data quality, and reporting.
Govern data privacy and security (HIPAA, HITECH), incident response, access controls, and vendor risk management.
Advance digital transformation, including self-service tools, omnichannel patient communications, analytics, dashboards, and automation (such as RPA for back-office operations).
Oversee IT budget, service level agreements, disaster recovery, and technology roadmap scaled to support organizational growth.
Compliance & Risk Management
Assure organization-wide compliance with HRSA Health Center Program Requirements, FTCA deeming, HIPAA, CMS, OIG guidance, OSHA, and state and local mandates.
Lead internal audits, enterprise risk assessments, corrective action plans, and policy lifecycle management.
Manage claims, incident reporting, and coordination with legal counsel and insurers, along with maintenance of robust training programs (annual and role-based).
Partner with clinical quality leaders to align compliance efforts with quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
Marketing & Communications
Lead development of brand strategy, patient growth campaigns, service line promotion, and omnichannel communications (website, social media, SEO/SEM, SMS, email, print).
Oversee internal communications, crisis communications, media relations, and reputation management.
Assure all external communications are aligned with regulatory standards and patient privacy protections.
Utilize data-driven insights for reaching underserved populations and improving patient access and engagement.
Philanthropy and Community Relations
Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including annual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, events, and donor stewardship.
Collaborate with finance and operations to align philanthropic priorities with the strategic plan and measure community impact.
Maintain donor management systems (CRM) and assure ethical fundraising practices and transparency.
Build and maintain strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, local government, schools, faith-based groups, and health systems.
Represent the organization at community forums and elevate the community voice in planning and service design.
Coordinate outreach, mobile services, and enabling services to advance access and equity while overcoming challenges presented by the social determinants of health.