Director of Surgical Services - International Falls, MN

Job Title : Director of Surgical Services
Location : International Falls, MN
Employment Type : Full-Time | Permanent
Department : Surgical Services / Perioperative Nursing
Schedule : Monday–Friday | 8-Hour Day Shifts
Weekly Hours : 40 Hours Guaranteed
Pay Range : $95,000–$135,000 annually, based on experience
Clinical Setting : Hospital-Based Surgical Services / Perioperative Care
Departments Overseen : Pre-Op, Operating Room, PACU, Central Processing, Orthopedic and General Surgery Outreach Clinics
EMR: Epic

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Director of Surgical Services to lead perioperative operations at a community-focused healthcare facility in International Falls, Minnesota.

In this leadership role, you will oversee the daily operations, clinical performance, staffing, and overall management of Surgical Services, including Pre-Operative Care, the Operating Room, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Central Processing, and Orthopedic and General Surgery outreach clinics. You will provide strategic and operational direction to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality surgical care while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and professional nursing practices.

This opportunity is ideal for an experienced perioperative Registered Nurse with a strong surgical background and demonstrated leadership abilities who is ready to take ownership of a multidisciplinary surgical services department. The position offers a consistent Monday–Friday schedule, competitive leadership compensation, negotiable sign-on and relocation assistance, and a comprehensive benefits package. You will have the opportunity to strengthen surgical operations, support staff development, and make a meaningful impact on patient care within a smaller, community-focused healthcare organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and operational management for the Surgical Services Department, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care.
• Oversee daily operations across multiple perioperative service areas, including:
  • Pre-Operative Care (Pre-Op)
  • Operating Room (OR)
  • Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
  • Central Processing / Sterile Processing Department
  • Orthopedic Outreach Clinics
  • General Surgery Outreach Clinics
• Direct departmental staffing, scheduling, clinical workflows, and resource utilization to support effective surgical operations.
• Supervise, mentor, and support perioperative nursing staff and other surgical services personnel.
• Establish and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and clinical standards consistent with organizational goals and applicable healthcare regulations.
• Monitor patient safety, surgical outcomes, infection prevention practices, and quality improvement initiatives across perioperative services.
• Ensure compliance with Minnesota nursing regulations, regulatory organizations, external accrediting agencies, and healthcare licensing requirements.
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, physicians, nursing leadership, hospital administration, and other interdisciplinary teams to coordinate surgical services.
• Oversee operating room efficiency, patient throughput, surgical scheduling, and coordination between pre-operative and post-anesthesia services.
• Support safe and effective instrument processing, sterilization practices, and central processing department operations.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve departmental performance, operational efficiency, patient satisfaction, and quality of care.
• Participate in departmental budgeting, resource planning, equipment management, and evaluation of operational needs.
• Lead staff recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluations, professional development, and ongoing education within Surgical Services.
• Promote a positive, accountable, and collaborative work environment focused on staff engagement and clinical excellence.
• Oversee clinical documentation practices and support appropriate utilization of Epic EMR.
• Coordinate surgical services with orthopedic and general surgery outreach clinics to support continuity of care and efficient patient access.
• Identify operational challenges, evaluate potential solutions, and implement process improvements to strengthen surgical services.
• Maintain departmental readiness for regulatory inspections, accreditation surveys, and compliance reviews.
• Ensure departmental operations align with the organization's mission, vision, values, and commitment to patient-centered care.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) or a related field.
• Licensure: Active Minnesota Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Certifications:
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
  • Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Experience: Minimum 3 years of professional experience working in a surgical department.
• Clinical Knowledge: Strong understanding of perioperative nursing practices, surgical workflows, patient safety, and surgical services operations.
• Leadership Skills: Ability to provide direction, supervision, and operational oversight for multidisciplinary surgical teams.
• Department Management: Understanding of pre-operative care, operating room operations, post-anesthesia recovery, and central processing workflows.
• Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of applicable healthcare regulations, accreditation requirements, infection prevention practices, and professional nursing standards.
• Technical Skills: Ability to utilize electronic medical records and oversee accurate clinical documentation.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal, organizational, and leadership communication skills when working with surgeons, physicians, staff, and hospital administration.
• Operational Skills: Ability to manage staffing, departmental resources, workflow efficiency, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Additional Requirements: Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills, with the ability to lead a multidisciplinary department.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certification.
• Master's Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of previous management or leadership experience in a surgical services or perioperative healthcare setting.
• Previous experience serving as a Director, Manager, or Supervisor of Surgical Services.
• Experience overseeing multiple perioperative departments, including Pre-Op, OR, PACU, and Sterile Processing.
• Familiarity with Epic EMR.
• Previous experience working in a Critical Access Hospital, rural healthcare facility, or community hospital environment.
• Experience managing orthopedic and general surgery programs or specialty outreach clinics.
• Strong background in departmental budgeting, staffing optimization, surgical scheduling, and operational performance improvement.
• Experience leading regulatory compliance initiatives, accreditation readiness, patient safety programs, and clinical quality improvement.
• Demonstrated success in staff development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and building highly engaged perioperative teams.

Benefits

The position includes a comprehensive benefits package designed to support long-term professional and personal well-being.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Multiple coverage options available.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with applicable health insurance plans.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Available for eligible expenses.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Comprehensive PTO package.
• Retirement Benefits: 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
• Life Insurance: Employer-provided or available coverage.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance: Available coverage.
• Sign-On Bonus: Negotiable based on candidate qualifications and offer discussions.
• Relocation Assistance: Negotiable for eligible candidates.