Announcements

This information is being provided to you from Cooperative Health Board of Directors and CEO Search Committee.

The Cooperative Health Board of Director's is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, to consider finalist for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Cooperative Health.  All employees of Cooperative Health are invited, subject to availability, to participate in informal engagement sessions with each finalist on March 25.  For those employees who, due to work or other commitments, are unable to attend in person, the sessions will also be live streamed. 

To maximize the use of available time during the sessions and to ensure adequate seating is available, the Board will solicit questions from employees in advance and employees will be asked to register for whichever session they choose to attend.  Additional information on that process will be forthcoming.  Following each session, employees will be asked to complete a brief survey with results of the survey going directly to the Board.   

For your planning purposes, following is the schedule for the engagement sessions: 

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 

8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. 

10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. 

President and CEO Search Committee Process Overview

The search for Cooperative Health’s next President and Chief Executive Officer is a critical process to ensure the Cooperative’s continued success (see page 5-6 for President and CEO Job Requisition information posted on LinkedIn and National Association for Community Health Centers websites).

The following pages outline key information about how the search has begun to unfold, the timeline of events, future events, and the role of the search committee.

Why is Cooperative Health conducting this Presidential search?

This Presidential search follows the extended sabbatical of the former President and CEO and a desire of the Board of Cooperative Health to move the organization in a different direction under new leadership.

What is the process for selecting a new President?

The Presidential search is conducted according to the Cooperative Health Board.  The legal authority to appoint the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cooperative Health is vested in the Cooperative Health Board By-laws and Constitution.  The appointed Presidential Search Committee of the Board is given the responsibility for recommending a candidate or slate of candidates to the Cooperative Health Board.

Who are the search committee members and how are the chair and the search committee members selected?

The Ad Hoc Presidential Search Committee is composed in accordance with the Cooperative Health Board By-laws as follows:

Committee Members:

Thom Mayer, Chair
Karla Gilliam
Julie Smithwick

Committee Staff:

Robert R. Murrell, Cooperative Health Chief Human Resources Officer

How is the search conducted?

Leading this process is the Ad Hoc Presidential Search Committee of the Board who will guide the search from start to finish. They will regularly update the Cooperative Board and, by extension, employees and other stakeholders of the Cooperative on the search process and progress.  Specifically, the search committee will review candidate materials and conduct first-round candidate interviews. The search committee will recommend a slate of finalists to the Cooperative Health Board.  The Cooperative Health Board will approve and announce the appointment of a new president.

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Presidential Search Updates

February 26, 2025

Cooperative Health Community –

I am pleased to announce that the process for identifying and selecting the next president of Cooperative Health is moving forward.  The posting period for the position expired on February 14 following a 30-day posting on-line on Cooperative Health’s career page and on the National Association of Community Health Centers career page.  Not surprisingly, we received resumes and letters of interest from 53 individuals who, I believe, are passionate about the work being done every day in the FQHC milieu and are eager to join us in our work here at Cooperative Health.  The search committee is continuing its process of reviewing the qualifications of all applicants and we are confident in the timeline we have outlined for the completion of our process.  I want to specifically point out under the Presidential Search Timeline that we are planning for the opportunity for all employees to participate in interactive engagement sessions with each finalist and to garner your feedback immediately following those sessions.  As you might imagine, the search and selection process for any position is considered a confidential matter.  As such, we will only release the names of the finalist for the position and the Board will announce the name of the new president when appropriate.

Finally, as stakeholders, I want to thank you all for your interest in this process and your patience.  The role of chief executive impacts every individual in the organization and so it is to be expected that your voices be heard during this process.  We are committed to ensuring that continues to happen and to identifying the individual best suited to take the Cooperative forward!

With gratitude,

Thom Mayer, Chair President and CEO Search Committee

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President and CEO Job Description

Cooperative Health is seeking a dynamic, community driven, and highly collaborative President & Chief Executive Officer to lead this 32-site community health center serving the greater Columbia area of South Carolina. Cooperative Health (cooperativehealth.org) is a federally funded community health center serving the medically underserved resident of Richland, Lexington, Fairfield and Newberry in South Carolina. Cooperative Health is part of a nationwide network of health centers that serve more than 30 million medically vulnerable and underserved patients across the United States. Our mission is to provide accessible, high quality patient care in the spirit of the Good Samaritan. As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cooperative Health, you will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction to the organization. Your role will involve overseeing the overall operations, including financial management, program development, quality improvement, and community engagement. You will work closely with the board of directors to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and alignment with the organization's mission and values.

As the CEO, you will be tasked with fostering a positive and inclusive work culture that empowers employees to deliver high-quality care to underserved populations. You will be the face of the organization, representing it to stakeholders, partners, and the community at large. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for building relationships and advocating for Cooperative Health's interests.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in healthcare leadership, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing FQHCs. A track record of successful management, financial stewardship, and strategic planning is crucial for driving the organization towards its goals of improving access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, public health, business administration, or related field
• Previous experience in executive leadership roles within a healthcare setting
• Extensive knowledge of FQHC regulations and compliance standards
• Demonstrated experience, knowledge, and leadership of operational program development and management, human resource management, health center finance, accounting and budgeting, governmental relations and community partnerships.
• Proven track record of financial management and budget oversight
• Familiarity with Medicare, Medicaid and third-party reimbursement.
• Demonstrated ability to operate within and supports a people-oriented work environment and work well with persons from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrate proven interest and knowledge in community-based primary and preventive health care.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills
• Strong organizational and strategic planning abilities.
• Leader of process improvement and streamlining of operations.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving underserved populations

Essential job functions

• Ensures that entire staff carries out all policies established by the Board of Directors (responsible for development of policies)
• Conducts periodic (or more frequently when necessary) management staff meetings
• Annual evaluation of management staff
• Prepares applications for facility and operational grants
• Assists with preparation of annual budget
• Assists with preparation of Center's health plan
• Assists with the development of and writes Board-approved personnel policies and procedures
• Prepares agendas for Board meetings, Management-Staff meetings and All-Staff meetings
• Develops linkages with other agencies, individuals and organizations (public and private)
• Establishes roles and responsibilities for staff via job descriptions and organizational charts
• Supervises all management staff directly, other staff indirectly and serves as part of the management team
• Performs other duties as necessary

The above information is intended to describe the most important aspects of the job. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skill required in order to perform the work.

Join us in making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of the community we serve!

All resumes must be received by Feb 14, 2025. Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and professional resume to Thom Mayer, Chair CEO Search Committee tmayer@cooperativehealth.org. For questions or other enquiries related to the position, please contact Robert Murrell, CHRO, rmurrell@cooperativehealth.org.