Associate Vice President, Duke University Hospital Perioperative Services

Duke University Health System; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, seeks an Associate Vice President for Perioperative Services to lead strategic initiatives, partnerships, and operational excellence across the perioperative enterprise, collaborating with the Surgical Medical Director, Anesthesia Medical Director, and Nursing leadership.

The ideal candidate is highly organized and decisive, with a Master’s degree in business or healthcare administration and seven-plus years of healthcare leadership, capable of

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, healthcare administration or related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive leadership in a healthcare setting.
• Experience leading perioperative or cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to clinical, operational, and executive leaders to advance perioperative performance, access, quality, safety, and financial stewardship.
• Foster partnerships with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing leaders, and hospital executives to align perioperative priorities.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to improve OR efficiency, throughput, resource use, and the surgical care continuum.
• Drive data-informed decision making through operational analytics and continuous improvement efforts.
• Influence stakeholders across disciplines to implement strategic initiatives and sustainable change.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational excellence

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in business or healthcare administration

Job description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

The Associate VP for Perioperative Services serves as a key administrative and operational leader within the Duke University Hospital perioperative enterprise, partnering closely with physician, nursing, and executive leadership to advance strategic, clinical, and operational excellence.

This role is an integral member of the perioperative leadership team, collaborating with the Surgical Medical Director, Anesthesia Medical Director, and Clinical Operating Directors of Nursing and Perianesthesia to drive performance across one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, decisive, and agile healthcare leader who thrives in a complex, fast-paced environment. Success in this role requires exceptional communication skills, executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while building strong relationships across a diverse group of stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to clinical, operational, and executive leaders across Duke University Hospital to advance perioperative performance, patient access, quality, safety, and financial stewardship.
• Foster strong partnerships with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing leaders, hospital executives, and support service departments to ensure alignment of perioperative priorities and organizational goals.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve operating room efficiency, optimize patient throughput, enhance resource utilization, and strengthen the overall surgical care continuum.
• Drive data-informed decision-making through operational analytics, performance management, and continuous process improvement efforts.
• Influence and align stakeholders across multiple disciplines to successfully implement strategic initiatives and sustainable change.

Education and Credentials

• Master’s degree in business, healthcare administration or a related field
• Expertise in healthcare operations and perioperative services

Leadership Experience

• Seven or more years of progressive leadership experience in a healthcare setting
• Proven success impacting operational efficiency across the health system
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed environment
• Leadership style defined by empathy, accountability, clarity and collaboration

Innovation Mindset

• Experience supporting operational innovation, AI-enabled operational enhancements or transformative operational initiatives
• Ability to implement sustainable change and help teams adopt new approaches

Perioperative Team Environment

• Work alongside respected physician, nursing, and administrative leaders in a shared leadership model focused on innovation, accountability, and exceptional patient care.
• Collaborate daily with a co-located leadership team that values partnership, transparency, and rapid problem-solving.
• Thrive in a dynamic, high-performing environment where decisions are data-driven, communication is direct, and leaders are empowered to make meaningful organizational impact.
• Engage with a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, where new ideas are encouraged and operational excellence is a shared responsibility.

Why This Role?

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of perioperative services within a nationally recognized academic health system. The Associate Vice President will influence strategic priorities, drive transformative operational initiatives, and help deliver exceptional outcomes for patients, providers, and the communities Duke serves.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.