Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University•Brooklyn, NY

21h•$350,000 - $425,000

About The Position

Are you looking to take your career to new heights with a leader in healthcare? SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading metropolitan medical centers. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we serve a large population that is among the most diverse in the world. We are also highly-ranked by Castle Connolly Medical, a healthcare rating company for consumers, among the top 5 leading U.S. medical schools for training doctors. Bargaining Unit: MC Job Summary: The Department of Hospital Administration at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full-time Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SUNY University Hospital at Downstate serves as a key member of the executive leadership team with enterprise-wide responsibility for hospital operations, operational performance, and care delivery systems. The COO provides strategic and operational leadership across all clinical and support services, with accountability for the hospital’s day-to-day operations, quality and safety outcomes, workforce performance, and overall operational and financial performance in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care while advancing the hospital’s mission as Brooklyn’s only academic medical center and a critical safety-net provider serving diverse and underserved communities. SUNY University Hospital at Downstate is a 342-bed academic medical center serving nearly 3 million people across Brooklyn and the surrounding communities, with a critical role as a regional safety-net provider. Working in close collaboration with the CEO and senior leadership of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, the COO plays a central role in executing the organization’s strategic priorities and driving enterprise performance. The COO leads large-scale operational transformation efforts, including improving patient access and throughput, advancing clinical service line performance, and supporting major capital and facility modernization initiatives. This role is instrumental in positioning the hospital for long-term sustainability, operational excellence, and growth in clinical, academic, and community impact. The COO also partners with executive leadership and governance bodies to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, institutional priorities, and performance expectations.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, or a related field required.
Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in hospital or health system operations, including significant experience in a senior executive role (e.g., COO, Deputy COO, Senior Vice President of Operations, or equivalent).
Demonstrated experience leading operations within a large, complex hospital or academic medical center, including oversight of inpatient, outpatient, and support services.
Proven track record of accountability for operational and financial performance, including improving efficiency, throughput, cost management, and overall organizational performance.
Experience leading large-scale operational transformation and performance improvement initiatives, including patient flow, length of stay, and access improvement.
Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with physician leadership, department chairs, and clinical teams in a highly matrixed environment.
Experience managing and developing large, multidisciplinary teams in a complex healthcare setting.
Strong knowledge of healthcare regulatory, compliance, and accreditation requirements (e.g., state, federal, and accrediting bodies).
Demonstrated commitment to quality, patient safety, and patient experience.
Proven ability to lead within a mission-driven, safety-net, or public healthcare environment, serving diverse and underserved populations.
Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral Degree (e.g., DrPH, PhD) or advanced clinical degree (MD, DO, RN) strongly preferred.
Prior experience as a Chief Operating Officer within an academic medical center or large, complex health system.
Experience in a public hospital, safety-net system, or unionized workforce environment, particularly in an urban setting.
Demonstrated success in capital planning, facility expansion, and operational readiness for major construction or modernization projects.
Experience integrating academic, clinical, and research missions within a university-affiliated health system.
Strong background in clinical service line development and growth strategy, including market expansion and program development.
Experience with digital transformation initiatives, including implementation or optimization of electronic medical records and data-driven operational systems.
Demonstrated experience advancing health equity initiatives and addressing disparities in care delivery.
Familiarity with New York State healthcare regulations and environment.

Responsibilities

Provide executive oversight of all hospital operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality clinical and support services across the enterprise.
Direct the operational management of inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, perioperative, and support service functions.
Establish and maintain an effective operating model that aligns operational priorities with the hospital’s mission, strategic plan, and academic objectives.
Ensure operational alignment across clinical departments, administrative functions, and academic programs.
Share accountability with executive leadership for overall hospital financial performance, including operating margin, cost management, and resource utilization.
Partner closely with the Chief Financial Officer to align operational strategies with financial goals, including revenue optimization and expense management.
Develop and implement performance management systems, including dashboards and key performance indicators, to monitor operational, financial, and quality outcomes.
Drive measurable improvements in efficiency, productivity, and throughput across all areas of the organization.
Lead enterprise-wide initiatives to improve patient access, patient flow, length of stay, throughput, and care coordination.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making, operational best practices, and process improvement methodologies.
Benchmark performance against peer academic medical centers and implement best practices to enhance competitiveness and outcomes.
Partner with physician leaders, department chairs, and administrative leadership to optimize clinical service line performance, growth, and market positioning.
Support strategic growth and operational advancement in priority service lines, including cardiology, oncology, perioperative services, and ambulatory care.
Strengthen integration across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based services to improve continuity of care and patient outcomes.
Collaborate with the CEO and executive leadership to support the implementation of major capital investments and facility modernization initiatives.
Lead operational planning and readiness efforts for new facilities, expanded programs, and clinical services.
Ensure operational alignment with construction, regulatory, and transition timelines for capital projects and hospital expansion efforts.
Foster a high-performing, engaged workforce aligned with the hospital’s mission, values, and performance expectations.
Partner with Human Resources and clinical leadership on workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and leadership development strategies.
Promote collaboration and alignment among physicians, nurses, and multidisciplinary teams.
Support labor relations strategies and workforce engagement in a complex, unionized healthcare environment.
Support and advance enterprise-wide initiatives to improve quality outcomes, patient safety, and patient experience.
Ensure operational systems and processes support best practices in clinical care delivery and high reliability principles.
Maintain readiness for regulatory and accreditation requirements, including state and federal agencies and accrediting bodies.
Promote accountability for quality, safety, and service outcomes across all operational areas.
Partner with executive leadership to implement and optimize enterprise systems, including electronic medical records and operational technologies.
Support digital transformation initiatives that enhance clinical workflows, data integration, operational efficiency, and patient access.
Leverage data analytics to inform decision-making and improve organizational performance.
Work closely with university leadership to strengthen alignment between hospital operations and academic, teaching, and research programs.
Collaborate with external partners, community organizations, and civic leaders to improve healthcare access and care coordination.
Represent the hospital in operational partnerships, regional collaborations, and external engagements as appropriate.