Elliott Smith, former executive director of the Iowa Business Council, will begin a new role Monday as vice president of administrative services for the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative. The Des Moines-based nonprofit organization focuses on initiatives to improve health care quality in the state. In the newly created position, Smith will be responsible for strategic planning and execution of the organization’s administrative functions as well as overseeing grant writing and fundraising efforts. Smith has been a member of the organization’s board for about the past six years. “Their mission has continued to grow and expand,” he said. In October, the collaborative was selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as one of 16 organizations nationally that will lead efforts to reduce preventable hospital-acquired infections. Smith led the Iowa Business Council for the past 11 years; his last day was Nov. 30. He said the “time just seemed right” for him to pursue a new direction as that organization moves forward with a new strategic plan. “They were looking for a fresh start, and I was looking for a fresh start,” he said.