Director Ethics

CHRISTUS Health; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health seeks a Director of Ethics to lead, educate, and implement ethical standards across its ministries. The role ensures alignment with Catholic Church ethics, bioethics principles, and accrediting guidance, collaborating with regional leaders to integrate ethics into daily operations.

The Associate will oversee ethics education, EC membership, and guidance on clinical and organizational ethics, reporting to the VP, Ethics and supporting Mission and Core Values across CHRISTUS Health.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to work as a team member; poise and clarity in group presentations.
• Understanding of Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and promote system-wide ethical guidelines, policies and guidance for ethics issues.
• Interface with departments to address ethical dimensions of work.
• Educate and train CHRISTUS Health staff and chair Ethics Committees.
• Support ethical policy development and regional/local EC activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

Doctorate in Bioethics

Job description

Summary

The Director of Ethics has the responsibility for providing leadership, education, and processes to ensure that Ethics standards are implemented and integrated throughout CHRISTUS Health’s ministries. These standards are derived from the theological and ethical foundations of the Catholic Church, philosophical bioethics, professional organization guidance, and the appropriate accrediting and regulatory healthcare agencies. This Associate fosters an explicit understanding of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition foundational to the CHRISTUS Mission, Core Values, and Vision. The Associate collaborates with regional leadership teams, local administrators and leaders, and system Associates to identify local and regional needs and achieve the implementation and integration of the derived standards. This Associate reports to the Vice President, Ethics and collaborates with this position to consistently actualize Mission, Core Values, and Ethics.

Responsibilities

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Recommend and develop system-wide ethical guidelines, policies, and guidance concerning ethics issues (predominantly clinical but may be organizational, business or social).
• Promote an understanding of and adherence to the Ethical and Religious Directivesfor Catholic Health Care Services.
• Interface with other key departments in CHRISTUS Health concerning the ethical dimensions of their work; e.g. Managed Care and Networks, Human Resources, Leadership Development, Legal, Advocacy, Communications, Strategic and Financial Planning, Corporate Integrity, etc.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive ethics education and training programs for CHRISTUS Health, including the membership of Ethics Committees (ECs) and ethics program leaders.
• Maintain, develop, and coordinate integral ecology or environmental (Care for Creation) initiatives.
• Provide guidance and support for the local ECs. Track the ethical issues the regional and local ECs are addressing. Conduct periodic forums of the Chairs of the Regional and local ECs. Respond to local and regional ministry needs as identified by Mission, ethics, and other leaders.
• Track emerging issues in clinical ethics that impact CHRISTUS Health and provide information and guidance on them to management, patient care administration, medical staffs, etc.
• Maintain an inventory of ethical policies throughout CHRISTUS Health.
• Collaborate with local Mission, ethics, and other leaders to ensure the development, education, and function of regional and local ECs.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and maintain Palliative Care throughout CHRISTUS Health.
• Work with the CHRISTUS Health research program, being responsive to needs and directions, such as ethics education for the Institutional Review Board in CHRISTUS Health.
• Collaborates with senior leadership on the Mission Identity Assessment (MIA) processes within CHRISTUS Health, including scheduling, data, and analyses.
• Collaborates with senior leadership in the development of a corporate culture for CHRISTUS Health, including the enrichment formation programs for CHRISTUS leadership.
• Collaborates with senior leadership on the Leadership and Ethics Academy.
• Supports senior leadership for the semi-annual meetings of the Mission and Spiritual Care Councils.

Job Requirements

Education / Skills

• Doctorate in Bioethics, (Catholic) Healthcare Ethics, Moral Theology, or equivalent degrees preferred.

Experience

• Understands the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Church relations, and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to work as a team member; poise and clarity in group presentations.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Healthcare Ethics Consultant (HEC-C) preferred.

Work Schedule

8AM - 5PM Monday-Friday

Work Type

Full Time