Director Care Management

Description

Calling all Esteemed Leaders! Are you a care-management leader who thrives in complex acute-care environments and brings strong expertise in utilization management, discharge planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration? Do you excel at leading teams, improving patient flow, and driving quality and cost-effective outcomes across the continuum of care? If so, this Director, Care Management opportunity may be an excellent fit.

The Role:

The Director, Care Management oversees all care-management functions of Queen of the Valley Medical Center and is accountable for daily operations, personnel leadership, fiscal management, and continuous improvement across the Case Management and Social Services departments.

This role provides strategic direction and operational leadership for care-management processes including resource utilization review, care management across the continuum, denial management, discharge planning, and length-of-stay (LOS) management, as outlined in the Medical Center Utilization Plan. The Director collaborates closely with physicians, executive leadership, and interdisciplinary teams to review, analyze, and recommend best-practice changes that advance Queen of the Valley Medical Center's strategic goals.

All responsibilities are carried out in accordance with Joint Commission standards, state and federal regulatory requirements, and professional practice standards, with minimal supervision.

What You'll Do:

Care Management & Utilization Leadership

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for Case Management and Social Services, including utilization review, discharge planning, case management, clinical documentation management, social services, regulatory compliance, performance improvement, and medical-staff relations.
• Direct and integrate prospective, concurrent, and retrospective utilization management across the patient hospitalization.
• Collaborate with Community Outreach and Care Network programs to maintain continuity of care across the continuum.

Operational Excellence & Performance Improvement

• Lead department-specific and hospital-wide performance-improvement initiatives focused on LOS optimization, utilization, documentation compliance, and patient outcomes.
• Assess and resolve complex clinical and discharge-planning issues in collaboration with patients, families, physicians, staff, and community partners.
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and care conferences to remove barriers and improve patient flow.

People Leadership & Workforce Management

• Oversee recruitment, staffing, orientation, education, and ongoing professional development of Case Management and Social Work staff.
• Manage staffing and scheduling, performance evaluations, and human-resources matters including progressive discipline when required.
• Create a collaborative, mission-aligned work environment that supports Sacred Encounters, engagement, recruitment, and retention.

Physician, Community & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration with physicians, community partners, and internal stakeholders to optimize care coordination.
• Maintain and strengthen long-term relationships with post-acute providers, including long-term care facilities, hospitals, hospices, behavioral health agencies, and community organizations.
• Educate medical staff and caregivers on care-management philosophy, best practices, and resource utilization principles.

Financial Stewardship & Resource Management

• Demonstrate accountability for department budgets, productivity targets, and fiscal performance.
• Advocate for resources and technology required to support care-management objectives.
• Develop, monitor, and justify operational and capital budget requests.

Governance, Reporting & Committees

• Prepare and present reports, analyses, and materials related to Case Management and Social Services.
• Co-chair and/or facilitate the Medical Staff Utilization Management Committee, ensuring timely fiscal, utilization, and quality reporting.
• Serve on hospital and external committees as assigned.
• Support and promote community education initiatives and outreach activities.

Professional Accountability & Development

• Participate in self-appraisal, peer review, and performance-review processes.
• Evaluate and implement performance-improvement initiatives that support "perfect care" across patient-care programs.
• Maintain professional competence and pursue continued growth and development.

What You'll Bring:

Education & Credentials

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or Health Services Administration
• Master's Degree in Nursing, Social Work, or Health Services Administration (preferred) .
• Association of Case Management certification (preferred upon hire) .
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) required upon hire.

Leadership & Experience

• 5+ years of Case Management experience in an acute-care setting.
• 3+ years of leadership experience in an acute-care environment.
• Advanced knowledge of care-management, utilization review, and discharge-planning practices.

Professional & Leadership Capabilities

• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to:
• Resolve conflict
• Facilitate collaboration and team building
• Mentor staff for high performance
• Translate complex concepts across varied audiences
• Ability to function effectively in unpredictable, high-acuity, and crisis situations.
• Proactive problem-solver who addresses system-level outcome issues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, databases, spreadsheets, and reporting systems.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and organizational development principles.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a healthcare organization undergoing change.

Why Join Us?

• Lead care coordination at scale: Shape utilization, discharge planning, and patient flow across the Medical Center.
• Improve outcomes and efficiency: Drive measurable improvements in LOS, quality, and regulatory readiness.
• Partner with physicians: Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and care delivery.
• Build high-performing teams: Develop and retain exceptional care-management professionals.
• Serve a mission that matters: Support high-quality, patient-centered care across the continuum.

Ready to Shape the Future of Healthcare?

If you are a collaborative, operationally strong leader ready to advance care co