Overview

La Crosse County is seeking a dedicated and experienced Executive Director to provide leadership for two distinct long-term care campuses: Lakeview Health Care Campus and Hillview Health Care Campus. Each campus offers a diverse continuum of services, including:

• Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF),
• State-only skilled nursing home beds,
• Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRF),
• Residential Care Apartment Complexes (RCAC),
• Adult Family Homes (AFH),
• Independent and assisted living residences.

These facilities serve individuals with varied and complex needs, from rehabilitation and dementia care to long-term residential living and behavioral health supports.

The Executive Director will ensure high-quality, person-centered care and regulatory excellence across all programs and campus settings—guiding the fulfillment of La Crosse County’s mission to meet the evolving needs of residents and the community.

Location

This position will provide on-site leadership to both campuses. Lakeview Health Care Campus is located in the Village of West Salem, and Hillview Health Care Campus is located in the City of La Crosse.

Unique Opportunity

The successful candidate will have the benefit of a planned overlap with the current Executive Director, who will retire in August 2026. This transition period enables comprehensive onboarding, knowledge sharing, and continuity in leadership to support the ongoing success of La Crosse County’s long-term care services.

Essential Leadership Functions

Act with Integrity and Build Trust

• Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions
• Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints
• Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives

Drive for Results

• Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes
• Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results
• Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring

Develop Talent and Effective Teams

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth
• Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential
• Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team

Lead with Vision and Strategy

• Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals
• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives
• Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully

Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking

• Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives
• Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment
• Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others

Build and Maintain Effective Relationships

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization
• Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team-minded thinking
• Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders

Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service

• Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community
• Incorporate community perspectives into decision-making processes
• Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization

Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

• Show self-awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations
• Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks
• Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others

Essential Job Functions

Lead and oversee all clinical and residential operations across multiple long-term care and residential facilities to ensure delivery of high-quality, person-centered care.

Develop, implement, and evaluate strategic initiatives and operational plans to meet long- and short-term goals to promote unified operations and efficiency improvements.

Manage and be accountable for multi-facility operating and capital budgets; ongoing operational and staffing adjustments informed by census data and fiscal performance analysis.

Oversee regulatory compliance efforts across all facilities, serving as the primary liaison with regulatory and licensing agencies.

Lead risk management initiatives including compliance audits, incident investigations, and emergency preparedness.

Negotiates and interprets contracts in conjunction with corporation counsel.

Build and maintain effective relationships with residents, families, county departments, local health systems, advocacy organizations, and external stakeholders.

Represent La Crosse County’s long-term care division in community, regional, and state-level initiatives, professional organizations, and public engagements.

Lead recruitment, retention, succession planning, and workforce development initiatives to foster a skilled, engaged, and stable workforce.

Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in both resident services and staff management.

Related Job Functions

Oversee capital projects and facility expansions, including the new Evergreens at Hillview Community-Based Residential Facility.

Participate in county-wide initiatives aligned with health system integration and long-term care innovation.

Provide leadership during crisis situations, ensuring continuity of operations and resident safety.

Collaborate with County Finance and Human Resources on budget development, compensation, and staffing policies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and county long-term care regulations, licensing, and certification standards.

Strong financial management skills, including budget development, monitoring, and fiscal stewardship in a public sector context.

Proven leadership and management skills in multi-facility healthcare or residential services environments.

Ability to develop and implement strategic plans aligning with organizational goals and community needs.

Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication abilities; skilled in public speaking and stakeholder engagement.

Crisis management skills and capacity to operate effectively under pressure.

Proficient with electronic health record systems, budgeting software, and other relevant technologies.

Commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment and cultural competence in service delivery.

Training, Experience and Other Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, nursing, public administration, business, or related field required; master’s degree or advanced credential preferred.

Minimum five years of senior leadership experience in long-term care or healthcare management, including oversight of multi-site operations.

Licensed Nursing Home Administrator or eligibility to obtain a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator license within six months of hire is required; eligibility or certification in Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRF) administration an asset.

Experience working within a public sector or county government context is highly desirable.

Ability to travel regularly between facilities and participate in on-site operations and facility walkthroughs.

Availability for after-hours and emergency response duties as necessary.

Must successfully pass background check per the Wisconsin Caregivers law.