Visiting Associate Director Hospital Technical Assistance

University of Illinois System•Chicago, IL

2d•$115,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Visiting Associate Director-Hospital Technical Assistance provides subject matter expertise and strategic leadership to support rural hospital transformation under the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. The role guides hospitals through complex transformation efforts, including service line redesign, financial sustainability planning, and alignment with value-based care models. Operating within the Office of Medicaid Innovation (OMI), the position partners closely with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), rural hospital leadership, and cross-functional teams to deliver technical assistance and support system-level change. It serves as a clinical and operational advisor, drawing on expertise in hospital operations, care delivery, and healthcare transformation. This is a full-time academic professional position based in Chicago with a hybrid workplace arrangement. The expected start date is November 16, 2026. The budgeted salary range is $115,000 to $130,000. The position is intended to be eligible for benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance; a retirement plan; paid time off; and tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, public health, business administration, or a related field.
Clinical licensure (e.g., RN, MD, DO) or equivalent healthcare operations experience.
Seven or more years of experience in hospital operations, healthcare consulting, or healthcare transformation initiatives.
Demonstrated experience working with hospitals or health systems on operational, clinical, or financial improvement efforts.
Strong understanding of hospital service delivery models, care redesign, and healthcare system operations.
Experience supporting or implementing value-based care models or alternative payment strategies.
Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and engaging healthcare leadership.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in healthcare administration (MHA), business administration (MBA), public health (MPH), or a related field.
Experience working with rural hospitals or critical access hospitals.
Experience with Medicaid programs, managed care, or public sector healthcare initiatives.
Experience supporting federally funded programs or large-scale transformation efforts.
Familiarity with the Illinois healthcare landscape and provider environment.

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject matter expert in rural hospital operations, care delivery, and system transformation.
Provide strategic guidance to rural hospitals in developing and implementing transformation plans.
Advise on service line redesign, including shifting care models to align with community needs and outpatient-focused delivery.
Support hospitals in developing financial sustainability strategies, including cost optimization and revenue diversification.
Provide expertise on value-based payment models and support alignment with alternative payment methodologies.
Deliver high-level technical assistance to hospital leadership, including executives, clinical leaders, and operational teams.
Partner with hospitals to identify gaps in care delivery, access, and operational efficiency and recommend actionable solutions.
Collaborate with project management teams to align technical assistance delivery with overall RHT implementation plans.
Engage directly with hospital executives and stakeholders to support decision-making and change management efforts.
Support the development of tools, frameworks, and best practices for hospital transformation and technical assistance delivery.
Contribute to the design and refinement of transformation strategies across RHT initiatives.
Identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities impacting rural hospital sustainability and performance.
Support alignment between hospital transformation efforts and broader state Medicaid and HFS priorities.
Participate in stakeholder meetings, workgroups, and collaborative initiatives as a subject matter expert.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of RHT and OMI initiatives.