Interim Director of Operating Room (OR) Services

Assignment Overview

We are seeking an experienced, results-oriented Interim Director of OR Services to lead a focused, time-bound engagement aimed at stabilizing, evaluating, and optimizing perioperative operations. This leader will bring an objective, systems-level perspective to assess current performance, culture, and structure, and partner with executive and clinical leadership to drive meaningful, sustainable improvement.

Purpose of the Role

This interim leader will:

• Provide objective assessment and operational leadership of the OR environment
• Address performance, accountability, and cultural challenges
• Establish clear standards and expectations for staff and leadership
• Deliver actionable recommendations for future state structure and operations

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Assessment & Optimization

• Conduct a comprehensive review and action planning of OR operations including:
• Throughput, block utilization, case flow, staffing models, and scheduling practices
• Efficiency, financial performance, and resource utilization
• Identify operational gaps and implement rapid-cycle improvements where appropriate
• Elevate and optimize block governance, policies, and expectations

2. Culture & Leadership Effectiveness

• Assess team dynamics, engagement, and accountability across OR staff, including surgeons, anesthesia, nursing, and OR leadership
• Identify cultural barriers impacting performance and collaboration
• Provide coaching and real-time feedback to leaders to strengthen expectations and behaviors
• Address behavioral and cultural issues affecting team performance across disciplines

3. Performance Management

• Evaluate current staff and leadership performance practices
• Support leaders in addressing performance concerns, including:
• Clarifying expectations
• Reinforcing accountability
• Ensuring consistency in performance management approaches
• Help “reset” standards for professionalism, teamwork, and clinical excellence
• Partner with HR and clinical leadership to address performance concerns, including those related to professionalism and adherence to agreed upon standards.

• 4. Standardization of Expectations
• Develop and implement clear, consistent expectations for:
• OR staff roles and responsibilities
• Leadership behaviors and accountability
• Operational workflows and decision-making processes
• Align standards with organizational priorities and best practices
• Partner on the development of clear expectations for surgeon and anesthesia participation in operational improvements

5. Future-State Design & Recommendations

• Provide a structured evaluation of current OR leadership and organizational design
• Deliver recommendations for:
• Optimal leadership structure
• Staffing models
• Governance and decision-making processes
• Outline a sustainable roadmap to maintain improvements beyond the interim period

Key Deliverables

By the end of the engagement, the interim director will provide:

• Comprehensive Assessment Report
• Summary of operational, cultural, and structural findings
• Standardized Expectations Framework
• Clear guidelines for staff and leaders
• Performance Improvement Actions
• Implemented and in-progress initiatives with measurable impact
• Future-State Recommendations
• Organizational structure and strategic priorities
• Leadership Transition Plan
• Recommendations to ensure continuity and sustainment

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven experience as an OR/Perioperative Director in complex health systems
• Demonstrated success in operational turnaround, performance improvement, and cultural transformation
• Experience building effective physician partnerships and leading in environments with complex dynamics
• Skilled in change leadership, coaching, and conflict management
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities
• Able to quickly build trust while holding teams accountable
• Preferred:
• Patient care professional (i.e., RN, CRNA, etc.), with a minimum of 5 years relevant clinical experience
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities and/or pediatrics

Success Measures

• Improved OR performance metrics (efficiency, utilization, throughput)
• Clear, adopted standards for staff and leadership expectations
• Demonstrated progress in addressing performance and cultural issues
• Defined and actionable future-state organizational plan

Engagement Approach

This role requires a hands-on, visible leader who can balance objective evaluation with practical execution , partnering closely with clinical, operational, and executive stakeholders.