Chief Administrative Officer - Medical Center North Liberty
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center North Liberty (MCNL) is the senior administrative executive accountable for the overall operating performance, strategic growth, financial stewardship, quality and safety, patient experience, workforce, and day-to-day operations of the North Liberty hospital and ambulatory campus.
MCNL is an orthopedic specialty hospital and ambulatory destination that opened in April 2025, operating as an integrated component of the UI Health Care clinical enterprise and under the hospital license of the university campus. The campus includes 16 operating rooms, a 36-bed inpatient unit with planned expansion, a 24/7 Emergency Department, and comprehensive ambulatory, diagnostic, rehabilitation, procedural, and support services. The CAO will lead the campus through its next phase of growth, capacity expansion, operational optimization, and continued development as a premier orthopedic and musculoskeletal destination.
Working within a highly matrixed academic health system, the CAO partners closely with physician, nursing, operational, and enterprise leaders to achieve strong local performance while ensuring alignment with UI Health Care priorities, standards, and resources.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy, Growth, and Enterprise Integration
Lead development and execution of MCNL strategic and operating plans in alignment with UI Health Care priorities and the academic mission
Drive sustainable growth through improved access, capacity expansion, referral development, physician alignment, and disciplined clinical program development
Partner with clinical and enterprise leaders to evaluate market demand, service gaps, new programs, technologies, and opportunities to expand regional reach
Ensure clinics, imaging, operating room and campus expansion translate into measurable improvements in access, volume, quality, efficiency, and financial performance
Strengthen integration with other UI Health Care campuses and enterprise functions while maintaining clear local accountability for MCNL results
Hospital, Ambulatory, and Perioperative Operations
Provide executive oversight for all hospital and ambulatory operations, ensuring reliable 24/7 administrative leadership, operational readiness, and escalation pathways
Establish clear performance expectations, dashboards, operating reviews, and accountability mechanisms across the campus
In collaboration with clinical leaders across clinical enterprise to optimize patient flow across ambulatory, preoperative, operating room, post-anesthesia, inpatient, Emergency Department, diagnostic, rehabilitation, discharge, and follow-up services
Partner with surgical, anesthesia, nursing, and perioperative leaders to optimize operating room utilization, block management, first-case starts, turnover, cancellations, staffing, sterile processing, and procedural throughput
Ensure clinical and operational capacity, including staffing and downstream services, keeps pace with growth in surgical volume and complexity
Coordinate matrixed enterprise services and champion continuous improvement, standard work, productivity, benchmarking, and reduction of avoidable variation
Quality, Safety, Financial, and Resource Performance
Champion clinical excellence, patient safety, patient experience, employee safety, regulatory readiness, and continuous improvement in partnership with physician, nursing, and quality leaders
Ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, The Joint Commission, EMTALA, state and federal requirements, and applicable university and UI Health Care policies
Maintain effective emergency preparedness, business continuity, transfer, and escalation processes appropriate to specialty hospital and clinical enterprise operations
Lead MCNL operating and capital performance in partnership with enterprise finance leaders, including budget development, forecasting, productivity, variance management, cost management, and financial improvement
Ensure strong revenue cycle performance and effective stewardship of workforce, space, capital, technology, equipment, implants, high-cost supplies, inventory, and other resources
Provide executive oversight for capital planning, construction, renovation, facility reliability, and operational readiness for new spaces, operating rooms, equipment, and programs
Workforce, Clinical Partnerships, and External Relationships
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing leadership team with clear roles, decision rights, performance expectations, and succession plans in a highly matrixed environment
Develop and execute sustainable workforce strategies that strengthen recruitment, retention, leadership development, employee engagement, and performance accountability in partnership with human resources and campus leaders
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, respect, transparency, engagement, and patient-centered service consistent with UI Health Care values
Partner with nursing, physician, human resources, and operational leaders to develop sustainable staffing models and improve recruitment, retention, productivity, onboarding, and leadership development
Develop strong physician, nursing, and administrative partnerships and support effective dyad and triad leadership across key clinical programs
Partner with clinical leadership on physician recruitment, coverage, access, program development, and alignment of hospital and faculty practice priorities
Support the academic mission through appropriate education, training, research, and innovation activities
Represent MCNL within UI Health Care and externally with community physicians, referral partners, community leaders, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders
Partner with marketing and communications to strengthen MCNL visibility, reputation, access, and market differentiation
Assume additional enterprise operational, service-line, or strategic responsibilities as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in health care administration, business, public health, or a related discipline
Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible health care operations experience, including significant senior or executive leadership responsibility
Demonstrated accountability for hospital operations, financial performance, quality and safety, workforce, and strategic execution within a complex health care organization
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with physicians, nurses, administrators, and enterprise functions within a highly matrixed environment
Proven success using data, benchmarking, and performance management to improve operational and financial results
Demonstrated success leading organizational change, growth, program development, and complex operational initiatives
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to senior leaders, medical staff, employees, and external stakeholders.
Strong executive communication skills and demonstrated commitment to a welcoming and respectful workplace environment
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Executive leadership experience within an academic medical center, integrated health system, teaching hospital, or specialty hospital
Significant perioperative, surgical, orthopedic, musculoskeletal, or procedural operations experience
Experience leading a hospital through post-opening stabilization, major expansion, or rapid growth
Experience overseeing hospital, ambulatory, emergency, inpatient, and perioperative operations
Experience with capital planning, construction, facility activation, physician alignment, market growth, and clinical program development
APPLICATION PROCESS
In order to be considered, applicants must upload the following materials (check the box for required attachment):
Resume
Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. Successful candidates must self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and education verification. This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization. Please contact michael-lynch-2@uiowa.edu with any questions.
Equal opportunity employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
