Director of Perioperative Services | Middletown, CT

Cross Country Healthcare; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Cross Country Healthcare is seeking a Director of Perioperative Services to lead a high-volume surgical service line with about 12,000 cases annually. This executive role emphasizes strategic leadership, relationship-building with surgeons and clinical teams, and driving operational performance.

The ideal candidate combines OR/perioperative expertise with strong business acumen, leadership presence, and a collaborative management style to oversee ORs, ambulatory surgery, Endoscopy, PACU, SPD,

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with an active Connecticut RN license
• BSN and Master's degree in Nursing or a related healthcare field
• Minimum 4 years of Surgical Services experience, preferably Operating Room
• Minimum 5 years of progressive nursing leadership experience
• Strong experience with team building, physician relations, strategic planning, and financial management
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop managers
• Strong communication, collaboration, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills
• Experience with quality improvement and operational performance

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for perioperative and surgical services
• Lead and develop multiple manager-level leaders
• Strengthen relationships with surgeons, physicians, and clinical teams
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, patient flow, and operational performance
• Manage budgets, resources, supplies, and equipment
• Drive quality improvement, patient safety, and performance initiatives
• Monitor quality dashboards, operational metrics, and financial performanceDevelop leadership capability through coaching and mentoring
• Support growth initiatives and new surgical programs
• Build a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture
• Partner with senior leadership on strategic planning and service-line development

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Collaboration

Communication

Financial management

Coach managers

Team building

Physician relations

Quality improvement

Patient safety

Operational performance

Education

BSN

Master's degree in Nursing

Job description

• Salary: $150,000–$220,000/year, based on experience + Benefits
• Bonus: Discretionary management incentive bonus based on organizational financial performance and patient satisfaction

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Director of Perioperative Services to lead a high-volume surgical service line with approximately 12,000 cases annually. This is a strategic leadership opportunity for a strong perioperative leader who can build trust, develop managers, strengthen physician relationships, and drive operational performance.

The ideal candidate will bring strong OR/perioperative experience, leadership presence, business acumen, and a collaborative management style. The role oversees a broad perioperative service line including main ORs, an ambulatory surgery center, Endoscopy, PACU, Central Sterile/SPD, and related surgical services.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for perioperative and surgical services
• Lead and develop multiple manager-level leaders
• Strengthen relationships with surgeons, physicians, and clinical teams
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, patient flow, and operational performance
• Manage budgets, resources, supplies, and equipment
• Drive quality improvement, patient safety, and performance initiatives
• Monitor quality dashboards, operational metrics, and financial performanceDevelop leadership capability through coaching and mentoring
• Support growth initiatives and new surgical programs
• Build a positive, collaborative, and accountable team culture
• Partner with senior leadership on strategic planning and service-line development

Leadership Profile:

The organization is looking for a people-focused, collaborative leader who can stabilize teams, coach managers, influence physicians, and navigate challenging personalities without an authoritarian management style.

The role is approximately 70% strategic and 30% hands-on, requiring someone who can work at the executive level while stepping into operational details when needed.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse with an active Connecticut RN license
• BSN and Master's degree in Nursing or a related healthcare field
• Minimum 4 years of Surgical Services experience, preferably Operating Room
• Minimum 5 years of progressive nursing leadership experience
• Strong experience with team building, physician relations, strategic planning, and financial management
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop managers
• Strong communication, collaboration, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills
• Experience with quality improvement and operational performance