Heartland Whole Health Institute is a non-profit that addresses physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being by working with health systems, employers, and communities to redesign health care delivery.

Job Description:

Job Title: Chief Transformation Officer

Reports to: President

FLSA Classification: Exempt
Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site)

Who We Are

Heartland Whole Health Institute (HWHI) is dedicated to transforming health care – beginning in our home of Northwest Arkansas and scaling to disrupt the national health crisis. We advocate, educate, and guide the implementation of an innovative system, rooted in whole health and the realignment of financial incentives. Our team members are collaborative, analytical, mission-driven, and working together to change the status quo.

The Institute’s 85,000-square-foot facility is located on the campus of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art near Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.

About The Position

The Chief Transformation Officer (CTO) plays a key role in the development and execution of strategic initiatives at Heartland Whole Health Institute. The CTO leads two of the organization’s core verticals – Health Systems Partnerships and Digital & Informatics – ensuring alignment with whole health principles and the Founder’s Intent. As a true operator, the CTO is crucial in driving forward key organizational programs and partnerships that deliver measurable improvements to the quality, cost, and access to care across Northwest Arkansas. The CTO leads initiatives that align strategic priorities with operational execution. This role is critical in partnering with Northwest Arkansas health systems and employers to improve clinical care delivery, advance digital health capabilities, and create a unified, outcomes-driven value-based environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Health System Partnerships:
  • Lead execution of a strategic partnership with local and national health systems to build a new Bentonville Health Care Campus (BHCC), ensuring the partnership furthers HWHI’s mission and Founder’s Intent.
  • Lead the development and negotiation of future service line partnerships to bring world-class specialty care to Northwest Arkansas.
  • Represent HWHI’s interest in strategic negotiations with partners – ensuring the partnership furthers whole health care delivery models and value-based payment models.
  • With senior leadership, lead the development of a Wellness and Lifestyle Center on the Bentonville Health Campus.
  • Assess financial sustainability and potential performance of partnerships and initiatives.
  • Represent Founder’s interests on the Joint Oversight Committee and Cardiovascular Task Force, driving the strategic vision of the partnership.
  • Advise on the health campus master planning and build out, ensuring that the design furthers the charge to improve quality, cost, and access to care in NWA.
  • Collaborate with clinical, administrative, and support service teams to streamline workflows, improve outcomes, and reduce costs with partner systems
  • Collaborate with Alice L. Walton Foundation, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM), and other ecosystem partners to put whole-person care and advanced payment models to practice through delivery system partnerships and provider training programs.

• Digital and Informatics:
  • Lead efforts to improve access to quality care through virtual care tools and other digital tools
  • Lead the sourcing and development of tech tools to improve access to care.
  • Advise on the development and execution of virtual care initiatives, primarily the development of a regional virtual care hub.
  • Create an innovation platform to showcase emerging technologies and demonstrate how they support our health transformation mission.
  • Serve as a bridge between HWHI, health systems, and technology solutions, ensuring technology solutions meet clinical needs and advance the organization's goals.

• Innovation:
  • Drive innovation in care delivery and data analytics, leveraging cutting-edge technology and best practices.
  • Create an innovation hub by partnering with leaders in health care organizations/companies to implement best-in-class health care solutions and engage in research designed to improve patients' health care outcomes, health care system efficiencies, and cost of care.
  • Develop strategy and launch initiatives for integrate digital health tools, AI, automation, and other technologies into care delivery and administrative processes.
  • Lead development of data-driven approaches to care transformation, working with the team to tell the story of evidence-based programs and how such programs lead to measurable outcomes.
  • Drive the regional adoption of data analytics and machine learning in clinical decision support systems to improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs

• Management and Development:
  • Lead, coach, and develop a dynamic and growing team of leaders and specialists across digital innovation, informatics, clinical program management, and health systems partnerships fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
  • Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and performance evaluations, providing feedback and professional development opportunities.
  • Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members to ensure alignment with HWHI standards and practices.
  • Monitor and manage team performance, addressing attendance, conduct, or productivity issues promptly and professionally.
  • Encourage employee engagement and morale through recognition and open communication practices.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Advanced degree in health care administration, finance, business, or a related field. Doctoral degree preferred.
• 10-15+ years of experience leading transformation initiatives in health systems.
• Proven leadership abilities with a strong track record of managing teams.
• Strong strategic vision and change management expertise.
• Strong health care finance understanding.
• Skilled spokesperson with excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation capabilities.
• Strong understanding of health care operations, clinical processes, and the broader health care system.
• In-depth knowledge of health IT systems, clinical service lines, payment models, and health care quality and safety.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders effectively.
• High level of professional integrity and the ability to handle sensitive issues and situations with utmost discretion.
• Natural problem solver, creative, inquisitive, and open-minded, with a bold approach to innovation.
• Detail-oriented and highly collaborative.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and innovative environment where change is constant.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands: In the work environment described, position requires sitting at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching, and physical stamina to lift and transport a minimum of 10 pounds. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

Work environment: Work is performed full-time (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) in a professional, climate-controlled office environment with standard office equipment, including computers, printers, and telephones. This role requires working in an open setting near colleagues. The noise level is typically low to moderate. The role also requires interaction with both the public and internal team members in a professional and courteous manner. Some local travel will be required, and a flexible schedule may be necessary to accommodate business needs, including occasional evening and weekend work hours.

Heartland Whole Health Institute is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and a background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.