Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Palliative Care Organization
Are you a purpose-driven operational leader passionate about expanding access to compassionate, high-quality palliative care? We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to support the strategic and operational growth of a leading palliative care organization based in Atlanta, GA. This is an exceptional opportunity to influence organizational excellence, enhance patient and family experience, and guide multidisciplinary teams in a mission-focused healthcare environment. If you thrive in high-impact roles and excel at building scalable, efficient operational frameworks, this role is tailored for you.
Lead Operational Excellence in a Mission-Centered Healthcare Organization – Atlanta, GA
A rapidly expanding palliative care organization in Atlanta, GA is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to streamline operations, improve care delivery, and advance organizational objectives. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in healthcare operations, strong leadership capabilities, and a passion for driving continuous improvement. If you are motivated by mission, thrive in collaborative environments, and are committed to delivering exceptional patient care, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact on families and communities.
Key Responsibilities of the Chief Operating Officer – Palliative Care Organization
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Growth:
As the Chief Operating Officer, lead the development and execution of operational strategies that support the organization’s mission of delivering compassionate palliative care. Align departmental goals with overall business objectives and scale operations to support growth across multiple care locations in the Atlanta, GA region.
Operational Excellence & Care Delivery Optimization:
Oversee clinical and non-clinical operations to ensure efficient, high-quality patient care. Implement best practices, improve workflows, streamline processes, and ensure seamless coordination across interdisciplinary teams to enhance care delivery and family support.
Quality Improvement & Regulatory Compliance:
Ensure adherence to healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and palliative care industry requirements. Partner with compliance and clinical leaders to develop quality improvement initiatives, maintain documentation integrity, and uphold patient safety.
Financial Management & Resource Allocation:
Collaborate with executive leadership to establish operational budgets, manage financial performance, and forecast resource needs. The Chief Operating Officer will ensure efficient utilization of staffing, technology, and infrastructure to support high-quality care while maintaining cost efficiency.
Team Leadership & Performance Management:
Build and mentor high-performing teams committed to excellence in patient care. Foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture and provide leadership guidance to department heads, ensuring strong communication and accountability across the organization.
Patient Experience & Family Engagement:
Champion exceptional patient and family experience through process improvements and service enhancements. Use data-driven insights and satisfaction metrics to guide decisions and elevate the quality of care and support provided to patients and their loved ones.
Partnership Development & Community Relationships:
Cultivate strategic relationships with healthcare providers, referral partners, hospitals, and community organizations. Strengthen the organization’s presence in the palliative care space and build pathways for continued patient referral and outreach.
Risk Management & Continuous Improvement:
Identify operational risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies. Drive continuous improvement initiatives that elevate service delivery, organizational resilience, and operational stability.
What the Client is Looking for in You
As the Chief Operating Officer of a palliative care organization, the client is seeking a compassionate, mission-driven leader with a proven ability to elevate care standards, streamline operations, and scale organizational growth. You should be an empathetic yet results-oriented executive who thrives in healthcare environments and is committed to improving patient and family experiences through operational excellence.
Deep Experience in Healthcare Operations & Patient-Centric Care
The ideal Chief Operating Officer has extensive experience in healthcare or palliative/hospice care operations. You should be skilled at managing multidisciplinary teams, optimizing care delivery processes, and enhancing efficiency while maintaining the compassionate, patient-first mission of palliative care. Experience leading clinical and non-clinical teams in regulated healthcare environments is highly valued.
Strategic Thinker with a Vision for Organizational Growth
The client seeks a strategic leader who can design and implement growth plans that expand access to high-quality palliative care across the Atlanta region. You should excel at aligning operational decisions with long-term organizational goals, identifying opportunities for process improvement, and driving initiatives that improve care delivery outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Strong Financial and Analytical Skills
As the Chief Operating Officer, you should possess solid financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, and cost optimization. You must be capable of using data-driven insights to make informed decisions that balance operational efficiency with exceptional patient care.
Leadership Excellence & High-Performance Team Management
The client is looking for a collaborative leader who can build strong, high-performing teams and foster a culture of accountability, compassion, and continuous improvement. You should be skilled at motivating people, mentoring leaders, and ensuring alignment across departments toward shared goals.
Commitment to Compliance, Quality, and Risk Management
A strong understanding of healthcare compliance, regulation, accreditation, and quality assurance is essential. The client values a Chief Operating Officer who can proactively manage risk, maintain regulatory readiness, and uphold the highest standards of patient safety and ethical care practices.
Exceptional Communication & Stakeholder Collaboration
This role requires someone who can effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders—clinical teams, executives, referral partners, and community organizations. You should be adept at building trust and maintaining relationships that enhance the organization’s reputation and reach.
FAQs About the Role – Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Palliative Care Organization
1. What are the key responsibilities of the Chief Operating Officer in this role?
As the Chief Operating Officer, you will oversee daily operations, ensure high-quality patient care delivery, streamline processes, and drive strategic initiatives across clinical and non-clinical teams. You will monitor organizational performance, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations. Additionally, you will collaborate with executive leadership to expand services, improve patient and family experience, and support organizational growth in the Atlanta region.
2. What qualifications and experience are required for this position?
The ideal candidate should have extensive leadership experience in healthcare operations, ideally within palliative care, hospice, home health, or related care settings. Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, improving care delivery processes, and achieving operational excellence is essential. A background in financial oversight, compliance, and quality assurance is highly preferred. An MBA, MHA, or related advanced degree is beneficial, though relevant experience as a senior operations leader may also qualify.
3. What leadership qualities are essential for the Chief Operating Officer?
The client seeks an empathetic, mission-focused leader who excels at strategic decision-making and team development. You should demonstrate strong communication skills, the ability to unify diverse teams, and a commitment to patient-centered care. The Chief Operating Officer should foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and values.
4. What challenges might I face in this role?
In this role, you may navigate challenges such as rapidly changing healthcare regulations, resource allocation, workforce scheduling, and maintaining high-quality care during growth phases. Balancing patient-care compassion with operational efficiency is central to success. The Chief Operating Officer must be agile in managing change, improving processes, and resolving barriers across multiple teams and care settings.
5. How does the Chief Operating Officer contribute to the organization’s impact and growth?
The Chief Operating Officer plays a pivotal role in strengthening care delivery, improving patient satisfaction, and driving operational outcomes that enable expansion. Your ability to optimize workflows, implement scalable systems, and lead performance improvement initiatives will directly contribute to the organization’s capacity to reach more patients and deliver exceptional care.
6. What is the culture and work environment like?
The organization fosters a supportive, compassionate, and mission-driven culture where patient dignity and comfort are top priorities. Collaboration, empathy, and integrity are deeply valued. As part of the executive team, you will influence culture-building initiatives and create an environment where teams feel engaged, supported, and inspired to deliver exceptional palliative care.
What Remuneration Can You Expect from This Job?
As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for a leading palliative care organization in Atlanta, GA, you can expect a competitive and comprehensive compensation package designed to attract experienced healthcare executives who excel in operational leadership and patient-centered care delivery. Compensation for this role typically includes:
1. Base Salary
The base salary for a Chief Operating Officer in the healthcare and palliative care sector varies depending on organizational size, patient census, and market growth. For a mid- to large-sized healthcare organization, the annual base salary generally ranges from $180,000 to $260,000, with larger systems or multi-site operators offering higher compensation.
2. Performance-Based Bonuses
In addition to the base salary, the compensation package usually includes annual performance-based bonuses tied to key operational and quality metrics. These may include patient satisfaction scores, efficiency improvements, regulatory compliance performance, and organizational growth. Bonuses typically range from 20% to 40% of base salary, depending on both individual performance and organizational outcomes.
3. Long-Term Incentive Plans (LTIPs)
Many healthcare organizations offer long-term incentive plans to reward the Chief Operating Officer for sustained performance and strategic impact. These incentives may be tied to multi-year organizational goals, expansion achievements, or quality improvement initiatives and contribute meaningfully to the total compensation package.
4. Executive Benefits & Perks
As a senior executive, you may receive an enhanced benefits package that can include:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plans (401k or similar) with company match
- Executive-level professional development and leadership programs
- Paid time off, holidays, and wellness benefits
- Expense support for travel, conferences, or external partnerships
5. Signing Bonuses & Relocation Assistance
For highly qualified candidates or when relocation is required, organizations may offer a signing bonus and relocation support. These incentives help streamline the transition and can add significant value to the total compensation package.
Total Compensation Potential
When combining base salary, performance bonuses, and long-term incentives, the total earnings for a Chief Operating Officer in palliative care can range from $225,000 to $350,000+ annually, depending on organization size, performance, and market growth.
This package reflects the importance of the COO’s leadership in ensuring operational excellence and delivering compassionate, high-quality care to patients and families.
How to Apply
If you are a compassionate, strategic operations leader with a proven track record in healthcare management or palliative care operations, we encourage you to apply for the Chief Operating Officer role based in Atlanta, GA. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead organizational growth, enhance patient care delivery, and drive operational excellence in a mission-driven environment.
To apply, please submit your resume along with a cover letter that highlights your experience in healthcare operations, process improvement, regulatory compliance, financial oversight, and team leadership. Be sure to showcase your ability to improve care delivery outcomes, manage multidisciplinary teams, and implement scalable systems that support organizational expansion.
This role offers a meaningful career opportunity where your leadership as the Chief Operating Officer will make a direct impact on patients, families, and the broader community. Apply today to take the next step in your executive career and help shape the future of compassionate palliative care in Atlanta, GA.
For more information or to explore similar opportunities, visit our Hospice Executive Search Firm Page.
Tags:
Chief Operating Officer | Healthcare Operations Leadership | Palliative Care Executive Jobs | Hospice & Palliative Care Leadership | Patient Care Excellence | Organizational Growth & Strategy | Regulatory Compliance | Executive Healthcare Careers
