The Vice President of Memory Care provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Memory Care services across the Experience Senior Living portfolio. This executive develops and executes a comprehensive Memory Care strategy that promotes dignity, independence, engagement, safety, regulatory compliance, and an exceptional resident and family experience.
The Vice President establishes ESL’s Memory Care philosophy, operating standards, training programs, quality measures, and performance expectations. This leader partners with Operations, Health and Wellness, Resident Experience, Culinary, Sales, Human Resources, and community leadership to ensure consistent execution across the portfolio.
The Vice President also supports new community openings, leadership transitions, challenged communities, program development, and organizational growth. The ideal candidate combines deep dementia-care expertise with strong operational judgment, financial acumen, strategic leadership, and the ability to develop scalable programs and high-performing leaders.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following essential functions are fundamental job duties of the position and are to be performed with or without appropriate reasonable accommodation(s).
Memory Care Strategy and Portfolio Leadership
• Develop and execute a comprehensive Memory Care strategy aligned with ESL’s mission, growth plans, operating model, and resident experience standards.
• Establish and maintain ESL’s Memory Care philosophy, policies, procedures, tools, quality measures, and performance expectations.
• Ensure Memory Care services are person-centered, evidence-informed, operationally sustainable, and consistently implemented across the portfolio.
• Translate organizational strategy into clear priorities and actionable expectations for divisional, community, and Memory Care leaders.
• Advise executive leadership regarding Memory Care performance, trends, risks, opportunities, and resource needs.
• Ensure community-specific practices remain responsive to local needs while aligning with ESL’s core standards.
Quality Regulatory and Operational Oversight
• Establish standards for resident care, engagement, safety, family communication, staffing, dining, programming, and quality assurance.
• Monitor community performance through site visits, operational reviews, quality data, incident trends, regulatory results, resident outcomes, and stakeholder feedback.
• Partner with Health and Wellness leadership to ensure assessments, service plans, medication practices, changes of condition, documentation, and care delivery meet resident needs and regulatory requirements.
• Identify trends involving falls, behaviors, incidents, hospitalizations, family concerns, resident retention, and other measures of program effectiveness.
• Develop and oversee corrective action and quality-improvement plans when performance gaps or areas of risk are identified.
• Support regulatory readiness, survey response, and plans of correction related to Memory Care operations.
• Monitor relevant regulatory and industry developments and incorporate appropriate changes into ESL’s programs and practices.
• Establish reporting tools that allow community and company leaders to monitor performance, identify risks, and make informed decisions.
Community Support and Performance Improvement
• Evaluate community-level performance and provide focused support to locations experiencing leadership vacancies, operational challenges, regulatory concerns, or declining resident or family satisfaction.
• Determine when specialized support is needed and deploy the Memory Care Specialist or other company resources appropriately.
• Partner with Operations and Finance to develop staffing models, labor expectations, department budgets, and resource plans that support resident needs and sustainable performance.
• Identify operational barriers and implement practical solutions that improve quality, consistency, accountability, and efficiency.
• Promote effective transitions following leadership changes, community interventions, or temporary specialist assignments.
• Share successful practices and lessons learned across communities to improve portfolio performance.
Leadership and Team Development
• Provide leadership, direction, and development to the Memory Care Specialist and other assigned team members.
• Establish clear expectations and leadership competencies for Directors of Memory Care and other leaders responsible for Memory Care services.
• Partner with Operations and Human Resources to support the recruitment, selection, onboarding, development, performance management, and retention of Memory Care leaders.
• Develop and oversee education related to dementia, communication, engagement, behaviors, family support, leadership, and ESL’s Memory Care philosophy.
• Coach Executive Directors, Directors of Memory Care, Health and Wellness leaders, and other community leaders on program execution and operational challenges.
• Create succession plans and development opportunities that strengthen ESL’s internal pipeline of Memory Care talent.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and shared accountability for the resident and family experience.
Resident Family and Lifestyle Experience
• Establish expectations for individualized resident experiences that reflect each resident’s abilities, interests, routines, preferences, relationships, and life story.
• Ensure meaningful engagement is incorporated throughout the resident’s day and is not limited to scheduled programming.
• Partner with Resident Experience leadership to develop purposeful and adaptable Memory Care programming, calendars, tools, and resources.
• Establish family communication, education, orientation, and support practices that build trust and productive partnerships.
• Review resident and family feedback and ensure recurring concerns are addressed through sustainable operational improvements.
• Promote dinin