Join St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho—where nationally recognized quality meets small-town heart. We’re proud to be recognized for excellence and patient safety, including an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, inclusion in Becker’s list of “Great Community Hospitals,” and U.S. News & World Report accolades for maternity care.
Here, you’ll find a teamwork-first culture, leaders who support you, and coworkers who genuinely have your back. New grads are welcome—we’re committed to training, mentoring, and helping you build confidence as you grow. And because we know great care starts with taking care of our people, we offer competitive benefits and a workplace you can feel good about.
If you’re looking for a place to do meaningful work, build a career, and feel proud serving your community—you belong at St. Joe’s

Job Summary

The Chief Nursing Officer / Chief Operating Officer (CNO/COO) is a senior executive responsible for the overall clinical, operational, and financial performance of the hospital. This role provides strategic leadership for nursing services, clinical operations, and designated ancillary and support departments to ensure safe, high-quality, and efficient patient care.

The CNO/COO partners with the CEO, medical staff, and executive leadership team to advance organizational strategy, improve clinical outcomes, optimize operational performance, ensure regulatory compliance, and strengthen employee engagement.

Essential Functions

Executive & Strategic Leadership

• Partners with the CEO and executive team to develop and execute strategic and operational plans.

• Translates organizational strategy into measurable clinical and operational goals.

• Participates in administrative on-call responsibilities and represents the hospital internally and externally.

• Builds collaborative relationships with medical staff, community partners, and key stakeholders.

Clinical and Nursing Leadership

• Provides executive oversight of nursing services and establishes standards of practice aligned with regulatory and professional requirements.

• Ensures delivery of safe, timely, patient-centered, and evidence-based care across all nursing units.

• Oversees workforce planning, staffing models, recruitment, retention, and professional development.

• Supports orientation, competency validation, leadership development, and succession planning.

• Leads clinical quality, patient safety, infection prevention, and performance improvement initiatives.

• Ensures compliance with National Patient Safety Goals and evidence-based practice standards.

Operational Leadership

• Directs day-to-day hospital operations across clinical and non-clinical departments.

• Provides executive oversight for assigned departments, which may include Laboratory, Radiology, Rehabilitation, Respiratory Therapy, Physician Practice Services, and other ancillary services.

• Establishes departmental goals, performance expectations, and accountability structures.

• Monitors operational efficiency, patient flow, service line performance, and patient experience metrics.

• Ensures a safe and well-maintained environment that supports high-quality care delivery.

Financial & Resource Management

• Leads development and oversight of operating and capital budgets.

• Monitors financial performance, productivity, labor management, and cost control.

• Aligns staffing and resource allocation with patient volume, acuity, and strategic priorities.

• Drives operational efficiencies while maintaining quality and patient safety.

Quality & Performance Improvement

• Leads organization-wide performance improvement initiatives focused on clinical outcomes, operational effectiveness, and patient satisfaction.

• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators and reports progress to executive leadership.

• Utilizes data analytics to identify trends, prioritize improvement opportunities, and support decision-making.

• Ensures consistent documentation and monitoring of improvement initiatives.

Regulatory, Compliance & Governance

• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including CMS requirements.

• Maintains continuous readiness for accreditation and regulatory surveys.

• Promotes ethical standards and adherence to the organization’s Code of Conduct.

• May serve in designated compliance roles such as Privacy Officer, as assigned.

• Interprets hospital policies and ensures consistent application across departments.

Culture & Engagement

• Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and service excellence.

• Promotes employee engagement, professional growth, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

• Supports recruitment, retention, and leadership development across departments.

• Maintains leadership visibility through rounding and open communication.

• Reinforces organizational mission, vision, and values.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of nursing practice, hospital operations, and healthcare regulations.

• Strong financial and business acumen.

• Strategic planning and execution capabilities.

• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive organizational change.

• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

• Ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or a related field. (Required)

• Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN), Healthcare Administration (MHA), Business Administration (MBA), or a related field. (Required or strongly preferred based on facility size/complexity; may be required – facility specific)

Licenses/Certifications

• Registered Nurse (RN) – State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in the state of practice. (Required upon hire)

Experience

• Five (5) or more years of progressive senior healthcare leadership experience. (Required)

• Experience with Joint Commission preparation and regulatory compliance. (Required)

• Prior experience in a CNO, COO, Associate Administrator, or equivalent executive hospital leadership role. (Preferred)

• Experience overseeing multiple hospital departments and service lines. (Preferred)

• Experience in community hospital or investor-owned healthcare settings. (Preferred)