Director of Operations Planning/UKHC

U K Healthcare Ltd; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

UK HealthCare seeks a seasoned facilities leader to guide strategic planning, activation, and transition of a new 900-bed hospital with a focus on efficiency, safety, quality, and patient-centered care.

You will collaborate with stakeholders to align processes, drive innovative care delivery models, oversee governance and change readiness, and provide updates to executive leadership, shaping UK HealthCare's future facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Business, Architecture, Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (MBA, MHA, MSN, etc.) required.
• Minimum 7 years of leadership experience in facilities planning, project management, or healthcare operations, with direct involvement in major hospital construction/replacement projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational oversight for the planning, activation, and transition of a new 900-bed hospital focused on efficiency, quality, safety, patient-centeredness, and financial success.
• Champion innovative care delivery models to improve clinical outcomes, patient flow, and staff efficiency; develop future-state operating models for all service lines.
• Own building/operational standards, manage deviation requests and design exceptions, and establish governance pathways; drive change-management across all project phases.
• Continuously promote professional development and model UK HealthCare’s values in all interactions.

Job description

As a leader in the Chandler Expansion initiative, you will drive strategic facilities operational planning and execution, ensuring patient-centered, efficient, and high-quality outcomes. Your role involves overseeing inpatient unit projects from concept to activation, collaborating with stakeholders to align processes and outcomes with UKHC’s mission. Additionally, you will have opportunities to innovate care delivery models, enhance patient safety, and provide project updates to executive leadership.

• Facilities Planning & Execution: Lead strategic and operational oversight for the planning, activation, and transition of a new 900-bed hospital focused on efficiency, quality, safety, patient-centeredness, and financial success.
• Operational Transformation: Champion innovative care delivery models to improve clinical outcomes, patient flow, and staff efficiency; develop future-state operating models for all service lines (e.g., perioperative, pharmacy, EVS, transport) aligned with long-term strategic goals.
• Governance, Standards, & Change Readiness: Own building/operational standards, manage deviation requests and design exceptions, and establish governance pathways; develop and execute change-management strategies to drive alignment and adoption across all project phases.
• Professional Development: Continuously expand professional knowledge through training and seminars, while modeling UK HealthCare’s values and fostering trust in all interactions.

Albert B. Chandler Hospital

The University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, a 569-bed acute care hospital, has Central and Eastern Kentucky’s only Level I trauma center, and handles the most severe traumas. It has the only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit in the area to treat the sickest infants. The hospital also offers 100 intensive care beds, a post-anesthesia care unit, 17 operating rooms,14-bed labor and delivery, and 26 mother-baby rooms. The hospital draws upon the resources of six UK colleges: Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Public Health.

Lead the Way in Facilities Innovation with UK HealthCare

At the University of Kentucky, we are dedicated to advancing healthcare through exceptional patient care, innovative solutions, and community impact. Join our team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our facilities while contributing to a culture that values leadership, collaboration, and excellence.

Core Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Business, Architecture, Engineering, Operations, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA, MHA, MSN, etc.) required.
• Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience in facilities planning, project management, or healthcare operations, ideally within a large academic medical center or complex health system. Significant experience with major hospital construction/replacement projects, including direct involvement in activation, transition, commissioning, and operational readiness. Proven track record of leading organizational change across multiple departments, as well as developing standardized operating models, workflows, and future-state care delivery processes.
• Relevant professional certifications in project management, healthcare administration, or facilities planning are preferred—specifically, Lean, Six Sigma, Prosci, PMP, or similar credentials are desirable.