Alaska Rural Healthcare COO Opportunities

Rural Staffing Services•Alaska, AK

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Alaska Rural Healthcare is seeking experienced operational leaders for Chief Operating Officer and senior operations leadership opportunities across Alaska. These roles are crucial for turning strategy into action within rural healthcare organizations, requiring leaders who can strengthen operations, improve communication, support employees, and ensure the organization meets the needs of the people it serves. Operational leadership in Alaska involves navigating unique challenges such as vast distances, weather, transportation, housing, workforce shortages, and limited access to specialty services. The ideal candidates will be visible, collaborative, practical, adaptable, and comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders, including executives, medical staff, boards, Tribal leadership, frontline employees, and community partners. Strong operations in this context are about more than efficiency; they are about protecting patient access, supporting employees, strengthening financial performance, and maintaining community trust.

Requirements

Progressive healthcare operations leadership experience
Experience as a COO, Vice President of Operations, Chief Administrative Officer, Administrator, Executive Director, or comparable senior leader
Strong knowledge of hospital, clinic, long-term care, or healthcare-system operations
Experience leading multiple departments, service lines, facilities, or regional programs
A track record of improving performance, communication, accountability, and organizational effectiveness
Experience with budgeting, workforce planning, change management, strategic implementation, facilities, and operational improvement
Experience leading through growth, transition, workforce shortages, organizational change, or operational instability
The ability to collaborate across clinical, financial, executive, Tribal, and community teams
A bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, business, public administration, or a related field
A collaborative, visible, transparent, practical, and relationship-focused leadership style
The ability to relocate, travel regionally, or work within a rotational structure when required

Nice To Haves

Experience with rural hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, FQHCs, Tribal health organizations, regional health corporations, long-term care providers, or community healthcare organizations
Experience supporting operations across multiple facilities or significant geographic distances
Experience working with Alaska Native communities, Tribal health organizations, Indian Health Service programs, or tribally operated systems
A master's degree or healthcare executive credential

Responsibilities

Providing strategic and operational leadership across multiple departments, facilities, and service lines
Translating organizational goals into practical operating plans
Supporting efficient, safe, patient-centered, and culturally respectful care delivery
Strengthening communication, accountability, and collaboration across departments and communities
Improving workflows, productivity, service access, and organizational performance
Partnering with clinical and financial leaders on staffing, budgeting, and resource planning
Supporting recruitment, retention, workforce development, and leadership succession
Overseeing facilities, support services, clinic operations, ancillary departments, or regional programs
Guiding growth, restructuring, turnaround, service expansion, or organizational stabilization
Supporting regulatory readiness, quality improvement, safety, accreditation, and organizational compliance
Presenting operational updates, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership, governing boards, Tribal councils, or other oversight bodies
Building strong relationships with employees, providers, Tribal partners, public agencies, community organizations, and local leaders
Supporting operations across multiple sites or communities separated by significant geographic distances
Maintaining services during vacancies, weather disruptions, transportation delays, supply-chain challenges, or other operational pressures
Supporting infrastructure, housing, equipment, transportation, technology, telehealth, and capital-planning priorities
Strengthening coordination between village clinics, regional hospitals, specialty services, and community-based care
Monitoring organizational performance and helping teams respond to changing community needs
Ensuring essential healthcare services remain dependable, sustainable, and available closer to home