Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Job Purpose & Position Overview

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) provides strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS). Advancing the vision of WCHS by cultivating an organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves, honoring the cultural values and traditions of the Winnebago Tribe, ensuring accessible, compassionate, and patient-centered care, and achieving measurable organizational outcomes. The CEO works collaboratively with the Tribal leadership, Board of Directors, medical staff, and other stakeholders to strengthen WCHS, support its long-term growth, sustainability, and impact.

WCHS is owned and operated by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and encompasses the Twelve Clans Unity Hospital (TCUH), Winnebago Public Health Department (WPHD), and shared administrative services. Together, these entities provide integrated hospital, ambulatory, public health, and community-based services for those served.

The functions described represent the primary responsibilities of the position but do not restrict WCHS's ability to assign, reassign, modify, or eliminate duties and responsibilities based on organizational needs.

Specific Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate the WCHS core mission vision, and values.
• Cultural Leadership and Understanding: Demonstrate a strong understanding of Native culture, values, traditions, and the unique healthcare needs of tribal communities, with particular respect for the culture and values of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Ensure this understanding is reflected in leadership practices, organizational decisions, strategic priorities, and the delivery of culturally appropriate healthcare services.
• Board of Directors and Tribal Council Support: The Chief Executive Officer supports the operation and administration of the WCHS by maintaining continual, open and effective communication with the Board of Directors and the Winnebago Tribal Council. The Chief Executive Officer will ensure that comprehensive orientation and continuing education opportunities are available to members of the Board and the Council. The Chief Executive Officer will facilitate relationships between the Board of Directors, Tribal Council, legal counsel, and accounting and audit organizations, will utilize legal counsel for operational matters, and, in conjunction with Tribal Finance, will manage the engagement of accounting and audit organizations of operational matters.
• Medical Staff Liaison: The Chief Executive Officer facilitates relationships between the physicians and the Board of Directors as well as with contract providers and agencies. Chief Executive Officer leads the efforts to support the physicians through recruiting, continuing education opportunities, and retention. The Chief Executive Officer recognizes the ongoing strength and success of the Hospital relies heavily on the strength and success of the medical staff and engages them accordingly.
• Community, Networking and Public Relations: Through exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, the Chief Executive Officer assures that the Hospital and Public Health Program and its missions, programs, and essential services are consistently presented in a strong, positive image to patients, physicians, employees and the private sector. As the ‘face’ of the WCHS, the Chief Executive Officer will be actively involved in the community through service organization membership, speaking engagements, community forums, educational offerings and other opportunities to communicate the WCHS mission. The Chief Executive Officer will reach out and network with private sector medical centers, hospitals and physician practices to maximize the availability of referral sources and shared services.
• Compliance: The Chief Executive Officer will ensure that the WCHS complies with local, state and federal laws and regulations as they apply to operations of the Hospital and Public Health Department. This includes all outside certifying agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the Joint Commission and any other applicable certifying or accreditation organization necessary to ensure the provision of quality health care and maxim reimbursement.
• Strategic Planning: The Chief Executive Officer will stay current with general trade and industry conditions, especially Medicare and Medicaid, Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and their potential impact on the Hospital’s policies and operations. The Chief Executive Officer in collaboration with the Board of Directors and Tribal Council develops the short-term and long-term strategic plan for the Hospital and the Public Health Department and its offered services. The Chief Executive Officer ensures the strategic plan is articulated both internally and externally and effectively delegates key activities to ensure timely execution of the strategic plan initiatives.
• Annual Goals: Achieve Board-approved annual goals and measurable performance criteria aligned with WCHS strategic priorities and organizational needs, with results reviewed annually as part of the CEO performance evaluation.
• Delivery of Healthcare Services: The Chief Executive Officer has overall responsibility for the design, marketing, promotion, delivery, organizational staffing and recruitment efforts, risk management and quality of all health system programs and services provided to the community. The Chief Executive Officer ensures that policies and practices effectively support sound and safe patient care and that the delivery of healthcare provides the highest level possible and consistently promotes patient satisfaction and quality care.
• Financial Management: The Chief Executive Officer recommends yearly budgets to the Board of Directors and ensures effective management of the staff of the Health System according to current, authorized personnel policies and procedures that fully conform to current laws and regulations. He/she completes annual evaluations for direct reports in a timely and effective manner. The Chief Executive Officer maintains compliance with established Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Facilities Management: The Chief Executive Officer oversees the preservation of the asset value of the Health System’s capital investments, oversees the management of construction and facility rehabilitation, activities, and ensures disaster and emergency preparedness activities are appropriately planned, exercised, and documented.

Duties listed are only an illustration of various types of work performed. The omission of the specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the process.

Required Qualifications/Skills:

• Master’s degree (e.g., Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Business Administration, Public Administration).
• Extensive experience in Healthcare Management
• Executive level experience in Indigenous Healthcare Preferred
• Experience working collaboratively with Tribal governments, Tribal leadership, and other Tribal entities is strongly preferred
• Tribal Healthcare and Self-Governance Expertise: Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and experience with Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act, and the administration of 638 compacts and contracts. Direct experience with Self-Governance compacts is preferred.
• Patient-Centered Leadership: Champions a culture in which patients and their families remain at the center of organizational decisions, priorities, and actions
• Exceptional Communicator: Demonstrates outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, thoughtfully, and effectively with diverse audiences, including Tribal and government leaders, community members, patients and families, medical staff, and employees.
• Visionary Leadership: Anticipates emerging challenges and opportunities within the healthcare environment and positions WCHS for continued growth, sustainability, quality improvement, and long-term success.
• Courageous Leadership: Demonstrates the courage and integrity to make difficult decisions, address concerns directly, and advocate for what is right for patients, employees, and the organization, even when faced with opposition.
• Visible and Engaged Leadership: Maintains a strong presence throughout the organization, regularly engaging with employees, patients, medical staff, and community members through active rounding and meaningful connection.
• Persuasive and Collaborative: Clearly and consistently communicates the mission, vision, and values of WCHS; builds support for strategic priorities through sound judgment and compelling business rationale while respecting differing perspectives and fostering collaboration.
• Change Agent: Serves as a catalyst for positive change by championing innovation, facilitating organizational transformation, and positioning WCHS to effectively respond to the evolving healthcare environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• The Chief Executive Officer provides direct supervision to the executive team which consists of: Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer Chief Public Health Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Transformation Officer, and Executive Assistant.

Training Requirements:

• N/A

Physical Requirements:

• Normal to light office work, including the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
• Regular use of hands and fingers to operate a computer, phone, and office equipment.

Cognitive Requirements:

• Ability to read, write, and perform basic calculations.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think critically, analyze training needs, and make sound decisions aligned with organizational goals.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.

Language Requirements:

• Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• Ability to consistently and effectively communicate professionally in both verbal and written formats.

Certificates, Licenses & registrations:

• All applicants will comply with 45 CFR 1301, Subpart D, Section 1301.31, C and D, which require all prospective employees to sign a declaration prior to employment regarding all arrests and convictions of child abuse or violent felonies and to comply with PL 101-630 and PL 101-637 regarding criminal records check.