The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a senior executive leader at Sandhills Medical and a key member of the C-suite reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The COO holds enterprise-wide accountability for the strategic direction and day-to-day operational performance of Sandhills Medical as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This role is both strategic and hands-on: the COO is expected to be visibly present across sites, actively supporting clinical and administrative teams, removing barriers to effective care delivery, and modeling a culture of excellence from the front lines. The COO translates the organization’s mission and strategic goals into measurable results while remaining accessible and engaged at the operational level — ensuring that the work happening in every department and at every site reflects Sandhills Medical’s commitment to high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-effective community healthcare.

Executive & Strategic Leadership

• Serves as the primary operational leader of Sandhills Medical, partnering with the CEO to shape and execute the organization’s long-term strategic vision.

• Translates board-level and CEO directives into operational strategies, goals, and accountability structures across all departments and service lines.

• Leads annual and multi-year operational planning processes, ensuring alignment with HRSA requirements, FQHC standards, and community health needs.

• Represents the organization in the absence of the CEO and provides executive-level engagement with the Board of Directors as needed.

• Identifies emerging opportunities, risks, and trends in the community health landscape and positions Sandhills Medical to respond proactively.

Operational Leadership & Day-to-Day Presence

• Provides enterprise-wide oversight of all clinical and administrative operations across all Sandhills Medical sites and service lines, including primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, and ancillary services.

• Maintains consistent, visible presence across all clinical sites — engaging directly with staff, providers, and patients to assess operational performance, identify barriers, and ensure care delivery standards are met.

• Works alongside site teams to troubleshoot operational challenges, support workflow improvements, and model a service-oriented, solutions-focused culture.

• Directs and holds accountable senior leaders, including the VP of Operations and department directors, to ensure efficient, effective, and consistent service delivery.

• Establishes performance standards, operational benchmarks, and accountability frameworks across all business units.

• Drives operational excellence through process improvement, standardization, and the implementation of best practices organization-wide.

• Ensures facilities, resources, and infrastructure are adequately managed, maintained, and positioned for sustainable growth.

Financial Stewardship & Sustainability

• Partners with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to develop, manage, and monitor organizational budgets that balance fiscal responsibility with mission-driven community needs.

• Oversees resource allocation, cost efficiency strategies, and operational sustainability across all departments and sites.

• Provides operational oversight to support grant management, funding opportunities, and HRSA compliance reporting requirements.

• Drives revenue cycle optimization and financial performance by aligning operational metrics with financial goals.

• Identifies and pursues opportunities for service expansion, new revenue streams, and strategic partnerships that advance the organization’s mission.

Emergency Preparedness & Organizational Resilience

• Provides executive leadership for organizational safety, security, and disaster preparedness planning and response.

• Oversees the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of business continuity plans to ensure operational resilience during emergencies.

• Ensures cross-departmental coordination and readiness for public health emergencies and other unplanned disruptions.

Leadership & Workforce Development

• Provides direct leadership, mentorship, and professional development to senior leaders including the VP of Operations and department directors.

• Is regularly visible and accessible to managers, frontline staff, and providers — fostering trust, open communication, and a strong organizational culture at every level.

• Builds a high-performance organizational culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, equity, and continuous improvement.

• Promotes staff engagement, succession planning, and a sustainable talent pipeline to ensure long-term organizational stability.

• Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring, development, and organizational practices.

• Models and instills Sandhills Medical’s mission and values across all levels of the organization.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Represents Sandhills Medical with external partners, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and the public, serving as a trusted ambassador of the organization’s mission.

• Builds and sustains productive relationships with patients, employees, the Board of Directors, HRSA, and community stakeholders.

• Leads cross-sector partnership development to expand access to care, enhance community health outcomes, and advance the organization’s strategic priorities.

• Collaborates with the CEO on advocacy efforts, legislative engagement, and health policy matters that impact FQHC operations and community health.

Requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, or related field required; Doctoral-level preparation (e.g., DHA, MBA, MPH with executive experience) is a plus.

• Experience: Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, with at least 7 years in a C-suite, VP, or equivalent senior executive role. FQHC or community health center experience is strongly preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Visionary executive leadership with demonstrated ability to set direction, align teams, and drive organizational transformation.

• Proven capacity to operate effectively at both a strategic and operational level — equally comfortable in the boardroom and on the clinic floor.

• Comprehensive knowledge of FQHC operations, HRSA requirements, UDS reporting, and value-based care models.

• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical reasoning, and complex problem-solving skills.

• Proven financial acumen, including operational budget management, revenue cycle oversight, and resource optimization.

• Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills with the ability to engage effectively across diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and motivate high-performing multi-disciplinary senior leadership teams.

• Strong change management and organizational development expertise.

• Proficiency in MS Office suite, EHR systems, and data analytics platforms.

• Ability to work with autonomy, exercise sound executive judgment, and maintain a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.

• Deep commitment to health equity, cultural humility, and the mission of serving underserved and vulnerable populations.

Other Duties: Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions)

• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.

• Frequent travel between all Sandhills Medical sites is required as part of the day-to-day responsibilities of this role.

• Normal business hours with flexibility for evenings and weekends, as needed.

About Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc.

Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc. is a mission-driven Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to improving the health and well-being of underserved and rural communities in South Carolina. Through an integrated network of primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, mobile health, and community-based services, Sandhills Medical Foundation provides accessible, high-quality, patient-centered healthcare regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. With multiple service locations, Sandhills Medical Foundation is focused on operational excellence, clinical quality, health equity, and innovative models of care delivery. The organization is actively advancing initiatives in value-based care, population health management, access improvement, workforce development, and continuous quality improvement while maintaining strong alignment with HRSA, UDS, and NCQA standards. The organization is seeking a dynamic and strategic Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join its executive leadership team. This senior leader will oversee multi-site healthcare operations to strengthen organizational performance, optimize patient access and experience, support provider engagement, and drive sustain...able operational growth. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated leadership experience within an FQHC, community health center, or complex ambulatory healthcare environment, along with expertise in healthcare operations, regulatory compliance, performance improvement, and organizational leadership. Why Join Sandhills Medical Foundation? - Mission-focused organization making a measurable impact in underserved communities - Executive leadership opportunity with enterprise-wide influence - Collaborative and forward-thinking leadership team - Commitment to innovation, quality outcomes, and continuous improvement - Growing organization with opportunities to shape strategic operations and future expansion - Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package Mission To be responsive to community healthcare needs by providing quality, comprehensive, and cost-effective healthcare. Vision To improve the health of our communities by delivering patient-centered, accessible, and high-quality healthcare through skilled and caring staff working together as a team. Core Values Access Honesty Teamwork Kindness Quality Collaboration Sandhills Medical Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

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Connections working at Sandhills Medical Foundation, Inc.