A Regional Director of Operations (RDO) is primarily responsible for the management of Administrators and multiple health care centers within a region of the United States. Through their leadership, RDOs are responsible for achieving company goals and census growth, employee relations, business trends, and ensuring that company policies and standards are being met by each center. RDOs are specifically tasked with the management of the Administrators in their region, and work alongside them to ensure they develop personally and professionally.  The job duties of a Regional Director of Operations generally include:

• Management of administrative operations and personnel
• Ensuring care of residents is of the highest quality and meets company standards
• Working to establish positive employee relations
• Increasing census growth at each center
• Overseeing federal and state surveys and ensuring regulatory standards are met
• Working to implement company programs and values
• Overseeing a defined return on investment for the company as a whole
• Identifying business trends that will affect assigned centers
• Implementing plans and processes to maintain productivity and profitability
• Holding Administrators professionally accountable in order to work towards company goals
• Traveling to each center to be a present part of the team and provide hands-on leadership

Regional Directors of Operations enjoy a position in which they have the ability to make an impact on the success of their assigned facilities and staff. Strong candidates are devoted to educating on best practices, have an in-depth understanding of local, state, and federal regulations, and are passionate about providing exceptional care to the residents they serve. Additionally, a strong RDO has a vast understanding of business plans, and how their industry and region will be affected by market trends. They are responsible for using competitive intelligence in preparing their facilities to meet changes within their market to ensure their centers stay productive and profitable. RDO’s typically oversee several centers within their region and are required to travel to each location on a consistent basis. Travel expectations can vary based on the geographic locations of their assigned region, but most RDO’s are expected to travel away from home multiple times per month.  Depending on center location and the level of involvement needed from corporate management, travel may include flying and hotel stays for several days or more.

RDOs play a vital role in the success of the centers they oversee, and ultimately, the company as a whole. The ability to blend their business know-how with extensive knowledge of long-term care, is extremely important in maintaining and improving the success of their region. The work of an RDO is focused on profitability, while simultaneously providing the highest quality of life to seniors. These two points are major focuses of most long-term care organizations, in which RDO’s have a direct impact.  As such, individuals in this role assume a great amount of responsibility, but also enjoy a career that offers measurable success that makes a true difference in the lives of the people they serve.

As a Regional Director of Operations, there are several pieces of credentialing that will need to be kept current. RDOs will need to keep an active and unencumbered Nursing Home Administrator license issued by the state in which they’re working. In order to keep their license active, a minimum of 40 hours of approved CEUs must be completed every two years, along with a renewal fee. An RDO will also need to keep a current annual physical, Tuberculosis screening, and background check. Additionally, some employers may also require regular drug screenings.