Life Link III- Chief Executive Officer

The Organization

Life Link III is a nationally recognized, nonprofit critical care air medical transport organization dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and life saving care to critically ill and injured patients across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Midwest. For more than four decades, Life Link III has served as a vital extension of the region's healthcare delivery system, ensuring rapid access to advanced clinical expertise in moments when time and excellence matter most. In 2024, it was awarded the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Beacon Award for Excellence Gold, marking a historic first as the only critical care air medical transport program in the nation to receive this prestigious honor at any level and placing it at the forefront in innovation among critical care transport providers.


Founded in 1985 as a pioneering hospital based consortium, Life Link III remains one of the largest and most mature nonprofit air medical consortium models in the United States. Today, the organization is owned and governed by nine leading regional health systems that collaboratively support a neutral, mission driven approach to critical care transport focused solely on what is best for the patient. Its consortium model enables health systems to collectively steward resources, share expertise, and uphold industry leading standards while preserving neutrality across competitive healthcare markets. Life Link III transports patients to the most appropriate destination based on medical need, independent of ownership or commercial incentive.


At its core, Life Link III is defined by partnership, innovation, and service to community. Its consortium model enables health systems to collectively steward resources, share expertise, and uphold industry leading standards while preserving neutrality across competitive healthcare markets. Supported by a highly skilled and multidisciplinary workforce-including flight clinicians, pilots, mechanics, communications specialists, and administrative professionals-Life Link III continues to serve as a trusted partner to hospitals, EMS agencies, and communities throughout the region and as a leader in nonprofit, high acuity medical transport.


Life Link III operates a comprehensive, integrated transport system that combines rotor wing and fixed wing aviation, advanced critical care medicine, and a centralized Communications and Operations Control Center, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With eleven strategically located helicopter bases across Minnesota and Wisconsin and a dedicated fixed wing aircraft, the organization completes thousands of critical care transports annually, providing bedside to bedside care for patients requiring the highest level of medical and aviation coordination.


The organization is widely respected for its culture of safety, clinical excellence, and high reliability operations. Life Link III's air medical programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) for both rotor wing and fixed wing services, reflecting sustained adherence to the highest national standards for patient care, safety, and quality. The organization has also achieved national recognition for excellence in critical care transport, workforce engagement, and operational performance-setting a new benchmark for the industry.

Greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul Region

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area ("Twin Cities") serves as the economic, healthcare, and cultural center of Minnesota and is one of the most dynamic and influential regions in the Upper Midwest. Home to more than 3.7 million residents across the metropolitan region, the Twin Cities combine the scale and sophistication of a major metropolitan area with a strong quality of life, high educational attainment, and a deeply rooted culture of civic engagement and nonprofit leadership.


The regional economy is notably diversified and resilient, with national and global leadership across healthcare and life sciences, medical technology, financial services, manufacturing, logistics, food and agriculture, and corporate services. The Twin Cities are home to a concentration of renowned healthcare systems and medical institutions, alongside a historic presence of Fortune 500 companies and industry innovators. This environment has produced a strong demand for advanced clinical services, highly skilled talent, and complex operational leadership, particularly in sectors where safety, reliability, and coordination are paramount.


Healthcare and emergency services play a central role in the region's infrastructure and identity. Minnesota is nationally recognized for clinical excellence, integrated healthcare delivery, and innovation in patient care, creating a robust ecosystem in which organizations like Life Link III operate as essential partners to hospitals, health systems, first responders, and communities across the region. Ensuring timely access to critical care, particularly for rural and underserved areas throughout Minnesota and neighboring states, remains a priority for the region's healthcare leaders and policymakers.


The Twin Cities are also known for their strong culture of collaboration across business, government, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. Organizations benefit from a highly engaged civic community, experienced boards, and a tradition of crosssector partnership focused on longterm impact and stewardship. With extensive access to outdoor recreation, arts and culture, nationally ranked educational institutions, and vibrant neighborhoods, the region offers an attractive environment for executive leaders and their families.


As a headquarters location, Minneapolis-Saint Paul provides Life Link III with proximity to key consortium member health systems, regulatory and policy stakeholders, and a deep bench of professional talent-supporting the organization's continued leadership in nonprofit, critical care air medical transport and its mission to serve patients and communities throughout the Upper Midwest.


The Opportunity

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Shoreview, MN (Greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul Region)

Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors

Website:


Purpose of the Position

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Life Link III serves as the organization's strategic leader, chief steward of safety and quality, and primary ambassador, accountable for advancing a missiondriven, nonprofit critical care transport organization operating at the intersection of healthcare, aviation, and emergency response. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO is responsible for leading Life Link III through its next phase of evolution while preserving the organization's longstanding commitment to patientcentered care, clinical excellence, and highreliability operations.


As head of one of the nation's most respected hospitalbased consortium models, the CEO will partner closely with member health systems, Board leadership, physicians, and senior executives to ensure alignment between Life Link III's enterprise strategy and the priorities of its owners and stakeholders. This leader will balance neutrality, collaboration, and accountability within a sharedgovernance environment, strengthening trust across member organizations while driving organizational performance, sustainability, and innovation.


The CEO serves as the ultimate accountable executive for safety, overseeing an integrated system that encompasses clinical care, aviation operations, communications, and regulatory compliance. This includes reinforcing a culture grounded in Just Culture principles, continuous quality improvement, and disciplined risk management, ensuring that Life Link III consistently meets or exceeds the highest standards in clinical outcomes, aviation safety, and operational integrity.


At a time of increasing complexity across healthcare delivery, reimbursement, regulation, and workforce dynamics, the CEO will guide longterm strategy, organizational growth, and market positioning. The role requires a leader capable of navigating change, disciplined focus on the core mission, service innovation, and strategic partnerships, and ensuring that Life Link III remains financially strong, operationally resilient, and nationally recognized as a leader in nonprofit critical care transport.


Finally, the CEO will represent Life Link III externally as a trusted voice and industry leader, strengthening relationships with healthcare partners, regulators, policymakers, peer organizations, and communities. Through visible, valuesdriven leadership, the CEO will inspire and engage a multidisciplinary workforce while positioning Life Link III to continue delivering lifesaving care and advancing excellence in critical care transport for years to come.


Key Responsibilities

The Chief Executive Officer will provide visionary, disciplined, and valuesdriven leadership for Life Link III, ensuring the organization consistently delivers on its mission while operating at the highest levels of safety, clinical excellence, and operational reliability. The CEO is responsible for translating strategy into execution across a complex, highly regulated, and safetycritical enterprise-balancing the needs of consortium member health systems, regulatory and accreditation demands, workforce engagement, and longterm organizational sustainability. In partnership with the Board of Directors and executive leadership team, the CEO will guide enterprise strategy, foster a highreliability culture, and position Life Link III to remain a nationally respected leader in nonprofit critical care transport amid evolving healthcare, aviation, and market dynamics.


Strategic Leadership, Mission Stewardship and Enterprise Direction
• Lead the development and execution of Life Link III's enterprise strategy, aligning mission, performance objectives, and longrange priorities across a rapidly evolving healthcare and aviation landscape.
• Translate Life Link III's mission and values into clear organizational goals, performance metrics, and decisionmaking frameworks that guide both nearterm execution and longterm growth.
• Anticipate external trends-including healthcare consolidation, reimbursement dynamics, regulatory change, and workforce pressures-and ensure the organization remains strategically positioned, relevant, and resilient.
• Balance innovation with operational discipline, leading the organization through periods of change while preserving stability, trust, and mission focus.


Safety, Quality, and High-Reliability Operations
• Partner with representative aviation and clinical safety leadership, ensuring full compliance with all applicable regulatory, accreditation, and safety management requirements.
• Champion and continuously reinforce a Just Culture that prioritizes safety reporting, learning, transparency, and continuous improvement across all operations.
• Ensure the seamless integration of aviation, clinical, communications, and operational functions into a unified, highreliability critical care transport system.
• Hold leadership teams accountable for excellence in patient outcomes, operational reliability, and risk management, supported by datadriven performance measurement.


Consortium Governance and Board Partnership
• Partner closely with the Board of Directors to support effective governance, strategic alignment, and fiduciary oversight within a sharedownership consortium model.
• Build and sustain trust among member health systems by balancing enterprise priorities with individual member interests while maintaining organizational neutrality.
• Provide clear, transparent, and timely communication to the Board and consortium members on performance, risks, capital needs, and strategic opportunities.
• Navigate complex stakeholder dynamics arising from health system consolidation, ownership changes, and evolving governance expectations.


Financial Stewardship, Fleet Strategy and Organizational Sustainability
• Ensure the longterm financial health of the organization through disciplined budgeting and forecasting, revenue integrity, margin improvement, and effective cost management.
• Lead enterpriselevel capital planning, including fleet recapitalization, aircraft lifecycle strategy, and longrange infrastructure investments.
• Partner with the Board and member systems to align financial strategy, capital requirements, and funding approaches with Life Link III's mission and operating model.
• Strengthen organizational sustainability by evaluating business models, payer strategies, and operational efficiencies that support longterm viability.


Organizational Leadership, External Engagement, and Industry Influence
• Lead, inspire, and retain a highperforming, multidisciplinary workforce by fostering a culture of mission commitment through accountability, professionalism, and collaboration.
• Build and mentor a strong executive leadership team capable of executing strategy, managing complexity, supporting frontline excellence, and upholding high employee engagement.
• Serve as the primary external representative and ambassador for Life Link III, strengthening relationships with healthcare partners, regulators, policymakers, and industry peers.
• Elevate Life Link III's national standing and influence by actively engaging in industry forums, partnerships, and advocacy efforts aligned with nonprofit critical care transport.


The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

Life Link III seeks a seasoned, enterpriselevel executive to lead one of the nation's most respected nonprofit critical care air medical transport organizations at a pivotal moment in its evolution. The Chief Executive Officer will operate at the intersection of healthcare delivery, aviation safety, and sharedgovernance leadership, guiding a missionfocused organization where decisions have immediate consequences for patient outcomes, workforce safety, and longterm sustainability. The successful candidate will bring the strategic perspective, operational discipline, and emotional intelligence required to balance nearterm execution with longrange stewardship, align diverse stakeholders within a consortium model, and lead with confidence in a highly regulated, safetycritical environment. This leader must be equally effective setting enterprise direction, serving as the accountable executive for safety and quality, and inspiring trust across the Board, member health systems, frontline teams, and external partners.


Candidates should have the following qualifications and characteristics:
• Progressive senior executive experience within healthcare, air medical transport, aviation, emergency services, or a similarly regulated, highreliability environment.
• Demonstrated success leading complex organizations with multiple stakeholders, operating units, or partner institutions, including experience working closely with a governing Board of Directors.
• Proven ability to serve as the accountable executive for safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, with experience reinforcing cultures of high reliability, Just Culture principles, and continuous improvement.
• Strong strategic and financial acumen, including experience guiding longrange planning, capital investment decisions, budget management, and organizational sustainability in capitalintensive environments.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change within respected, missiondriven institutions, balancing legacy strengths with the need for modernization, operational discipline, and evolving business models.
• Experience addressing healthcare reimbursement, revenue cycle performance, and payer dynamics, particularly in environments affected by regulatory change, government payer mix, or complex billing and collections processes preferred.
• Strong systems thinker with the ability to assess enterprisewide tradeoffs, align diverse functions, and make disciplined decisions in capitalintensive, resourceconstrained environments.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead across multiple highly specialized domains, such as clinical care delivery, aviation or transportation operations, technologyenabled dispatch, and corporate infrastructure, integrating expertise into cohesive enterprise performance.
• Experience navigating sharedgovernance or consortium models, joint ventures, or collaborative ownership structures, balancing enterprise priorities with partner or member interests.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire, and retain highperforming executive teams and multidisciplinary workforces through clear expectations, accountability, empathy, and visible leadership.
• Credibility as an external representative and ambassador, with experience engaging healthcare leaders, regulators, policymakers, industry partners, and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of, or strong aptitude to quickly develop fluency in, air medical transport, aviation operations, critical care delivery, and the regulatory framework governing these fields is strongly preferred.


Key Relationships

Life Link III Executive Leadership Team and Staff
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Innovation Officer
• Chief Medical Officer
• Chief, Business Operations and Planning
• Chief Development Officer
• Chief, Flight Operations
• General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer


Education
• A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree in healthcare administration, business, public health, aviation management, or a related field is preferred


Compensation
• The estimated base compensation will be $350k - $450k. Life Link III offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.