Chief Operating Officer - Knoxville Area (Knoxville)

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) provides enterprise-wide operational leadership for a physician owned, multi-site medical group of approximately 2,300 employees.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO partners closely with the Board, physician leadership, and executive team to translate strategic priorities into effective, high-performing operations. The role oversees core business and clinical operations, including clinic operations, ancillary services such as imaging, the sleep center, laboratory, physical therapy, and express clinics, as well as marketing, and electronic health record (EHR) optimization.

The COO is accountable for operational excellence, growth execution, integration of new physicians and sites, and scalable infrastructure that supports quality care, efficiency, and a consistent patient and provider experience across the organization.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive healthcare operations leadership, including senior responsibility in a multi-site, physician-owned or physician-led medical group or comparable ambulatory environment.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, distributed operations at scale and supporting centralized service models.
• Proven leader of leaders with the ability to build strong teams, set expectations, and drive accountability without micromanagement.
• Experience partnering effectively with physicians, executive teams, and governing bodies, including Boards and physician committees.
• Strong track record of translating strategy into execution across enterprise initiatives.
• Experience overseeing operational enablement functions such as clinic operations, ancillary services, centralized marketing, facilities, and EHR or operational technology optimization.
• Sound business judgment, executive presence, and clear, direct communication skills.
• Participation in relevant industry associations such as AMGA and MGMA preferred.

Education

• Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Ongoing professional development in healthcare operations, leadership, or practice management expected.

Core Competencies

• Leadership: Assesses talent effectively, builds strong leadership teams, and places the right people in the right roles to drive performance.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across physicians, executives, and site leaders to align priorities and drive results.
• Communication: Communicates clearly, directly, and appropriately with stakeholders at all levels, including the Board and physician owners.
• Strategic Agility: Anticipates change, adapts quickly, and translates strategy into practical action in a complex healthcare environment.
• Decision Quality and Accountability: Makes timely, well-reasoned decisions, owns outcomes, and holds leaders accountable for execution and results.

Management Scope

The Chief Operating Officer directly manages nine senior leaders overseeing key operational areas, including ancillary services, centralized marketing, EHR optimization, enterprise project management for facilities and new acquisitions, and the Director of Operations. Through these leaders, the COO provides executive oversight to an organization of approximately 200+ team members, with accountability for leadership development, performance expectations, and consistent execution across a complex, multi-site operating model.

This is a full-time, on-site executive leadership position based at Summit’s administrative headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. The role requires frequent in-person engagement across clinical sites, board meetings, executive meetings, and physician settings. Candidates must be available for travel within the region and are expected to maintain a strong on-site leadership presence.

OUR GOAL

To develop and equip our members to create dynamic, successful medical group practices.

OUR VISION

To be the recognized leader in defining and supporting the profession of medical practice management in Tennessee.