Director, Risk Management & Patient Safety

Job Description

Job Description

Director, Risk Management & Patient Safety
Location: Downey, CA
Shift/Schedule: Full-time, onsite, Monday through Friday with leadership on-call as needed
Pay/Compensation: $175,600 – $258,100 per year

About the Role
A leading regional healthcare provider known for patient-centric care is seeking a Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety for its acute care medical center. This senior leader will own the programs that protect patients, staff, and the organization from preventable harm. The role suits a hands-on leader who pairs regulatory expertise with the credibility to guide physicians and executives through difficult safety conversations.

The ideal candidate has led risk and safety programs inside a busy acute care hospital and is comfortable presenting to medical staff committees and executive leadership. You bring calm judgment during serious events, a data-driven approach to prevention, and a genuine commitment to a just and transparent safety culture.

This is a permanent, direct-hire opportunity presented by The Employee Connect. Qualified candidates will be contacted promptly to review the role, answer questions, and discuss next steps in the interview process.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the hospital risk management and patient safety program across all clinical departments
• Oversee incident reporting, serious event review, and root cause analysis processes
• Partner with physician, nursing, and quality leaders to reduce preventable patient harm
• Manage claims early resolution and coordinate closely with legal counsel and insurers
• Ensure compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, and state adverse event reporting rules
• Build a just culture through staff education, safety huddles, and transparent communication
• Report safety trends, metrics, and improvement plans to executive leadership and committees

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nursing, health administration, or a closely related field
• Progressive experience in hospital risk management, patient safety, or clinical quality
• Prior leadership experience directing professional staff in an acute care setting
• Working knowledge of Joint Commission standards and CMS conditions of participation
• Strong investigation, analytical, facilitation, and written communication skills
• Ability to work onsite at the medical center on a full-time basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in health administration, nursing, law, or public health
• CPHRM or CPPS certification in risk management or patient safety
• Active California Registered Nurse license
• Experience within a large integrated health system or multi-hospital network
• Background in healthcare liability claims or professional liability programs

Benefits & Pay

• Pay: $175,600 – $258,100 per year
• Competitive annual salary based on experience and credentials
• Full-time, permanent leadership position with a stable organization
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits through the employer
• Direct influence over safety culture at a high-volume acute care hospital
• Long-term career growth within a large integrated health system

Screening Questions

1. How many years have you led hospital risk management or patient safety programs, and how large was your team?
2. Describe a serious safety event you investigated and the lasting change that resulted.
3. Do you hold CPHRM, CPPS, or an active California RN license?