Senior Director of Health Services

Collington, A Kendal Affiliate, located on a beautiful 125-acre campus in Mitchellville, Maryland, is a Life Plan Community enriched in diversity that offers an active lifestyle for independent living and person-centered continuing care for assisted living and memory support. Collington’s vision is to thrive as a community of people living, working and serving together, bringing alive a spirit of collaboration, generosity and mutual respect in our relationships and decision-making.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Health Services is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, coordination, and oversight of all health and social services within the retirement community. This includes managing and leading the delivery of integrated health and social support services.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Senior Director ensures that all services align with the community’s mission to provide high-quality, person-directed care. This role leads a multidisciplinary team of clinical and social service professionals, ensuring regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and a culture of compassion and dignity for all residents. 

Key responsibilities include developing and implementing health policies, managing clinical operations, coordinating care plans, and fostering strong relationships with residents, families, team members, and external healthcare partners. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all health services, including partner skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, and clinical services.
• Supervise and support nursing and clinical leadership teams to ensure high-quality resident care and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure all health services meet or exceed federal, state, and local regulatory standards.
• Lead the development and implementation of care models that honor each resident’s preferences, values, and life history.
• Partners with the COO to develop external partnerships and collaborate with vendors to enhance service offerings.
• Foster a culture where residents are active participants in their care planning and daily living decisions.
• Maintain readiness for inspections and surveys; lead corrective action planning and implementation as needed.
• Oversee the development and implementation of care plans that reflect residents’ needs and preferences.
• Monitor clinical outcomes and lead quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) initiatives.
• Lead the development and implementation of care models that honor each resident’s preferences, values, and life history.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives that reflect both clinical outcomes and resident satisfaction.
• Recruit, train, and retain qualified clinical staff; foster a culture of accountability, compassion, and excellence.
• Ensure care teams are trained in person-directed practices and empowered to build meaningful relationships with residents.
• Promote a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive work environment where staff feel valued and supported.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets; monitor expenditures and staffing levels to ensure cost-effective operations.
• Collaborate with the COO and CFO to align health services with organizational financial goals.
• Serve as a key liaison for residents and families regarding health services, care planning, and service satisfaction.
• Create opportunities for residents and families to provide feedback and co-design service improvements.
• Address concerns promptly and compassionately, ensuring a high level of trust and communication.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update clinical policies and procedures in alignment with best practices and regulatory changes.
• Participate in the development and execution of emergency response plans, including infection control and disaster preparedness.
• Work closely with other departments (e.g., dining, social services, rehab) to ensure coordinated, holistic care for residents.
• Utilize clinical and operational data to guide decision-making, improve outcomes, and support strategic planning.

Administrative

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement with our health services teams.
• Actively engage in recruiting key health services team members by screening resumes and interviewing prospective candidates in coordination with HR and Recruitment.
• Develop, manage, forecast, and track operational and capital budgets to efficiently and effectively ensure all projects meet functional, financial, organizational, and clinical goals/expectations.
• Attend, participate in, and lead learning and/or continuing education opportunities.
• Serves on internal and external committees as requested and provides reports at monthly community meetings.
• Oversee the performance review process of direct reports and ensure opportunities of goal setting and growth; mediate and execute corrective actions as appropriate.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends to guide strategic decisions.
• Partner with cross-functional teams and outside agencies to deliver on our obligations and practices.
• Implement and manage SOP’s targeting best practices for the health services departments.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Health Administration, Gerontology, Social Work, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Assisted Living Manager certification required.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare or senior living, with at least 5 years in a director-level role.
• Demonstrated experience managing clinical operations in a multidisciplinary environment and delivering exceptional resident experiences.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships with executives, team members, residents, and families.
• Proven ability to build trust with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, including listening, presenting, and developing reports and proposals.
• Experience in hiring, training, coaching, and motivating staff to achieve shared goals.
• Strong planning and execution skills with a focus on innovation and process improvement.
• Advanced critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making aligned with organizational goals.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
• Strong time management, analytical skills, and ability to adapt quickly to changing needs.
• Knowledge of Maryland regulations (COMAR, Department of Health Care Quality, Department of Aging).
• Experience managing vendors, consultants, and external partners.
• Deep understanding of geriatric care, wellness programming, and social services integration.
• Skilled in facilitation, negotiation, and supervision, with knowledge of industry best practices, quality improvement, and health and safety standards.

Technology

• Proficiency in Microsoft products (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), electronic medical records systems; MatrixCare