Job Description
Find your calling at Mercy!
The Executive Director of Acute Operations is an executive leader responsible for overseeing patient and staff logistics, nursing, emergency department operations, ancillary and support services, post-acute care, hospital-based physician standards, and preoperative/procedural areas across Mercy’s ministry. This role ensures seamless coordination of operating standards and processes across acute care delivery, driving operational excellence, efficiency, and sustainability across the health system.
As a direct report to the Vice President of Operational Excellence, this leader acts as a strategic partner and operator in advancing Mercy’s mission and vision through transformational initiatives that yield measurable improvements in patient care, staff experience, organizational resilience, and margin performance. Will work closely with various leaders across the organization.
Position Details:
Executive Director - Acute Operations, Ministry
Location: 15740 S Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Schedule: Full- Time, 40 Hours per week - Onsite
Operational and Strategic Leadership
Oversee the performance and reduce variation in the acute care setting including nursing, emergency services, ancillary/support services, post-acute care, and procedural areas. Optimize patient and staff logistics to improve throughput, safety, and satisfaction.
Establish and enforce hospital-based physician standards to ensure consistent, high-quality care delivery.
Partner with leaders to and implement system-wide initiatives that drive efficiency, scalability, and sustainability.
Act as an extension of community operations to ensure integration and alignment across acute and ambulatory settings.
Champion innovation and adaptive strategies that proactively address evolving healthcare challenges.
Performance & Outcomes
Drive measurable improvements in clinical quality, patient experience, staff engagement, and financial performance.
Implement best-in-class operational practices that yield margin improvement and organizational growth.
Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure accountability and transparency.
Collaboration & Influence
Build strong partnerships with physician leaders, nursing executives, and operational leaders / teams across the ministry.
Mentor and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of excellence, resilience, and continuous improvement.
Serve as a visible leader and advocate for Mercy’s mission, vision, and values.
Qualifications
Nursing Degree strongly preferred. Inpatient nursing experience strongly preferred.
Master’s degree in healthcare administration, Business Administration, Nursing, or related field required.
Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in acute care operations within a large, complex health system.
Proven track record of driving operational efficiency, sustainability, and measurable margin improvement.
Strong knowledge of hospital operations, physician practice standards, and post-acute care integration.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills.
Ability to synthesize complex data and translate insights into actionable strategies
Why Mercy?
From day one, Mercy offers outstanding benefits - including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, tuition support, and matched retirement plans for team members working 32+ hours per pay period.
Join a caring, collaborative team where your voice matters. At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion. As we grow, you'll grow with us.
keyword(s): Hospital Operations, Operational Excellence, Nursing, Leadership, Inpatient Nursing
Job Tags
Full time