Executive Director-Rural Health Transformation

Location : Newark, NJ (Hybrid/On- site)

Position Summary – NJII seeks a strategic and experienced Executive Director to lead the Rural Health Transformation Project for the NJHN. The Executive Director for Rural Health Transformation will lead initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery in rural communities through the effective utilization of the New Jersey Health Information Network (NJHIN). This role will involve outreach to healthcare providers, onboarding of Electronic Health Record (EHR) vendors, and integrating rural health practices into the NJHIN framework to improve patient care and health outcomes.

Reports to: Vice President Healthcare

Essential Functions

· Outreach and Engagement:

o Develop and implement a strategic outreach plan to engage rural healthcare providers and stakeholders.

o Foster relationships with local healthcare organizations, community leaders, and government agencies to promote rural health initiatives.

o Collaborate closely with clinicians, administrators, and IT professionals to gather requirements, validate workflows, and align system functionality with user needs.

o Facilitate and manage provider outreach, maintaining transparency, alignment, and progress.

· Onboarding EHR Vendors:

o Collaborate with EHR vendors to facilitate the onboarding process for rural health practices.

o Work in close partnership with all stakeholders on planning and development of EHR integration with NJHIN.

o Oversee requirements development and contract management for technology partners and implementation teams.

o Work in close partnership with all stakeholders on planning and development of EHR integration with NJHIN.

o Oversee requirements development and contract management for technology partners and implementation teams.

· Integration of Rural Health Practices:

o Lead efforts to onboard rural health practices into the NJHIN, ensuring they have the necessary resources and support for successful integration.

o Provide training and assistance to rural health providers in utilizing the NJHIN effectively.

o Ensure that EHR systems are compatible with NJHIN standards and support seamless data exchange.

· Project/Program Management:

o Oversee the execution of rural health transformation projects, ensuring they align with NJHIN objectives and meet established timelines.

o Identify and mitigate risks proactively, addressing barriers to successful adoption and integration.

o Support the transition and change management strategy across all provider sites, including training, support, and communications.

o Develop and manage program plans, timelines, budgets, and resource allocations to ensure project milestones are met on time and within scope.

o Monitor project progress, evaluate outcomes, and report findings to senior leadership.

· Collaboration and Team Leadership:

o Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including IT, compliance, and operations, to promote a culture of innovation and excellence.

o Mentor and support team members involved in rural health transformation initiatives.

· Program Leadership & Strategy

o Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and oversight of the Rural Health Transformation project for the NJHIN.

o Serve as the primary point of coordination between state agencies, provider practices, IT vendors, and other stakeholders.

o Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

· Operational Planning & Implementation

o Evaluation & Reporting

o Define success metrics and oversee program evaluation efforts.

o Provide regular updates to senior leadership, legislative bodies, and partner agencies on progress, impact, and recommendations.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, information systems, public health, or related field (Master’s preferred).

· Minimum of 7–10 years of experience managing large-scale healthcare IT projects. · Demonstrated experience leading EHR integrations, including stakeholder engagement, vendor coordination, and system integration.

· Deep understanding of provider health operations, data governance, and federal interoperability standards (e.g., ONC, HL7, FHIR).

· Exceptional organizational, leadership, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

· PMP, PgMP, or equivalent program management certification.

· Experience working in or with public healthcare systems.

· Familiarity with NJ-based health policy, HIEs, and health data regulations.

· Prior collaboration with academic or innovation institutions in research and systems development.

In compliance with the NJ Pay Transparency law, the annual salary range for this position is $175,000 - $200,000 (USD). NJII considers factors like, but not limited to, job scope, experience, education, skills, internal equity, and market conditions when making offers. This pay range covers base pay only and excludes bonuses or other incentives.

NJII provides a comprehensive package of benefits to their full-time employees which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with Employer Match, FSA and HSA. We also provide Company Paid Group Term Life Insurance, AD&D and LTD.

Final candidates will be subject to a background screening. Employment or continued employment is contingent upon NJII’s acceptance of the results of the background screening.