Director, Executive Projects

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Executive Projects within the System Associate Chief Operating Officer (COO) Office serves as a senior-level strategic and operational leader, providing enterprise-wide support to the System Associate COO and designated executive leadership. This role functions as a highly trusted partner responsible for advancing priority initiatives, shaping executive decision-making, and driving complex, cross-functional projects that impact system performance and operations. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Director leads the development of executive-level insights, strategic analyses, and operational frameworks that inform critical decisions across the organization. This role serves as a central integrator—translating complex data, external benchmarking, and system priorities into clear, actionable recommendations and executive communications. The Director is accountable for leading high-impact initiatives, conducting advanced research and environmental scanning, developing executive-ready presentations and dashboards, and supporting policy and operational assessments. While this role does not have direct reports, it exercises significant influence across care delivery operations and enterprise functions, often leading workstreams and coordinating multidisciplinary teams to achieve system priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor degree in Health Care Administration, Business Administration, or related area or equivalency.
Six years of progressively responsible experience in strategy, operations, consulting, or executive-level support roles.
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-level initiatives or projects.
Experience working directly with senior executives or C-suite leaders in a complex organization.
Advanced strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex, ambiguous issues.
Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills, including development of board-level materials.
Deep expertise in research, benchmarking, and data synthesis.
Ability to lead large-scale initiatives and influence outcomes without direct authority.
Strong business acumen across healthcare operations, finance, and organizational performance.
High level of professionalism, discretion, and executive presence.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA, MHA, MPH, or related field), or equivalent.
Experience with an academic medical center or integrated health system strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior strategic partner to the Executive or Chief, supporting enterprise priorities, operational strategy, and system integration efforts.
Lead high-priority, enterprise-wide initiatives from concept through execution, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timelines.
Frame complex issues, risks, and trade-offs into clear decision points and actionable recommendations for executive leadership and governance bodies.
Provide high-level, confidential support on sensitive and complex organizational matters.
Direct comprehensive research and benchmarking efforts to inform strategic and operational decision-making, including: Peer health system and competitor analysis, Market, regulatory, and industry trend assessments, Literature reviews and policy evaluations.
Synthesize internal and external insights into executive-level recommendations that guide system strategy and operations.
Identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities impacting healthcare delivery, workforce strategy, and system performance.
Lead the development and interpretation of enterprise-level performance dashboards, scorecards, and executive summaries.
Supports and develops financial, operational, and workforce modeling efforts in partnership with Strategy, Finance, HR, and Analytics teams.
Analyze system-wide performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, translating findings into actionable insights for leadership.
Ensure data is transformed into strategic narratives that inform decision-making at the executive level.
Own the development of executive-ready materials, including but not limited to: Board and governance presentations, Executive leadership briefings, Strategic planning materials and retreats.
Serve as a communication architect, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment of messaging across executive communications.
Translate complex concepts into clear, compelling narratives tailored to executive audiences.
Lead the assessment and development of system-level policies, operating models, and governance structures to enhance alignment and efficiency.
Support the design and implementation of enterprise operational frameworks and strategic initiatives.
Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities across system processes and operations.
Partner with finance and operational leaders to support resource planning, budget alignment, and performance tracking.
Monitor system progress against financial, quality, and operational goals, providing insights and recommendations to leadership.
Support initiatives that advance patient experience, quality outcomes, and organizational standards.
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior leaders across operations, finance, HR, quality, and clinical leadership.
Lead cross-functional collaboration, aligning stakeholders and ensuring execution of Executive -sponsored initiatives.
Influence decision-making at the executive level through data, insights, and strategic framing.
Operate as a key connector across the system, ensuring alignment and follow-through on enterprise priorities.