Senior Vice President of Operations

Clinpath Diagnostics•Phoenix, AZ

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Clin-Path Associates, PLC is a physician-owned private practice pathology group that has been serving Arizona communities for more than 50 years. Clin-Path provides pathology services in partnership with hospitals, healthcare systems, physicians, and other healthcare organizations throughout the state. Clin-Path Diagnostics, LLC supports the organization through laboratory operations and diagnostic services that are critical to high-quality patient care. Together, Clin-Path Associates and Clin-Path Diagnostics are committed to diagnostic excellence, operational integrity, and strong partnerships with the healthcare community. Clin-Path Associates and Clin-Path Diagnostics are seeking a Senior Vice President of Operations to provide executive operational leadership for the organization. This position reports directly to the Clin-Path Board of Directors and is responsible for partnering with the Board to develop, refine, and execute operational strategy in support of organizational goals, Board direction, and long-term sustainability. This is a highly operational leadership role responsible for supporting day-to-day and long-term business operations across a physician-owned private practice pathology group and affiliated laboratory operations. The Senior Vice President of Operations will work collaboratively with physician leadership, laboratory leadership, information technology, finance and accounting, human resources, billing partners, vendors, clients, and other business partners to support operational effectiveness and organizational alignment. This role requires strong healthcare operations experience, sound business judgment, and the ability to translate Board priorities into practical operational plans. An understanding of finance and business performance is important; however, the Controller serves as the primary finance and accounting leader. The Senior Vice President of Operations will partner closely with the Controller to ensure operational decisions are financially informed and aligned with organizational goals. The Senior Vice President of Operations will also work closely with Pathology Billing Services and Pathology Specialists of Arizona when operationally necessary or in the best interest of Clin-Path Associates and Clin-Path Diagnostics. This role does not provide direct operational oversight of Pathology Billing Services or Pathology Specialists of Arizona unless specifically approved by the appropriate governing body. This role is designed to operate with a meaningful level of autonomy in leading day-to-day operations, while remaining within the authority delegated by the Clin-Path Board of Directors. The role works through established governance, approval, and reporting processes to support appropriate checks, balances, and organizational alignment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Operations Management, Finance, or related field required.
Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, laboratory operations, physician practice management, or a related healthcare environment required.
Demonstrated experience leading complex operations in a multi-department or multi-site healthcare setting.
Experience managing leaders and cross-functional business functions.
Experience with vendor management, contract negotiations, and external business relationships.
Strong understanding of healthcare operations, compliance, budgeting, and performance management.
Practical financial acumen, including the ability to understand budgets, financial reports, operational metrics, and cost drivers.
Strong executive-level operational leadership skills.
Excellent communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work effectively with physicians, Board members, employees, vendors, consultants, and external partners.
Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational execution.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
Experience in pathology, clinical laboratory operations, anatomic pathology, or physician-owned medical practice environments preferred.
Experience working with hospital systems, managed care partners, third-party billing companies, and healthcare vendors preferred.
C-Suite experience in operations strongly preferred, such as COO, CAO, CEO, or equivalent.
Experience working with Boards, physician leadership, or executive committees preferred.
Strong understanding of revenue cycle operations and healthcare financial reporting preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior operational executive for Clin-Path Associates and Clin-Path Diagnostics.
Partner with the Clin-Path Board of Directors to establish, refine, and execute organizational vision and strategic priorities.
Translate Board direction into actionable operational plans, timelines, and performance expectations.
Provide regular updates to the Board regarding operations, performance, risks, opportunities, and key initiatives.
Support day-to-day and long-term operational planning across assigned departments and business functions.
Identify operational barriers and recommend practical solutions to improve efficiency, service delivery, quality, and sustainability.
Lead cross-functional initiatives that support business growth, operational stability, and organizational effectiveness.
Promote accountability, follow-through, communication, and operational discipline across departments.
Work collaboratively with department leaders to identify operational needs, remove barriers, and support practical solutions.
Promote consistency and accountability while respecting the functional expertise of each department leader.
Support coordination between physician practice operations, laboratory operations, administrative operations, information technology, finance, human resources, and business partners.
Establish operational goals and performance indicators to measure progress and outcomes.
Monitor organizational performance and recommend operational adjustments as needed.
Ensure operational decisions are made in the best interest of Clin-Path Associates and Clin-Path Diagnostics.
Provide executive operational support for Clin-Path Diagnostics laboratory operations through laboratory leadership.
Work closely with the Director of Laboratory Operations to support laboratory performance, quality, staffing, compliance, and operational priorities.
Support operational planning related to laboratory workflow, staffing, equipment, facilities, technology, and service needs.
Monitor laboratory performance indicators, including turnaround time, productivity, quality, service levels, and operational efficiency.
Support laboratory leadership in addressing operational challenges, process improvement opportunities, staffing needs, and regulatory readiness.
Promote strong communication and coordination between laboratory operations, pathologists, administrative leadership, and business partners.
Ensure laboratory operations support quality patient care, service expectations, and organizational goals.
Support operational effectiveness for Clin-Path Associates physician practice operations.
Work with physician leaders, Board members, and administrative leaders to support physician services, scheduling coordination, client needs, and business priorities.
Support organizational initiatives related to practice operations, service delivery, client relationships, and operational growth.
Assist with development and implementation of operational policies, procedures, workflows, and administrative processes.
Support communication between physicians, laboratory leadership, administrative teams, and external partners.
Ensure operational decisions support high-quality service, physician engagement, client relationships, and patient care outcomes.
Identify opportunities to strengthen physician practice infrastructure, workflow, and administrative support.
Collaborate with physician leadership to ensure operational decisions support the needs of the practice, laboratory, clients, and patients.
Provide operational support and coordination of finance and accounting functions through the Controller and appropriate financial partners.
Work closely with the Controller to monitor financial performance, budgets, reporting needs, and operational impacts.
Use financial data and business metrics to support operational decision-making and resource planning.
Support budget development, forecasting, expense management, and performance analysis in partnership with finance and accounting leadership.
Ensure operational initiatives are evaluated for financial impact, sustainability, and alignment with organizational goals.
Work with external accountants, auditors, consultants, and financial vendors as needed.
Support financial discipline and accountability without serving as the primary accounting or technical finance expert.
Provide operational input on financial planning, staffing models, capital needs, vendor costs, and business investments.
Partner with the Controller to ensure operational initiatives are informed by accurate financial data, budget considerations, and appropriate financial controls.
Support financial accountability by helping department leaders understand the operational impact of budgets, expenses, productivity, staffing, and resource utilization.
Ensure significant financial commitments, budget changes, and material business decisions are reviewed through appropriate leadership, finance, and Board approval processes.
Serve as the executive operational liaison with third-party billing partners and other billing-related resources.
Monitor revenue cycle performance in collaboration with billing partners, finance leadership, and organizational leadership.
Evaluate billing-related trends, issues, and opportunities that may impact operations, collections, reporting, or service performance.
Support operational coordination with Pathology Billing Services when needed and when in the best interest of Clin-Path Associates and Clin-Path Diagnostics.
Partner with billing resources to address operational barriers, claims issues, payer trends, denials, reporting needs, and process improvement opportunities.
Ensure billing-related workflows and communication support organizational goals, compliance expectations, and financial sustainability.
Support communication between billing partners, finance, operations, and physician leadership as needed.
Lead and participate in contract negotiations involving hospital, health system, client, payer, vendor, laboratory service, technology, facility, and business agreements.
Work closely with the Clin-Path Board of Directors, legal counsel, finance leadership, physician leaders, and other stakeholders during contract review and negotiation processes.
Evaluate operational and business impact of proposed agreements, including staffing, workflow, financial, compliance, and service requirements.
Support development of contract strategy to protect organizational interests and advance long-term business goals.
Maintain and strengthen relationships with hospitals, health systems, clients, payers, vendors, consultants, and other external partners.
Represent Clin-Path Associates and Clin-Path Diagnostics in operational discussions, business meetings, contract discussions, and strategic partnership conversations as assigned.
Ensure contracts and business arrangements are operationally practical, financially responsible, and aligned with Board direction.
Monitor contract performance and support operational follow-through on contract obligations.
Partner with legal counsel, the Controller, physician leadership, and appropriate department leaders to ensure contract terms are reviewed from operational, financial, legal, and clinical perspectives.
Provide executive operational support for information technology through IT leadership.
Work with the Director of Information Technology to ensure technology systems support operational, clinical, administrative, and business needs.
Support technology planning related to infrastructure, cybersecurity, system performance, vendor relationships, and operational efficiency.
Evaluate technology needs and system improvements that support workflow, communication, reporting, and organizational performance.
Ensure IT priorities are aligned with operational goals, regulatory requirements, and business continuity needs.
Support technology-related vendor relationships, system implementation, and operational change management.
Partner with IT leadership to balance operational needs, cybersecurity considerations, system performance, cost, and long-term technology planning.
Work closely with Human Resources leadership regarding workforce planning, organizational structure, employee relations trends, leadership development, benefits, compensation, and operational impacts to staffing.
Support strategies that promote employee engagement, retention, leadership accountability, and workforce stability.
Partner with Human Resources leadership on organizational changes, performance management processes, policy implementation, and workforce initiatives.
Ensure operational decisions consider workforce impact, compliance obligations, culture, and employee experience.
Support development of leadership practices that promote accountability, communication, and operational consistency.
Collaborate on staffing plans, leadership needs, workforce transitions, and employee communication strategies as needed.
Partner with Human Resources leadership to ensure workforce decisions are operationally sound, compliant, and aligned with organizational culture and employee experience.
Ensure operations support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including healthcare, laboratory, employment, privacy, safety, and contractual requirements.
Support regulatory readiness and compliance activities in collaboration with laboratory, HR, finance, IT, legal, and operational leaders.
Monitor operational risks and escalate concerns to the Board as appropriate.
Support corrective action planning and process improvement related to compliance, quality, safety, risk, and operational performance.
Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information, employee information, financial information, contracts, and business strategy.
Ensure organizational processes are designed to support regulatory requirements and operational accountability.
Provide leadership, direction, and accountability to assigned operational and administrative leaders.
Promote clear communication, collaboration, and follow-through across departments.
Build strong working relationships with physicians, leaders, employees, vendors, consultants, and external partners.
Lead through influence, accountability, professionalism, and practical execution.
Support a culture of quality, service, transparency, respect, and continuous improvement.
Manage competing priorities while maintaining focus on organizational goals and Board direction.
Serve as a trusted operational advisor to the Board, physician leaders, and assigned leadership teams.
Provide executive leadership and oversight to assigned operational and administrative leadership functions, which may include: Vice President, Human Resources; Director of Laboratory Operations; Director of Information Technology; Controller; Other operational, administrative, or business leadership roles as assigned.
This position is responsible for ensuring assigned leaders and departments operate in alignment with Board direction, organizational goals, compliance expectations, and business priorities.