Executive Director- Acute Operations

Company: Mercy
Location: Chesterfield
Posted on: February 13, 2026

Job Description:

Find your calling at Mercy! The Executive Director of Acute Operations is an executive leader responsible for overseeing patient and staff logistics, nursing, emergency department operations, ancillary and support services, post-acute care, hospital-based physician standards, and preoperative/procedural areas across Mercy’s ministry. This role ensures seamless coordination of operating standards and processes across acute care delivery, driving operational excellence, efficiency, and sustainability across the health system. As a direct report to the Vice President of Operational Excellence, this leader acts as a strategic partner and operator in advancing Mercy’s mission and vision through transformational initiatives that yield measurable improvements in patient care, staff experience, organizational resilience, and margin performance. Will work closely with various leaders across the organization. Position Details: Executive Director - Acute Operations, Ministry Location: Schedule: Full- Time, 40 Hours per week - Onsite Strategic Leadership & Operations - Provide system-level operational leadership for Nursing, ED, Ancillary, and Support Services, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and performance goals. - Lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives to improve quality, patient experience, workforce engagement, and operational efficiency. - Drive system integration, standardization, and optimization of processes, workflows, and service delivery models. Qualifications - Nursing Degree strongly preferred. Inpatient nursing experience strongly preferred. - Master’s degree in healthcare administration, Business Administration, Nursing, or related field required. - Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in acute care operations within a large, complex health system. - Proven track record of driving operational efficiency, sustainability, and measurable margin improvement. - Strong knowledge of hospital operations, physician practice standards, and post-acute care integration. - Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills. - Ability to synthesize complex data and translate insights into actionable strategies Why Mercy? From day one, Mercy offers outstanding benefits - including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, tuition support, and matched retirement plans for team members working 32 hours per pay period. Join a caring, collaborative team where your voice matters. At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion. As we grow, you'll grow with us. By applying, you consent to your information being transmitted to the Employer by SonicJobs. See Mercy Terms & Conditions at and Privacy Policy at and SonicJobs Privacy Policy at and Terms of Use at Category:Executive, Keywords:Chief Operating Officer (COO), Location:Chesterfield, MO-63006

Keywords: Mercy, St. Louis , Executive Director- Acute Operations, Healthcare , Chesterfield, Missouri