Director, Business Operations

We Are Hiring

• Department: Administration
• Schedule: Full-time / M-F / Days (on call duties)
• Facility: Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Salary: $129,942 - $183,447 per year

The Director of Business Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for key business functions across Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital. This role ensures that operational processes, financial performance, patient access, and administrative systems function efficiently, align with Ascension’s mission, and support high-quality patient care. The Director collaborates with clinical, administrative, and corporate leadership to drive operational excellence and sustainable growth.

What You Will Do

Operational Leadership

• Oversee daily business operations for assigned hospital departments or service lines (e.g., food service, environmental service, security, imaging, etc.).
• Streamline workflows to improve efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance the patient and staff experience.
• Ensure departmental operations comply with Ascension policies, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards.
• Lead performance improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or other operational methodologies.

Financial Management

• Develop, manage, and monitor departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Analyze financial performance and implement action plans to meet volume, revenue, and cost-management targets.
• Conduct productivity assessments and ensure appropriate resource allocation.
• Partner with finance teams on forecasting, financial reporting, and variance analyses.

Strategic Planning & Growth

• Contribute to strategic planning for new programs, service expansions, and operational enhancements.
• Evaluate business opportunities, market trends, and competitive intelligence to support hospital goals.
• Lead or support business case development for new clinical services or capital investments.Support implementation of system-wide initiatives at the local hospital level.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to managers, supervisors, and operational teams.
• Collaborate closely with physicians, nursing leaders, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure aligned goals.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary communication and project coordination.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and mission-driven service.

Quality, Compliance & Patient Experience

• Drive operational improvements that support high patient satisfaction and quality metrics.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety, and privacy standards (CMS, Joint Commission, OSHA, etc.).
• Review performance data and implement corrective action plans when needed.
• Support initiatives to improve patient access, throughput, and service excellence.

What You Will Need

Education:

• High School diploma equivalency with 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management OR Associate's degree/Bachelor's degree with 3 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required, with 2 of those years being in leadership/management.

Additional Preferences

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field highly preferred.
• Master’s degree (MBA, MHA, MPH) strongly preferred.

Experience

• 5–7 years of progressively responsible healthcare operations or business management experience.
• Prior leadership in a hospital or large healthcare system is preferred.
• Experience with process improvement, financial analysis, and project management.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and team-building abilities.
• Excellent financial and analytical skills.
• Ability to drive organizational change in a complex healthcare environment.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills.
• Commitment to Ascension’s mission-focused, patient-centered culture.

Why Join Our Team

Ascension Illinois delivers compassionate, personalized care throughout Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. As one of the largest health systems in Illinois with 15 hospitals and more than 230 sites of care, you will find an environment that allows you to thrive and create a career path you love. Join a diverse team of more than 17,000 associates and more than 600 providers who are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care to all.

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 134,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

Our Mission, Vision and Values encompass everything we do at Ascension. Every associate is empowered to give back, volunteer and make a positive impact in their community. Ascension careers are more than jobs; they are opportunities to enhance your life and the lives of the people around you.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster. As a military friendly organization, Ascension promotes career flexibility and offers many benefits to help support the well-being of our military families, spouses, veterans and reservists. Our associates are empowered to apply their military experience and unique perspective to their civilian career with Ascension. Please note that Ascension will make an offer of employment only to individuals who have applied for a position using our official application. Be on alert for possible fraudulent offers of employment. Ascension will not solicit money or banking information from applicants.

E-Verify Statement

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Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO)
• Various health insurance options & wellness plans
• Retirement benefits including employer match plans
• Long-term & short-term disability
• Employee assistance programs (EAP)
• Parental leave & adoption assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Ways to give back to your community

Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.