Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bayou Bend Health System

Bayou Bend Health System seeks a visionary, community-minded, and operationally disciplined Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our 22-bed Critical Access Hospital district into its next chapter of growth and service excellence.

Serving as the chief strategic, financial, and operational leader of the organization, the CEO is responsible for advancing the hospital’s mission of delivering exceptional, compassionate healthcare to Franklin and the surrounding rural parishes. The CEO will champion a culture focused on quality, accountability, patient-centered care, physician collaboration, employee engagement, and operational excellence while serving as a visible and trusted leader throughout the community.

Reporting directly to the Board of Commissioners and working in close alignment with CHC corporate leadership, the CEO oversees all hospital operations and leads an executive team that includes the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), medical directors, and other operational leaders.

The ideal candidate will possess a “stabilizer and builder” mentality—maintaining stringent regulatory compliance and cost-based reimbursement health while driving local service-line growth, physician recruitment, and community engagement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Develop and execute strategic initiatives that strengthen the hospital’s role as the trusted healthcare provider for the region.
• Identify and drive growth opportunities through service-line development, physician recruitment, partnerships, and outpatient expansion.
• Collaborate with the Board and CHC leadership to establish long-term organizational priorities and measurable performance goals.
• Position the organization for sustainable success in a rapidly evolving rural healthcare environment.

Operational & Financial Management

• Provide oversight for all hospital operations, ensuring efficient, high-quality, and patient-centered care delivery.
• Maintain strong financial performance through disciplined budget management, revenue optimization, and expense control.
• Oversee the development and management of the annual operating budget and long-term capital expenditure plan.
• Ensure the organization maintains compliance with Critical Access Hospital regulations and preserves cost-based reimbursement integrity.
• Monitor operational metrics and implement performance improvement initiatives that drive clinical, financial, and operational excellence.

Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

• Foster a culture of quality, safety, compliance, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and accrediting agency regulations.
• Lead organizational efforts related to patient safety, risk management, infection prevention, and quality improvement.
• Promote evidence-based practices and continuous improvement methodologies.

Physician & Workforce Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing clinical and operational leaders.
• Build strong relationships with physicians, advanced practice providers, and medical staff.
• Promote employee engagement, workforce development, and a positive organizational culture.
• Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives across the organization.

Community Engagement & External Relations

• Serve as the visible face of the hospital within the community and surrounding parishes.
• Build collaborative relationships with local officials, community organizations, employers, schools, and healthcare partners.
• Strengthen community trust through transparency, accessibility, and active engagement.
• Advocate for rural healthcare initiatives and the evolving needs of the communities served.

• Master's Degree in a healthcare related field or a BS in a healthcare related field with a business related masters, or the equivalent in education and experience
• Progressive senior leadership experience within a hospital or healthcare system setting.
• Demonstrated operational and financial leadership experience in a hospital environment.
• Strong knowledge of healthcare regulations, compliance standards, and reimbursement methodologies.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage change, and build collaborative relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior Critical Access Hospital and/or rural healthcare leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working within a hospital district or public healthcare governance structure.
• Demonstrated success in physician recruitment, service-line development, and community engagement initiatives.

Ideal Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be:

• A visible, approachable, and relationship-oriented leader.
• Operationally disciplined and financially astute.
• Passionate about rural healthcare and community service.
• Strategic yet hands-on in leadership style.
• Skilled at balancing local autonomy with collaborative corporate partnership.
• Adept at navigating change while maintaining organizational stability and trust.

This is an opportunity to lead an essential rural healthcare organization that plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of the communities it serves. The CEO will have the ability to make a lasting impact through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and meaningful community engagement while partnering with an experienced and supportive healthcare management organization.