Associate Vice President - Community Operations

Associate Vice President – Community Operations - Join Our Big-Hearted Team

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in a vibrant, premier Life Plan Community? Join our exceptional team at The Colonnade in Surprise, AZ!

Your Mission: The Associate Vice President (AVP) of Community Operations, you will lead with purpose and heart-responsible for ensuring that every resident experiences exceptional care, comfort, and connection. Incumbent serves as a senior operational leader responsible for driving strategic, financial, and operational performance across assigned community functions. This role operates as a key partner to the Vice President of Community Operations and/or Executive Director (VPO/ED), with accountability for executing enterprise priorities, advancing organizational initiatives, and ensuring excellence in resident experience, team member engagement, and regulatory compliance. Your leadership will directly shape the daily experiences of those who call your community home-making certain that each resident feels valued, supported, and proud to be part of our community. The AVP provides executive-level oversight of multiple departments and serves as a succession-ready leader for the VPO/ED, contributing to long-term growth, innovation, and sustainability of Sun Health communities.

Why Choose Us?

• Great Place to Work: Sun Health has been certified as a Great Place to Work in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
• National Recognition: We secured a top 10 spot on the Fortune Best Workplaces for Aging Services™ list in 2020 and 2021.
• Platinum Award Winner: Our dedication to health and safety earned us Platinum awards from the Healthy Arizona Worksites Program in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develops a positive professional relationship with residents, resident family members, team members, professional organizations, community groups, and other appropriate entities as the leader of the community
• Execute organizational strategy at the community level, translating enterprise priorities into actionable operational plans
• Partner with senior leadership to drive growth, operational efficiency, and service excellence
• Lead cross-functional initiatives including integration, process improvements, and system implementations
• Serve as acting the VPO/ED as needed, demonstrating readiness for enterprise leadership roles
• Drive financial performance through budgeting, forecasting, and disciplined expense management
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) including occupancy, labor, margin, and service metrics
• Collaborate with Finance and corporate partners on long-range planning and capital initiatives
• Provide direct leadership to department heads and develop strong, aligned operational teams
• Build leadership bench strength through coaching, succession planning, and talent development
• Foster a high-performance culture aligned with Sun Health's values and leadership expectations
• Partner with HR to execute talent strategies including engagement, retention, and workforce planning
• Champion an exceptional resident experience and lead service recovery efforts as needed
• Build and maintain strong relationships with residents, families, and key external stakeholders
• Ensure full regulatory compliance and maintain readiness for surveys, audits, and reviews
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous quality improvement, including risk mitigation
• Lead change management efforts and leverage data, technology, and best practices to drive operational excellence
• Demonstrates the Sun Health Values every day and provides all customers and other stakeholders with excellent service experience.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of senior living operations, including IL, AL, Memory Care, and SNF
• Proven success in operational and financial leadership, driving measurable performance improvement
• Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to influence and present at all levels
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations within senior living/CCRC environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead leaders, build high-performing teams, and foster a "best place to work" culture
• Skilled at building relationships and navigating diverse stakeholders, including residents, families, regulators, and senior leadership

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred (Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field)
• 5–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in senior living, healthcare, or hospitality operations
• Must have an Arizona Assisted Living Manager Certificate or the ability to obtain one in the first year of employment
• Nursing Home Administrator License preferred
• Multi-department or multi-site leadership experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success in operational and financial performance improvement
• Ability to obtain Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card

Employee Benefits:

• Comprehensive health benefits (Medical, Dental & Vision).
• 401k with immediate vesting and up to 4% employer match.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Exclusive discounts through The Employee Network.
• Access to the Employee Association, supporting team members in need.

Equal Employment Opportunity: At Sun Health, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment and are dedicated to promoting equal employment opportunities for all.

Join us and be a part of a community that cares for its residents and team members alike.

Apply today!