FCHS is looking for great employees like you!
If you have any questions or would like to apply, please contact our Human Resources department at 402.947.2541 or email John Schwab at jschwab@friendmed.org
Application Process
To apply for an open position at FCHS, each applicant shall complete the following to be considered for the open position:
Resume
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Friend Community Healthcare System | Friend, Nebraska
Lead the Next Chapter of Rural Healthcare
Warren Memorial Hospital dba Friend Community Healthcare System (FCHS)
is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead our organization into its next chapter. FCHS is a community-focused rural healthcare organization (“REH”) serving Friend, Nebraska, and the surrounding communities. As a Rural Emergency Hospital, we provide essential local access to emergency, outpatient, diagnostic, and other healthcare services.
Our next CEO will have an opportunity to do more than manage a hospital. This leader will help shape the future of healthcare in our community. We are looking for a visible, hands-on, and approachable leader who understands the unique opportunities and challenges of rural healthcare. The successful candidate will bring strong financial and operational leadership, build trust with employees and providers, engage the community, develop partnerships, and identify opportunities to strengthen the long-term sustainability of FCHS.
As CEO, you will:
- Partner with the Board to set and execute strategy and priorities.
- Lead financial and operational performance with a focus on long-term sustainability.
- Ensure effective operation of the REH model and compliance with applicable requirements.
- Build, develop, and support a strong leadership team and workforce.
- Champion safe, high-quality, compassionate, patient-centered care.
- Strengthen and responsibly grow services based on community need.
- Build partnerships with providers, regional systems, EMS, public health, businesses, schools, and other community stakeholders.
- Serve as a visible, trusted representative of FCHS in Friend and surrounding communities.
- Communicate openly with the Board, employees, providers, patients, and community.
- Advocate for FCHS and the future of rural healthcare.
Our ideal CEO is someone who is:
Visible and approachable. Engaged throughout FCHS and the community.
Financially disciplined. Protects access through sound stewardship and difficult decisions.
Transparent and accountable. Sets expectations, measures results, and follows through.
Collaborative. Builds strong internal and external partnerships.
Solutions-focused. Turns challenges into practical action.
Community-minded. Understands FCHS’s role in the health and future of a rural community.
Qualifications
Candidates should bring progressive healthcare leadership experience with responsibility for operations, financial management, strategy, and people leadership.
A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business, finance, nursing, public administration, or a related field, or equivalent education and relevant healthcare leadership experience, is required.
Experience in an REH, Critical Access Hospital, rural hospital, or community healthcare organization, senior healthcare leadership experience, and a related master’s degree are preferred but not required.
The Opportunity
Rural healthcare is changing, and FCHS is positioned to help define sustainable community healthcare. The CEO will help build that future through thoughtful, collaborative leadership.
FCHS offers a competitive compensation package, including a three-year employment agreement, benefits, executive-level PTO, professional development support, and business expense reimbursement.
PART II: FORMAL CEO JOB DESCRIPTION
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Organization: Warren Memorial Hospital dba Friend Community Healthcare System (FCHS)
Reports To: Board of Directors
Position Status: Full-Time, Exempt
ABOUT FRIEND COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Friend Community Healthcare System is a community-focused rural healthcare organization serving Friend, Nebraska, and the surrounding communities. As a REH, FCHS plays an essential role in maintaining local access to emergency, outpatient, diagnostic, and other healthcare services.
FCHS is more than a healthcare facility, it is an important part of the community. Our future depends on remaining responsive to the healthcare needs of the people we serve while building a financially and operationally sustainable organization for the years ahead.
POSITION SUMMARY
The CEO provides overall leadership for FCHS and is accountable to the Board for financial, operational, clinical, regulatory, and organizational performance. The CEO will lead FCHS as a sustainable REH, maintain essential local access, and represent the organization with employees, providers, patients, partners, and the community.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic & Board Leadership
- Set and execute strategy with the Board; provide clear reporting and recommendations on performance, risks, opportunities, and policy implementation.
- Financial & Operational Leadership: Own financial health and long-term sustainability, including budgeting, cash flow, revenue cycle, expenses, productivity, capital planning, and efficient operations.
- REH Regulatory Oversight: Ensure REH, CMS, federal, state, and other regulatory compliance; maintain reliable services, transfer partnerships, and survey readiness.
- Quality & Patient Care: Promote safe, high-quality, compassionate, patient-centered care with clinical leaders; monitor quality, safety, patient experience, and improvement.
- People & Culture: Recruit, develop, and retain leaders and employees; foster trust, accountability, communication, teamwork, respect, engagement, and professional development.
- Growth & Partnerships: Strengthen and responsibly grow services based on community needs and financial viability; evaluate partnerships, telehealth, shared services, and other rural healthcare opportunities.
- Community Leadership: Represent FCHS visibly in the community; build stakeholder relationships, communicate transparently, and advocate for local and rural healthcare.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business, finance, nursing, public administration, or related field, or equivalent education and relevant healthcare leadership experience.
- Progressive healthcare leadership experience in a hospital, health system, rural healthcare organization, or comparable setting.
- Experience with financial management, operations, budgeting, strategic planning, and people leadership.
- Ability to work effectively with a governing Board, with strong communication, judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred
- Related master’s degree.
- Leadership experience in an REH, Critical Access Hospital, rural hospital, or community healthcare organization, including senior roles such as CEO, COO, CFO, CNO, or hospital administrator.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Competitive base salary commensurate with experience subject to annual Board review.
Benefits include medical insurance and 401(k) participation on the same terms as other full-time employees; executive-level PTO accrual; reimbursement for professional training, development, and approved conference attendance; and reimbursement for reasonable, ordinary, and necessary business expenses.
FCHS provides indemnification under its general liability insurance for acts performed in good faith. The CEO is expected to work in person Monday through Friday, with reasonable flexibility for business-related travel, meetings, and events.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
The Board will evaluate performance by financial sustainability; operational and regulatory performance; quality, safety, and patient experience; workforce strength; strategic execution and responsible growth; effective partnerships; and community trust.
Cook – Full-Time
Purpose
The purpose of the Cook is to prepare and provide nutritional meals to patients and the community. This role will cook meals for patients, community members who come to the kitchen at the lunch hours, and meals on wheels participants.
Responsibilities
- Prepare nutritional meals
- Prep food for future meals
- Serve and package meals on wheels meals
- Prep and package meals for the grab N’ go for employees
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Strong organizational skills
- Active food handler’s permit required
- Experience in a kitchen preferred
