Director of Surgical Services

Community Health Systems, Inc.; Palmer (AK); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health coverage

401(k) plan

Generous PTO

Career growth

Recognition programs

Exclusive discounts & perks

Job summary

The Director of Surgical Services at Community Health Systems, Inc. provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the surgical services department, ensuring safe, high‑quality patient care and regulatory compliance.

You will lead budgeting, staffing, quality initiatives, and collaboration with surgeons, nursing, and supply chain to optimize outcomes, efficiency, and staff development across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required or 7+ years of related experience in lieu of degree.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees daily operations of Surgical Services, ensuring scheduling, staffing, and resources for safe patient care.
• Leads quality initiatives to improve patient safety and outcomes.
• Collaborates with surgeons, anesthesiologists and nursing staff to coordinate schedules and flow.
• Recruits, hires and retains surgical staff; supports development and education.
• Monitors care processes and outcomes; addresses concerns and drives satisfaction.
• Drives a positive work culture to achieve staff satisfaction and retention.
• Resolves patient care issues with investigations and corrective actions.
• Keeps knowledge current on trends, practices, and technologies.
• Establishes KPIs and uses data to drive improvements.
• Coordinates with Supply Chain to manage instruments and equipment.
• Participates in strategic planning to expand services and market position.
• Performs other duties as assigned; maintains attendance and policy compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Staff Development

Cross-functional Collaboration

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Bachelor’s Degree required

7+ years of experience in lieu of Bachelor's

Master’s Degree preferred

3-5 years leadership experience preferred

Job description

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Competitive Compensation – Salary and benefits package designed to reward your expertise, leadership, and contributions.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options to support you and your family.
• Future Security – 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching to help you build long‑term financial stability.
• Generous Paid Time Off – Paid Time Off (PTO) and Extended Illness Bank (EIB) to support work‑life balance and personal well‑being.
• Career Growth Opportunities – Professional development, leadership training, and advancement opportunities across our organization.
• Recognition & Reward Programs – We celebrate employee achievements and contributions to our success.
• Exclusive Employee Discounts & Perks – Access to special savings and benefits designed for our team members.

Job Summary

The Director, Surgical Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the surgical services department, ensuring the delivery of safe, high‑quality patient care. This role is responsible for departmental planning, regulatory compliance, financial management, and fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams. The Director promotes a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement to optimize surgical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Essential Functions

• Oversees daily operations of the Surgical Services department, ensuring effective scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation to support safe and efficient patient care.
• Leads quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety, surgical outcomes, and operational performance.
• Collaborates with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing staff, and other stakeholders to coordinate surgical schedules, optimize patient flow, and facilitate interdisciplinary communication.
• Recruits, hires, and retains highly qualified surgical services staff, providing mentorship, fostering professional development, and promoting continuing education opportunities.
• Monitors and evaluates patient care processes and outcomes, addressing patient concerns and implementing strategies to improve satisfaction and experience.
• Drives initiatives to create and sustain a positive work culture, achieving employee satisfaction and retention goals through effective leadership and management practices.
• Responds to and resolves patient care issues, complaints, and incidents, conducting investigations and implementing corrective actions as necessary.
• Maintains current knowledge of industry trends, clinical best practices, and emerging technologies, ensuring the department remains competitive and compliant with evolving standards.
• Establishes and monitors key performance metrics, using data‑driven insights to identify opportunities for improvement and to measure departmental success.
• Collaborates with Supply Chain and Procurement teams to manage inventory, surgical instruments, and equipment, ensuring availability and proper utilization.
• Participates in strategic planning and organizational initiatives to expand surgical services and enhance the facility’s market position.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Supervision and Staff Management
  • Provides leadership, mentorship and professional development opportunities for departmental staff.
  • Schedules employees to ensure effective use of resources. Consults with leadership on any potential staffing issues.
  • Conducts performance evaluations, sets goals and provides feedback to staff on their performance and development.
• Strategic Planning and Financial Oversight
  • Collaborates with hospital leadership to set the strategic direction for the department, including budgeting, resource allocation and long‑term planning.
  • Monitors expenditures, ensuring cost‑effective delivery of services.
  • Evaluates and implements new technologies to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Develops and implements departmental policies and procedures and protocols to optimize quality and overall efficiencies.
• Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensures compliance with all relevant regulatory bodies. May oversee the accreditation process with relevant agencies ensuring that services meet or exceed industry standards.
  • Participates in audits, inspections and accreditation processes as applicable. <!---The above line is mis‑formed due to missing closing tag, but it will be omitted.
  • Follows established quality control practices to ensure accuracy, consistency and safety.
• Collaboration and Communication
  • Works closely with leadership teams to coordinate and improve service delivery.
  • Stays up‑to‑date with industry advancements, new technologies, and regulatory changes.
• Staff Responsibilities
  • May work in a staff role, when required. Ensures that duties and responsibilities are fulfilled while meeting all competencies established for that job.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field required or
• Seven (7) plus years of direct experience in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s Degree preferred <!---The above line is omitted because of formatting error.
• 3-5 years of experience in closely related field with Bachelor’s degree required
• 3-5 years of previous leadership experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and manage cross‑functional relationships.
• Foster a positive work environment that promotes teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Communicate effectively with leadership, team members, and stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with others, delegate responsibilities, and independently manage tasks while meeting established deadlines.
• Problem‑solving and critical thinking skills.
• In depth knowledge of industry best practices and regulatory compliance (if applicable).
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft platforms, healthcare software systems, and data analysis tools.

Licenses and Certifications

• RN – Registered Nurse – State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure required
• BCLS – Basic Life Support issued by American Heart Association (AHA), American Red Cross (ARC), or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) required
• ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support issued by American Heart Association (AHA), American Red Cross (ARC), or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) required