Skilled Nursing Operations Specialist

About the role

Benchmark has been a trailblazer in senior living for nearly 30 years, operating 68 communities with 7,400 associates across the Northeast. With $3 billion in assets under management and $700 million in annual revenue, the company is experiencing historic growth, expanding its footprint from Boston to Washington DC. Benchmark offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities, positioning itself as a leader within this growing real estate sector.

Responsibilities

• Provides operational guidance and support to communities with skilled nursing services to ensure alignment with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Partners with Executive Directors, Associate Executive Directors, Administrators, Directors of Nursing, and regional leaders to improve operational performance and quality outcomes.
• Assists in stabilizing operations during leadership transitions, performance challenges, or regulatory surveys.
• Maintains compliance with federal, state, and local skilled nursing regulations.
• Collaborates with operational and clinical leadership to ensure strong survey readiness and effective response to regulatory findings.
• Supports communities in implementing corrective action plans when necessary.
• Analyzes operational, financial, and clinical data to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Supports development and implementation of operational best practices across skilled nursing sites and communities.
• Partners with disciplines including clinical services, finance, HR, legal, risk management, compliance, and asset management to address operational challenges and implement improvements.
• Supports integration of skilled nursing operations within broader community operations and strategic initiatives.
• Provides guidance and mentorship to community leaders regarding skilled nursing operations.
• Supports education initiatives related to regulatory compliance, operational processes, and quality improvement.
• Participates in operational initiatives such as acquisitions, new service expansions, regulatory changes, and operational improvement projects.
• Identifies trends and interacts with the Regional Team to develop and monitor action plans.
• Completes and analyzes weekly and monthly labor variance reports, spend down reports, and census forecasts, and provides P&L variance analysis as needed.
• Participates in state associations and regulatory agencies and acts as Benchmark Representative.
• Manages and reports on all essential legal and risk issues.
• Understands and demonstrates operating efficiencies and expense control; manages/leads net operating income.
• Creates annual business/monthly business plans to meet and exceed the annual budget.
• Compiles and analyzes department wage adjustments.
• Explores ways to develop a strategic direction for the community and to maximize the value of primary and ancillary communities' assets.
• Effectively presents operating results to senior management and develops plans and action steps to enhance performance.
• Researches the root causes of problems and develops plans to resolve them.
• Effectively responds to and communicates about crisis situations.
• Tracks and responds to market trends.
• Effectively develops talent (mentoring Executive Directors/Administrators and Department Heads).
• Recruits at all levels of the company.
• Participates and encourages leadership development and learning.
• Manages employee performance using performance reviews, action plans, and progressive discipline.
• Implements and adheres to training programs and processing.
• Embraces and champions corporate growth, to include possible redesign of role.
• Functions as a change agent in the field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources Administration, Gerontology or other course of study that relates to service to the elderly, preferred.
• Previous experience as an Executive Director or Administrator.
• Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) or Registered Nurse (RN) preferred in MA and/or CT.
• 5–10 years of experience in skilled nursing or post-acute care operations.
• Experience managing or supporting multi-site healthcare operations preferred.
• Strong understanding of skilled nursing regulations, reimbursement models, and quality measures.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze operational data and implement improvement strategies.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.