Director Of Strategic Programs Jobs in Rochester, MN

Position Type: Full-Time
Department: Operations
Reports To: Vice President of Operations
Portfolio: 6–10 Assisted Living & Memory Care Communities

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Regional Director of Operations (RDO) to provide strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of assisted living and memory care communities.

The RDO is accountable for the overall performance of assigned communities, with a primary focus on driving Net Operating Income (NOI), strengthening occupancy, optimizing labor and operating expenses, and developing high-performing community leadership teams.

This position serves as the primary operational leader for the region and works closely with Executive Directors and corporate leadership to translate organizational goals into measurable community-level results. The ideal candidate combines strong financial acumen with hands-on senior living operational experience and knows how to hold leaders accountable while providing the support and resources necessary for them to succeed.

• Own the financial and operational performance of 6–10 assigned senior living communities.

• Drive Net Operating Income (NOI) through revenue growth, occupancy improvement, labor management, expense control, and operational efficiencies.

• Review monthly financial statements, operating reports, budgets, forecasts, and variance analyses with Executive Directors.

• Identify communities performing below expectations and develop measurable action plans to improve results.

• Partner with Finance and community leadership to develop annual operating budgets and ongoing forecasts.

• Monitor key performance indicators including occupancy, revenue, labor percentage, agency usage, overtime, operating expenses, accounts receivable, and NOI.

• Ensure Executive Directors understand their financial performance and are accountable for achieving budgeted results.

• Identify opportunities to improve revenue through appropriate resident rates, care/service levels, ancillary revenue, and resident mix.

• Partner closely with Sales and Marketing leadership to drive occupancy and revenue growth throughout the region.

• Hold Executive Directors accountable for active participation in sales, community outreach, referral development, and census growth.

• Monitor leads, tours, conversions, move-ins, move-outs, and occupancy trends.

• Develop recovery strategies for communities experiencing occupancy or revenue challenges.

• Ensure operational readiness supports the sales process and creates a strong resident and family experience from initial inquiry through move-in and ongoing residency.

• Provide direct leadership, coaching, and performance management to Executive Directors.

• Establish clear performance expectations and maintain consistent accountability across assigned communities.

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and community visits with Executive Directors.

• Recruit, onboard, develop, and retain high-performing Executive Directors.

• Identify leadership gaps early and implement appropriate coaching, development, or corrective action.

• Build a culture centered on accountability, ownership, urgency, collaboration, and results.

• Develop future leaders and succession plans throughout the region.

• Maintain a consistent presence within assigned communities through regular on-site visits.

• Evaluate overall community performance, including resident experience, staffing, physical environment, operational systems, and leadership effectiveness.

• Ensure company policies, procedures, systems, and operational standards are consistently implemented.

• Lead operational improvement initiatives and support communities through periods of transition, leadership change, occupancy challenges, or financial underperformance.

• Coordinate with corporate departments to ensure communities receive appropriate clinical, HR, financial, sales, marketing, and operational support.

• Partner with clinical leadership to ensure communities maintain strong standards for resident care, service, safety, and regulatory compliance.

• Ensure Executive Directors maintain compliance with applicable state regulations, licensing requirements, company policies, and operational standards.

• Participate in corrective action planning following regulatory surveys, internal audits, or identified areas of risk.

• Balance financial performance with the organization's commitment to exceptional resident care and service.

Success in this role will be measured through performance in areas including:

• Net Operating Income (NOI)

• Budget-to-actual financial performance

• Revenue growth

• Occupancy and census growth

• Labor management and productivity

• Agency and overtime utilization

• Operating expense management

• Executive Director performance and retention

• Employee turnover and staffing stability

• Resident and family satisfaction

• Regulatory and quality outcomes

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Hospitality Management, or related field preferred.

• 5+ years of senior living operational leadership experience preferred.

• Multi-site or regional leadership experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience managing assisted living and/or memory care operations.

• Proven ability to manage a multi-community P&L and improve financial performance.

• Strong understanding of senior living revenue, occupancy, labor management, and expense control.

• Experience leading and developing Executive Directors or comparable senior operational leaders.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial statements and operational data and translate findings into action.

• Excellent communication, leadership, coaching, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and communities in a fast-paced environment.

• Willingness and ability to travel regularly throughout the assigned region.

The successful RDO will be a highly visible and engaged operational leader who understands that strong financial results are created through strong community leadership.

This individual will be comfortable digging into a P&L, challenging an unfavorable variance, coaching an Executive Director, walking a community, evaluating the resident experience, and developing an actionable plan to improve performance.

We are looking for someone who is financially disciplined, operationally strong, highly accountable, and passionate about building successful senior living communities.

The RDO will be expected to operate with an ownership mindset—identifying challenges early, taking action quickly, and ensuring each community has a clear strategy to achieve its operational, occupancy, and financial goals.

We offer a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including:

• Competitive base salary

• Performance-based incentive opportunity

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off

• Retirement benefits

• Mileage reimbursement and/or travel allowance

• Professional development opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cornerstone Management is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.