Director Service Line Operations - Neurosciences

Advocate Health Care; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health Care is seeking a Director of Operations to direct clinical and administrative functions across Chicago care locations, driving alignment with enterprise priorities and improving access and efficiency.

This senior role requires strategic leadership, 7+ years in healthcare operations, a Bachelor’s degree, strong budgeting and analytics, and the ability to coach frontline managers and collaborate with clinicians.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare or related field required.
• 7+ years of operational leadership experience in healthcare.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage budgets.
• Strong analytical, communication, and change-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Directs clinical and administrative operations across multiple care locations.
• Partner with service line leadership to set plans, expectations, and routines.
• Ensure adherence to operating budgets and monitor performance.
• Drive integration and improvement of access, capacity, and patient experience.
• Lead frontline managers and collaborate with clinicians to achieve targets.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational management

Performance improvement

Budget management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Healthcare or related field

Job description

• Directs clinical and administrative operations across assigned care locations to ensure consistent execution of service line, divisional, and enterprise priorities.
• Exercises direct operational authority, in partnership with the service line leadership team, to establish operational plans, set performance expectations, and implement management routines across practices.
• Accountable for adherence to approved operating and labor budgets, monitoring operational performance, identifying risks and variances, and directing corrective actions to achieve financial and operational targets.
• Drives integration across care settings and specialties to improve access, capacity, growth, and operational consistency.
• Monitors key performance indicators, including throughput, quality, experience, and financial metrics, and leads operational response to performance trends and location-based initiatives.

Major Responsibilities

• Directs clinical and administrative operations across assigned care locations to ensure consistent execution of service line, divisional, and enterprise priorities.
• Exercises direct operational authority, in partnership with the service line leadership team, to establish operational plans, set performance expectations, and implement management routines across practices.
• Accountable for adherence to approved operating and labor budgets, monitoring operational performance, identifying risks and variances, and directing corrective actions to achieve financial and operational targets.
• Drives integration across care settings and specialties to improve access, capacity, growth, and operational consistency.
• Monitors key performance indicators, including throughput, quality, experience, and financial metrics, and leads operational response to performance trends and location-based initiatives.

Operational Integration & Performance

• Directs clinical and administrative operations across assigned care locations to ensure consistent execution of service line, divisional, and enterprise priorities.
• Exercises direct operational authority, in partnership with the service line leadership team, to establish operational plans, set performance expectations, and implement management routines across practices.
• Accountable for adherence to approved operating and labor budgets, monitoring operational performance, identifying risks and variances, and directing corrective actions to achieve financial and operational targets.
• Drives integration across care settings and specialties to improve access, capacity, growth, and operational consistency.
• Monitors key performance indicators, including throughput, quality, experience, and financial metrics, and leads operational response to performance trends and location-based initiatives.

Leadership of Frontline Management

• Provides direct leadership to managers and supervisors, including coaching, development, and performance management, in partnership with Advocate Health Acute, Ambulatory, and Virtual Nursing and other groups as needed.
• Establishes clear leadership expectations and holds frontline leaders accountable for operational performance, quality, teammate engagement, and patient experience.
• Directs recruitment, onboarding, development, and resolution of teammate concerns through frontline leaders to maintain a strong and effective work environment.
• Ensures compliance with organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and standards of performance across assigned areas.

Clinician Partnership & Engagement Support

• Partners with clinician leadership and the service line leadership team to align operational execution with clinical priorities and care delivery needs. Exercises direct operational authority to remove barriers, coordinate stakeholders, and implement workflow, scheduling, and resource decisions that support clinician effectiveness and patient care.
• Supports clinician recruitment, onboarding, retention, and engagement through operational leadership and administrative coordination, while clinician leadership retains accountability for clinician practice and professional standards.
• Optimizes coverage models, scheduling, and resource allocation across sites in partnership with enterprise, divisional, local, and clinician leaders.

Quality, Improvement & Workforce Oversight

• Leads continuous improvement efforts focused on quality, safety, access, efficiency, and patient experience, including root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and follow-through on performance gaps.
• Uses data, benchmarking, and performance reviews to identify risks, improvement opportunities, and operational priorities across assigned locations.
• Directs workforce planning, staffing models, recruitment support, and performance expectations through frontline leaders using Advocate Health and Clinical Services operating standards.
• Designs and directs the work of assigned areas, including talent development, succession planning, feedback, recognition, and performance improvement.
• Ensures understanding of and compliance with the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and applicable policies, regulations, and laws.
• Designs and directs the work of the assigned area(s) of responsibility. Selects, coaches, and develops teams, setting objectives that align with organizational strategy to inspire and motivate the teams. Manages organizational talent through performance management, succession planning, and development. Designs and directs processes by which team and individual performance are recognized, feedback is consistently delivered, and performance is systematically improved.
• Develops and/or recommends operating and capital budgets and controls expenditures within approved budget objectives.
• Responsible for understanding and adhering to the organization's Code of Ethical Conduct and for ensuring that people actions, and the actions of employees supervised, comply with the policies, regulations, and laws applicable to the organization's business.

Minimum Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare or related field required.

Certification / Registration / License

• N/A

Experience

• Typically requires 7 years of experience in operational leadership roles.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate service line priorities into operational plans and measurable results.
• Strong operational leadership, execution, and performance improvement skills across complex healthcare environments.
• Financial, analytical, and problem-solving acumen, including use of data to identify risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Ability to lead through managers, establish accountability, and drive results through clear expectations, coaching, and change management.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner effectively with clinicians, executives, and cross-functional teams.
• Executive presence and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to fostering an engaged, high-performing work environment.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Frequent local travel to various care settings
• Clinician meetings may occur before or after normal business hours
• Be available for development needs and attend to unplanned needs of the team
• Exposed to normal office environment

Preferred Education

Preferred Job Requirements

• Master's degree preferred.

Preferred Certification / Registration / License

• Clinical certification, licensure, Fellow status, or previous clinical experience preferred

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.