Director Healthcare Language Access and Interpreter Services

Advocate Health Care; Oak Brook (IL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care in Oak Brook, IL seeks a senior leader to direct regional language services, oversee 3–4 managers, and align operations with enterprise priorities. This role emphasizes strategic direction, quality, safety, and patient experience across Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Southeast.

The ideal candidate will have 10+ years in healthcare leadership, multi-region operational experience, and a proven ability to build leadership bench strength, manage budgets and contracts, and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Healthcare leadership certification preferred.
• 10+ years in language services or healthcare operations with management experience.

Responsibilities

• Direct multi-region language services operations across assigned geographic areas (Illinois, Wisconsin, or North Carolina/Southeast).
• Develop and manage 3-4 managers through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
• Set strategic direction for regional language services operations aligned with enterprise goals and priorities.
• Drive enterprise initiatives including operational standardization, quality improvement, and service expansion.
• Oversee interpreter management and operational support across assigned regions.
• Lead functional enablement activities including service line integration and cross-functional partnership.
• Manage community engagement programs and partnerships within assigned geographic areas.
• Oversee safety event management and ensure compliance with patient safety protocols.
• Coordinate with Control Tower on teammate operations, interpreter scheduling, and service delivery.
• Drive quality standards, regulatory compliance, and patient experience across regional operations.
• Build strategic partnerships with clinical leadership, service line executives, and community organizations.
• Manage P&L accountability including budget development, business case justification, and contract negotiation.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and accreditation requirements including Joint Commission standards.
• Report enterprise-level results to AVP leadership including strategic initiative delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Sponsor change programs and align stakeholders around transformation initiatives.
• Lead innovation initiatives and partnership development to advance language services capabilities.
• Develop and maintain a talent pipeline through manager development and succession planning.

Skills

Strategic leadership

P&L management

Executive communication

Stakeholder alignment

Change management

Multi-region operations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Healthcare leadership certification preferred

Job description

Certification / License

Healthcare leadership certification preferred.

Major Responsibilities

Direct multi-region language services operations across assigned geographic areas (Illinois, Wisconsin, or North Carolina/Southeast).

Develop and manage 3-4 managers through coaching, mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.

Set strategic direction for regional language services operations aligned with enterprise goals and priorities.

Drive enterprise initiatives including operational standardization, quality improvement, and service expansion.

Oversee interpreter management and operational support across assigned regions.

Lead functional enablement activities including service line integration and cross-functional partnership.

Manage community engagement programs and partnerships within assigned geographic areas.

Oversee safety event management and ensure compliance with patient safety protocols.

Coordinate with Control Tower on teammate operations, interpreter scheduling, and service delivery.

Drive quality standards, regulatory compliance, and patient experience across regional operations.

Build strategic partnerships with clinical leadership, service line executives, and community organizations.

Manage P&L accountability including budget development, business case justification, and contract negotiation.

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and accreditation requirements including Joint Commission standards.

Report enterprise-level results to AVP leadership including strategic initiative delivery and stakeholder satisfaction.

Sponsor change programs and align stakeholders around transformation initiatives.

Lead innovation initiatives and partnership development to advance language services capabilities.

Develop and maintain a talent pipeline through manager development and succession planning.

Education

Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.

Certification / License

Healthcare leadership certification preferred.

Work Experience

Typically requires 7+ years of language services or healthcare operations experience plus 4 years of management experience.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Strategic leadership skills with ability to develop managers and create a leadership pipeline.

Multi-region operational management experience with accountability for enterprise-level results.

P&L accountability experience including budget development, business case creation, and contract negotiation.

Strategic resource allocation and decision-making skills for complex operational environments.

Quality strategy development and compliance oversight experience including Joint Commission readiness.

Change leadership skills with ability to sponsor programs and align stakeholders.

Executive communication and presence for representing Language Services to senior leadership.

Strong partnership and relationship-building skills across clinical, operational, and community stakeholders.

Knowledge of federal, state, and accreditation requirements for language access in healthcare.

Innovation orientation with ability to drive strategic initiatives and partnership development.

Talent development skills including succession planning and building high-performing leadership teams.

Financial acumen including P&L management, business case development, and ROI analysis.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

Work requires use of telephone/computer and sitting for prolonged periods of time. Walking, standing, lifting, bending, reaching, stooping, pushing, and pulling are required a moderate amount of the time. May lift and carry up to 40 pounds on an intermittent basis. Must demonstrate the ability to communicate with individuals and groups effectively. Must possess critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to concentrate. Must be able to work with high volume of activities/projects with short deadlines. Work is hybrid and requires the flexibility of working from home office as well as other Advocate Health work locations as required by services provided.

Preferred Job Requirements

Education

Master's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or public health.

Certification / License

Healthcare leadership certification (e.g., FACHE). Lean/Six Sigma certification a plus.

Experience

10+ years of healthcare leadership experience with enterprise-scale operational management.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Experience directing multi-state healthcare operations with demonstrated enterprise impact.

Experience developing manager-level leaders into director-ready candidates.

Strategic thought leadership in language access, health equity, or patient experience.

Experience with executive presentations and board-level reporting.

Experience building and leading community engagement and partnership programs.

Strategic Impact & Value Creation

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Lead enterprise-wide service innovation and operational transformation that advances language access capabilities across regions.

Evaluate emerging service delivery models and technologies that position Language Services for competitive advantage.

Drive strategic partnerships with clinical leadership and community organizations to expand service scope.

Revenue Impact & Financial Stewardship

Own P&L accountability for assigned geographic or functional area with strategic focus on financial sustainability.

Develop business cases for service expansion, new programs, and strategic investments.

Manage contractual relationships and financial performance across regional operations.

Operational Excellence & Efficiency

Set enterprise-wide operational strategy for assigned geographic regions or functional areas.

Drive operational excellence through implementation of standardized processes and continuous improvement.

Build management bench strength and organizational capability through leader development and succession planning.

Patient Experience & Language Access

Establish enterprise language access strategy that ensures equitable, culturally appropriate care delivery.

Lead health equity initiatives and community partnerships that advance language services for underserved populations.

DISCLAIMER

All responsibilities and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only responsibilities to be performed by an employee occupying this job or position. Employees must follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by their leaders.