Director Healthcare Language Access and Interpreter Services

600 Advocate Health, Inc.; Oak Brook (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Career development

Paid time off

Job summary

Advocate Health is seeking a senior leader to direct multi-region language services operations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Carolinas. You will coach 3–4 managers, set strategic regional goals, and drive enterprise initiatives from quality to partnerships, while ensuring regulatory compliance and patient experience.

Ideal candidates bring 7+ years in language services or healthcare ops and at least 4 years in management, with strong financial acumen and executive communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
• 7+ years of language services or healthcare ops experience.
• 4+ years of management experience.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission standards and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Direct multi-region language services operations (Illinois/Wisconsin/Carolinas).
• Develop and coach 3–4 managers; oversee performance and succession planning.
• Set strategic direction aligned with enterprise goals.
• Drive standardization initiatives and service expansion.
• Oversee interpreter management and scheduling across regions.
• Manage P&L, budgets, and contracts; ensure stakeholder satisfaction.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Multi-region ops

P&L management

Budget development

Change leadership

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Healthcare compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Department: 11604 Enterprise Corporate - Language Services Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hours Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: This Role will support the Illinois LAIS Division. Standard business hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Occassional weekends or travel.

Pay Range: $54.90 - $82.35

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.

Our Commitment to You

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well‑being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job Incentive pay for select positions Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more Paid Time Off programs Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short‑and Long‑Term Disability Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full‑time, part‑time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview.

About Advocate Health

Advocate Health is the third‑largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value‑based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits. This is Transformation One shared purpose brought us together. Now, as one of the 10 largest not‑for‑profit, integrated health systems in the United States, our combined strength and stability drives us forward. Starting with You Caring for nearly 3 million people has inspired a transformation. One in which the patient’s experience guides our vision and empowers us to offer new possibilities in our communities. Reshaping Access What is access? It’s offering more sites of care than any other health system in the Midwest. But there’s a new frontier. Access is exploring the latest technologies to deliver care to patients exactly where they are and exactly when they need it Inspiring Professionals With our dynamically inclusive workforce and strong connections to the places where we live and work, we’ll touch more lives and contribute to stronger and more vibrant communities. Transforming Care We’re redefining the standard for care with world‑class doctors and caregivers, innovative solutions, outstanding outcomes, and leading‑edge research and clinical trials. Combined, Advocate and Aurora are recognized for clinical excellence in: Cardiovascular Care Neurosciences Gynecology Oncology Pediatrics Primary Care Neurology Geriatrics Trauma Care