Westmont Search Seeks Operations Executive for Essentia Health
September 18, 2020 – Executive search firm Westmont Search has been selected to conduct a search for the senior vice president of operations for Essentia Health based in Duluth, MN. Managing partner Peter Blau and search director Kim Taylor are working on the assignment for the health system.
The SVP of operations is accountable for operations, operating and capital budget development for all Essentia Health West market entities, performance to budget, patient service commitment, quality, compliance, risk management, accreditation, and staffing to metrics. In addition, the SVP, in partnership their physician dyad(s) are responsible for the development and implementation of strategic initiatives in the Essentia Health West market.
The SVP will oversee administrative functions and drive operational efficiencies for Essentia Health-Fargo, which includes a 133-bed hospital, hospital-based physician providers and three critical access hospitals.
The leader will have demonstrated success partnering with physicians and maximizing a referral and transfer program. They should have a minimum of 15 years progressive healthcare management experience, with minimum of five years in vice president or higher senior healthcare leadership role.
Westmont Search said that candidates should have “substantial knowledge of healthcare industry, hospital and/or multispecialty clinic operations (with preferred experience in integrated health systems), rural healthcare delivery. They will have competencies in market strategy develop/implement, budgeting, operations management, financial management, service/customer excellence, human resource management, physician/provider relations, integrating Lean/Six Sigma in healthcare setting, community relations and charitable foundation development.”
Essentia Health is a network of 13 hospitals, 69 clinics, six long-term care facilities, three assisted living facilities, three independent living facilities, five ambulance services and one research institute. Essentia Health’s mission is to make a healthy difference in people’s lives.
Essentia Health also retained Westmont Search to conduct the search for its chief nursing officer. The chief nursing officer will be responsible for the quality of nursing care for patients in all Essentia East hospitals and clinics, said Westmont Search. The ideal candidate should have a patient-focused nursing leadership and management experience (minimum of 10 years). Union labor/management experience is preferred as well as a history of service excellence program implementation.
Healthcare-Focused Search Firm
Westmont Search, located in Westmont, NJ, is a healthcare-focused executive search firm with a singular focus of hiring top health executives to continue to improve the healthcare system. The firm works with clients from university medical centers to rural health systems to multi-state managed care companies. The talent varies across the industry including finance, operations, information technology and management.
Since 2006, Mr. Blau has been recruiting leadership for healthcare organizations. He works with both healthcare provider and managed care organizations throughout the U.S. Mr. Blau and the team have placed over 300 executives and professionals within healthcare organizations.
Ms. Taylor joined Westmont Search in 2010 and has more than 15 years of experience in executive search, sales and talent management. She leads searches for medical directors, nurse leaders and healthcare finance, marketing and network contracting executives. She has recruited and placed mid-level and senior-level leaders at managed care plans and hospital systems nationwide.
Recent Placements
Recently, Westmont Search assisted in the placement of Sean Rowland as vice president of Perioperative Services at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. Most recently, Mr. Rowland was director of surgical services for Main Line Health in Pennsylvania.
Westmont Search also recently placed Cindy Bacskai as vice president of talent management at Essentia Health in Duluth, MN. Most recently, Ms. Bacskai was the vice president human resources business partner of Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee. She has also held human resource leadership roles at the Manpower Group and SC Johnson.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
