Chief Administrative Officer, Heart & Vascular Care Line

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Heart and Vascular Care Line, is the senior administrative executive responsible for advancing and integrating the operational, financial, and business performance of of heart and vascular services across University of Utah Health and partner organizations. This role ensures alignment between Care Line strategy and administrative operations, supports high value- care delivery, and drives sustainable growth, operational excellence, and financial stewardship across the inpatient, outpatient, procedural, perioperative, and rehab care.As a partner on the three-person Care Line Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the CAO, the Executive Nursing Director and the CMO Executive Director (MD) for Heart and Vascular, this leader coordinates cardiovascular services across inpatient, outpatient, perioperative, procedural, and rehab settings, and leads strategic growth, operational strategy, innovation, quality/safety initiatives, academic integration, and financial stewardship while fostering high reliability and collaboration. This position is responsible for respective direct reports supporting the Heart and Vascular Care Line operations and related financial orgs. The role reports to the Care Line Clinical Board (with functional reporting to the System Associate Chief Operating Officer) and co-leads the Care Line Executive Operations Committee (CLEOC) to achieve care line goals and outcomes.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Growth

• Co-develop and lead the Heart and Vascular Care Line's multi-year strategy, goals, and operating plan with ELT.
• Translate care line and system strategy into aligned priorities and clear guidance across departments, sites, and partners.
• Drive growth by assessing market trends and patient needs and advancing initiatives that expand access and improve value.
• Set, track, and report key quality, experience, and operational metrics to drive performance and continuous improvement.

Strategic -Operational Integration

• Build two-way communication loops so frontline insights inform care line decisions and priorities.
• Provide strategic direction to the Heart and Vascular Care Line Executive Operations Committee (CLEOC) to translate initiatives into executed work.
• Establish clear governance and communication routines that drive transparency, engagement, and alignment across clinical areas.
• Monitor outcomes and experience, communicate expected impacts, and adjust strategy and execution based on results.

Quality, Safety and Patient Advocacy

• Lead a high-reliability culture of safety, transparency, learning, and continuous improvement across the care line.
• Ensure patient and family perspectives shape strategy, program design, and leadership decisions.
• Co-lead care line quality, safety, and patient experience objectives (including OKRs) with ELT.
• Define, monitor, and improve performance measures aligned with strategy, operational priorities, and professional standards.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a visible, trusted executive partner in ELT, modeling shared leadership and advancing Care Line mission and priorities.
• Align physician, nursing, and administrative leaders around shared goals and resolve differences quickly and constructively.
• Communicate priorities clearly and build the structures needed for consistent execution across inpatient, ambulatory, procedural, and perioperative settings.
• Build strong relationships and interdisciplinary teamwork that support coordinated care and seamless patient journeys.

Leadership and Workforce Development

• Model leadership that inspires innovation, empowerment, and professional excellence.
• Cultivate a culture where leaders and teams are informed, inspired, and connected to the care line's mission.
• Build credibility and alignment with key stakeholders to ensure the care line's integral role in strategic advancement.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Strong track record leading complex, multi-site operations through partnership, influence, and disciplined execution.

• Deep operational and financial expertise, including budgeting, capital planning, cost management, access/capacity, and performance optimization.

• Strategic and systems thinking-able to build and run multi-year plans and integrate performance across departments, sites, and partners.

• Strong performance management capability, using metrics, dashboards, governance, and continuous improvement/high-reliability methods to improve outcomes and experience.

• Effective relationship-centered leader with executive presence, credibility, and the ability to build trust and alignment across clinical, academic, administrative, and external stakeholders in an academic health system.

Qualifications

Qualifications
Required

• Master's degree in healthcare administration, business, public health, or related field strongly preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience (5-7 years) and evidence of continued professional growth in healthcare administration or executive leadership.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This is a sedentary position that may exert up to 10 pounds and may lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. This position involves sitting most of the time and is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking