Senior Director of Perioperative Services

Job Description

Job Description

Responsibilities and Duties:

The Director works collaboratively with physicians, anesthesia providers, nursing leadership, and hospital administration to optimize patient outcomes, regulatory compliance, staff engagement, and operational performance.

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Provides vision, leadership, and direction for all perioperative services.
• Develops and implements departmental goals aligned with the hospital's mission, strategic plan, and quality initiatives.
• Serves as a key member of the hospital leadership team and participates in organizational planning and decision-making.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and patient safety.
• Build collaborative relationships with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and interdisciplinary leaders.

Operational Management

• Oversee daily operations of the Operating Room, Ambulatory Surgery Unit, Sterile Processing Department, Preadmission Testing, and Surgical Scheduling functions.
• Ensures efficient patient flow, scheduling processes, and operating room utilization.
• Establishes productivity standards and monitors departmental performance metrics.
• Identifies opportunities to improve operational efficiency while maintaining exceptional patient care.
• Leads implementation of evidence-based practices and process improvement initiatives.  

Clinical Quality and Patient Safety

• Ensures compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, and professional standards.
• Promotes a culture of patient safety and high reliability.
• Monitors quality indicators, infection prevention measures, surgical outcomes, and patient satisfaction scores.
• Leads investigation and resolution of patient safety events, complaints, and quality concerns.
• Supports continuous readiness for regulatory surveys and inspections.

Financial Management

• Develops, manages, and monitors departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Oversees supply chain utilization, implant management, equipment acquisition, and expense control.
• Analyzes financial reports and productivity metrics to identify opportunities for cost containment and operational improvement.
• Partners with finance and supply chain partners to ensure fiscal stewardship while maintaining quality patient care.

Human Resources and Staff Development

• Provides direct supervision and mentorship to perioperative leadership staff including the Assistant Director, OR Educator, Manager-ASU, and Lead Sterile Processing.
• Recruits, hires, develops, and retains high-performing staff.
• Conducts performance evaluations and supports employee growth and succession planning.
• Collaborates with the OR Educator to ensure competency validation, orientation, training, and continuing education programs.
• Promotes employee engagement and a positive work environment.

Physician and Provider Relations

• Develop strong working relationships with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and procedural physicians.
• Facilitates physician engagement in quality, operational, and strategic initiatives.
• Addresses operational concerns and supports physician satisfaction.

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintains knowledge of federal, state, and accrediting body requirements.
• Ensures compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission/DNV standards (as applicable), OSHA regulations, infection prevention standards, and professional best practices.
• Oversees policy and procedure development and maintenance.

Performance Improvement

• Utilizes data analytics and benchmarking to drive performance improvements.
• Establishes departmental dashboards and monitors key performance indicators, including:
• Surgical volume
• First-case on-time starts
• Turnover times
• Patient satisfaction
• Infection rates
• Budget performance
• Employee engagement and retention

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, healthcare management, or related field required.
• Associate’s degree with extensive positive experience
• Current Registered Nurse license preferred but not required if experience requirements met
• Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
• Minimum five years of progressive leadership experience in perioperative services or surgical services administration.
• Strong knowledge of perioperative practice, budgeting, strategic planning, and healthcare operations.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
• Ability to analyze operational and financial data.
• Knowledge of sterile processing standards and infection prevention practices.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and changing management skills.
• Proficiency with EMR systems, scheduling software, and healthcare analytics tools.

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