Chief Operating Officer Medical Group (Aurora)

Description

The Opportunity

Chief Operating Officer, UCHealth Medical Group

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the UCHealth Medical Group leads and oversees the physician-led group serving UCHealth hospitals and clinics. This pivotal role reports directly to the President and CEO of the Medical Group and is a key member of and works collaboratively with, the senior leadership team which holds ultimate responsibility and authority for the strategic leadership, direction, and day-to-day administration of all operational areas and their related entities. The COO ensures adherence to established goals, the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered, and efficient healthcare services, and the successful management of other related business lines. This leadership is critical in upholding the system's core mission, vision, and values, always prioritizing an exceptional experience and optimal outcomes for every patient.

The culture at UCHealth is results driven, and each member has high expectations for themselves as well as those with whom they partner and lead. This individual will be joining a high performing, fast-paced team and, as such, will possess characteristics that align with the values and behaviors instilled in the organizational culture. Candidates will be comfortable working in a fast-paced organization. They will exude honesty, respect, trust, integrity, and high ethical standards and serve in a supportive, open and direct manner.

This position does not offer a hybrid or remote work option and will require relocation to the Denver market with a primary office location in Aurora, Colorado.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to: President and Chief Executive Officer, UCHealth Medical Group

Key Responsibilities

• Participates in multi-year strategic planning process as part of enterprise strategic planning process. Translates organizational objectives into specific departmental strategies and actionable plans.
• Supports clinical network and service line integration strategies in collaboration with medical group, hospital, and health system stakeholders.
• Engages with medical group and health system partners to evaluate growth opportunities through merger, acquisition, or partnership models.
• Establishes performance metrics and KPIs for group and practice performance in collaboration with finance and analytics team members.
• Develops, executes, tracks, and achieves operational budgets for all areas under responsibilities.
• Drives operational excellence and efficiency across all clinical and administrative functions to enhance patient flow and service delivery.
• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, encouraging teams to identify and implement best practices that elevate patient care and outcomes.
• Cultivates strong relationships with physician leaders and staff, promoting collaborative efforts to optimize patient care pathways and experiences.
• Identifies and implements solutions that streamline operations, improve data utilization, and benefit patient care and accessibility.
• Recruits, develops, and retains top talent within the medical group's operational teams, building a skilled workforce dedicated to our mission and patient-centered values.
• Creates and implements key policies and procedures that significantly influence departmental effectiveness.
• Ensures robust compliance with all healthcare regulations and quality standards, maintaining a safe and high-performing environment for both patients and staff.
• Leads across three regions and ensures consistency and operational excellence while recognizing regional nuances and unique challenges.
• Partners with physician and clinical leadership to form successful dyad leadership pairings throughout the medical group.
• Keeps current on emerging trends and models of care throughout the industry.

Ideal Candidate Profile

A successful candidate for this role consistently demonstrates the following behaviors, outputs, and performance patterns:

Demonstrates Enterprise-First Thinking

• Consistently makes decisions that optimize system-wide performance over local gain. Integrates clinical, operational, and financial priorities into cohesive strategies. Delivers scalable solutions that improve performance across regions, with measurable, sustained outcomes.

Exercises Strategic Influence at the Executive Level

• Shapes enterprise decisions through credibility, data-informed perspective, and strong relationships with executives, providers and other stakeholders. Effectively represents the Medical Group in C-suite and system forums. Advances priorities through alignment and influence rather than reliance on authority.

Builds and Empowers High-Performing Leaders

• Establishes clear expectations and accountability while enabling leaders to operate independently. Demonstrates a pattern of developing strong leadership bench strength. Teams consistently deliver results without requiring direct intervention.

Leads Through Collaboration and Trust

• Engages physicians, APPs, nurses, and administrative partners with respect and inclusivity. Actively listens, incorporates diverse perspectives, and aligns stakeholders around shared goals. Maintains strong, low-friction relationships across a matrixed environment.

Drives Disciplined, Sustainable Change

• Approaches transformation with a balance of innovation and continuity. Builds on existing strengths while introducing improvements that enhance long-term value. Successfully implements change initiatives that achieve results without unnecessary disruption.

Sustains Organizational Health and Performance

• Prioritizes team engagement, well-being, and cultural alignment as drivers of performance. Demonstrates leadership stability and resilience in complex environments. Maintains high-performing teams with strong retention and consistent delivery of results over time.

Experience Patterns Commonly Observed in Successful Candidates

• Candidates who perform well in this role typically demonstrate the following experience patterns: Progressive senior leadership experience in complex organizations with increasing responsibility across multi-site or multi-regional medical group environments. Experience often includes leading through matrixed structures where authority is shared and alignment is required across functions and geographies. Prior position titles could include Chief Operating Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Vice President or similar within a medical group entity.
• Medical group leadership roles with accountability for functions such as operations, finance integration, revenue cycle, or physician enterprise management. Demonstrated success in aligning infrastructure and operations at scale, not just within a single business unit.
• Consistent experience working closely with physician leaders in dyad or triad models. Evidence of successfully aligning clinical and administrative priorities to improve quality, access, and financial performance.
• Track record of operating in environments where outcomes depended on cross-functional alignment rather than direct control. Experience navigating competing priorities and achieving results through relationships, negotiation, and credibility.
• History of recruiting, developing, and retaining strong operational leaders. Demonstrated ability to elevate team performance, create leadership bench strength, and sustain results through others.
• Regular interaction with executive leadership (e.g., CEO, CFO, CMO) on strategy and execution. Experience contributing to enterprise decision-making and aligning diverse stakeholders around shared priorities.

Position Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum Required Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, healthcare management or another related field. A master's degree in business administration or healthcare administration is preferred.
• Minimum Experience: At least 5 years of senior-level operations experience in a large medical group.

Pay: $346,028 - $519,000 annual base pay. Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience

At UCHealth, We Improve Lives

Employees are our number one asset.

UCHealth promotes a culture that invests in professional success and personal well-being through a comprehensive total rewards program. *

Recognition

• Performance bonus: UCHealth offers an Annual Performance Bonus to recognize employee contributions to our success in quality, patient experience, organizational growth, and financial goals.
• Performance-based pay increase: The Annual Merit Pay Increase recognizes work performance that meets or consistently exceeds performance standards documented through UCHealth's established evaluation process and accounts for increased experience, skills and cost of living.
• Market reviews: All UCHealth positions are reviewed annually to ensure UCHealth base pay aligns with market standards. Base pay rates are adjusted as needed to stay market competitive.

Health and well-being

• Medical, dental and vision coverage.
• Access to 24/7 mental health and well-being support for employees and dependents.
• Discounted gym memberships and fitness resources.
• Free Care.com membership.
• Voluntary benefits such as accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal plan, identity theft protection, pet insurance, auto and home insurance, and employee discount programs.
• Time away from work: ]]>