Job Description

Join to apply for the Chief Operating Officer - Practice Plan role at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston)

Position Summary: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Practice Plan, in a leadership partnership with the Chief Medical Officer-Primary Care (CMO-PC) and the Chief Medical Officer-Specialty Care (CMO-SC), will co-lead the strategic and operational management of UTHealth Houston's Practice Plan, UT Physicians. This role collaborates closely with the CMO-PC and CMO-SC on executing ambulatory market strategy and ensuring seamless integration of clinical excellence and operational efficiency within an academic medical environment. The COO will direct, administer, and coordinate the activities of the organization in support of policies, goals, and objectives established by the university President and the Practice Plan Board of Directors. The role reports to senior leadership (EVP, Health Affairs) and maintains a collaborative role with the CMO-PC and CMO-SC to drive performance, foster physician engagement, and deliver high-quality patient care.

Position Key Accountabilities:

1. Develop operational plans and execute ambulatory market strategies to support the Practice Plan's objectives.
2. Oversee clinical operations, patient flow, ancillary services, and facilities management. Ensure timely access to coordinated, high-value, evidence-based care.
3. Partner with the CMO-PC and CMO-SC, clinical department chairs and administrators, and UTHealth Houston senior leaders to align strategies. Work with system functions (IT, HR, Marketing, Finance) to enhance integration.
4. Manage budgeting and financial forecasting to optimize cost structure while maintaining quality care standards.
5. Partner with business development and marketing leadership to drive physician practice growth in competitive markets.
6. Provide direction to practice administrators, management, and staff to achieve operational and strategic goals.
7. Support ambulatory care quality and safety programs. Recommend strategies to achieve clinical performance targets.
8. Manage Human Resources activities for direct reports, including recruiting, hiring, training, development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.
9. Ensure the effectiveness of internal controls to provide reasonable assurance that operations are efficient, assets are safeguarded, and financial information is reliable and compliant with laws and policies.
10. Perform other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Knowledge of the healthcare market/environment
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with physician leadership. Strong written, verbal, and electronic communication skills.
• Proficiency in complex problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in MS Windows applications.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or related field required; Master's Degree preferred.

Minimum Experience: 12 years of experience managing large, multi-specialty physician practices, with a strong reputation for service and quality outcomes. Experience leading academic/faculty practice plans and primary care physician groups is preferred.

Physical Requirements: Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently to move objects.

Security Sensitive: This job may contain positions that are security sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215.

Residency Requirement: Employees must reside and work in Texas.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Manufacturing

Industries

• Hospitals and Health Care

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