Senior Living Operations Specialist

About Sonida Senior Living Sonida Senior Living is one of the nation's leading operators of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities for senior adults. The Company operates 165 communities that are home to nearly 12,000 residents across 35 states providing comfortable, safe, affordable communities where residents can form friendships, enjoy new experiences and receive personalized care from dedicated team members who treat them family. Job Description: The Operations Specialist provides interim leadership to senior living communities during periods of transition, including executive director vacancies, post-acquisition integration, performance recovery, or leadership onboarding. The role is responsible for stabilizing operations, protecting community assets, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining continuity of resident care and services. This position is expected to quickly assess on-site conditions, prioritize risk, and execute against company operating standards while partnering closely with regional operations and the operational excellence. The operations specialist serves as both a hands-on leader and a short-term change agent, leaving communities more stable and prepared for long term leadership. Demonstrates knowledge of and assures compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Promotes the Company's mission statement. Responsibilities: * Rapid assessment of operational, regulatory, financial, and team performance. * Stabilization of leadership, staffing, and daily operations. * Clear and consistent communication with residents, families, team members, and corporate partners. * Identification and mitigation of compliance, safety, and resident care risk. * Execution of company operating standards and expectations. * Timely reporting and escalation of issues, progress, and outcomes. * Provides direct and indirect supervision of the community operation along with training, coaching, counseling, and performance evaluations of all staff members. * Ensures that the nursing services provided meet the needs of the residents in accordance with the developed service plans and that the service plans meet the required state codes and company policies. * Ensures that census expectations are met and that the resident admission process documentation is completed in a timely manner and in accordance with established policy and procedure. * Oversees the recruitment and retention of qualified staff throughout the community, making sure background checks, reference checks and licenses are cleared before the employee is released to work. * Ensures that staff has opportunities for ongoing training by way of in-service programs and specific educational workshops to meet the needs of the licensure and the needs of our current and future residents * Conducts the weekly management meetings, morning stand-up meetings and monthly all staff meetings. * Motivates employees through staff appreciation, recognition, and incentive programs. Promotes positive employee relations, addresses concern timely and resolves grievances as quickly as reasonably possible. * Oversees the community budget, providing guidance and training to department heads on the maintenance of the overall community budget. * Monitors operations of the community on a regular basis and prepares quality review audits and monthly variance reports. * Maintains and facilitates open lines of communication between corporate, regional and community staff * Prepares daily, weekly, and monthly reports in accordance to company policy or federal/state regulations as assigned by regional director of operations. * Maintains outreach and education with the community to ensure positive relationship with community resource * Works to resolve issues identified by residents, family members, and staff or outside representative. Keeps Regional Manager up to date on developments. * Oversees the building and grounds to ensure they are maintained in good repair, clean, free of trash and litter. Ensures that routine safety inspections and monthly fire drills are conducted on a routine basis. * Shares weekend "Manager-on-Duty" responsibilities Transition and Acquisition Support: * Support newly acquired or transitioning communities by assessing operational readiness and alignment with company standards * Partner with the operational excellence team to implement core processes during post-acquisition or recovery periods * Identify gaps in staffing, training, systems, or execution and support corrective action and planning * Provide interim leadership coverage while permanent executive directors are recruited, onboarded, or developed Operational Assessment and Feedback: * Conduct structured operational assessments upon entry into assigned communities * Identify root causes of performance challenges related to operations, compliance, or culture * Provide clear, practical feedback to operations and operational excellence leaders * Contribute insights that inform process improvement and future transition planning Continuous Improvement: * Recommend process enhancements to streamline transition billing operations. * Maintain documentation and SOPs for transition AR processes. * Track performance metrics and provide reporting to leadership. Qualifications: * Three or more years of experience as an Executive Director/Administrator in senior housing. * High school diploma required. College credits or degree preferred. * Hold or obtain, in good standing, a state required license per regulatory guidelines in states where applicable (RCA, LNHA). * Meet continuing education requirements. * Ability to communicate and work with all levels of the Company's management staff and Community Department Managers and Community Team Members effectively. * Ability to recognize and communicate problems appropriately. * Demonstrates team player with a positive attitude; able to work with Community Team Members and Regional Company staff. * Ability to maintain accurate records and provide information as requested and required. * Ability to relate to the public, Residents, families, Community Team Members and other professionals appropriately. * Ability to communicate proficiently in English, verbally and in writing * Ability to work flexible hours to meet requirements of the job and be on call. * Maintains car in good working order, current driver's license in good standing and auto insurance meeting company minimums is current. * Ability to organize their time, follow-up with the ability to perform job tasks efficiently. * Ability to teach/train others effectively. * Availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary, including frequent travel and overnights.