Executive Director of Surgical Services

NBSTSA; Columbia Township (MO); Hybrid; USD 168,000 - 274,000; Full time

Job summary

MU Health Care is seeking a transformational Executive Director of Surgical Services to lead a large perioperative platform across multiple campuses. The role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and focuses on growth, capacity optimization, physician alignment, modernization, and patient access improvements.

The position oversees 58 operating rooms, 35,000+ annual surgical cases, and a team of nearly 500 across facilities, with expansion and technology investments on the horizon.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare.
• Experience leading enterprise surgical or perioperative services across multiple hospitals.

Responsibilities

• Defines and executes enterprise strategies for surgical and perioperative services that support growth, access and financial objectives.
• Directs system-wide perioperative operations and governance to ensure standards and performance.
• Led multi-campus operations with alignment across clinical, academic, and administrative domains to ensure cohesive execution.

Skills

Leadership

Education

Master's degree in a related field

Job description

ABOUT THE JOB

MU Health Care is seeking a transformational leader to guide one of the largest and most complex surgical enterprises in the region. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Executive Director of Surgical Services will provide strategic and operational leadership across a growing perioperative platform that includes 58 operating rooms, more than 35,000 annual surgical cases, four GI locations, sterile processing operations, and nearly 500 team members across multiple campuses. As the region's only academic health system, Level I Trauma Center, and safety-net hospital, MU Health Care offers a rare opportunity to lead at scale while helping define the future of surgical care for patients across central Missouri and beyond.

This is not a role focused on maintaining the status quo. We are looking for an innovative executive who can drive growth, optimize surgical capacity, strengthen physician partnerships, modernize operations, and leverage emerging technologies to improve patient access and outcomes. With planned operating room expansion, significant investment in perioperative technology, and continued opportunities for regional growth, this leader will play a critical role in shaping how surgical services evolve across our health system. If you are energized by complexity, inspired by innovation, and motivated by building what comes next, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on a nationally respected academic healthcare organization.

Shift: Exempt Employee – Standard Day Shift

Work Arrangement: On-Site

Department: Surgical Services Administration

Facility: University Hospital – 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO

Compensation

• Base Pay Range: $167,669.00 - $273,603.00 per year, based on experience
• Relocation Support: Up to $10,000

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Learn more about MU Health Care.

Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
• Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
• Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
• Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
• Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
• See a comprehensive list of benefits here.

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

• Defines and executes enterprise strategies for surgical and perioperative services that support organizational growth, access, quality, workforce, and financial objectives.
• Directs system-wide perioperative operations and governance structures to ensure consistent standards, policies, and performance across all hospitals and surgical locations.
• Establishes enterprise surgical service line priorities, growth plans, capacity strategies, workforce initiatives, and operational standards.
• Leads senior directors, directors, and surgical service leaders in achieving operational excellence and strategic goals.
• Directs capital planning activities, evaluates investment opportunities, and prioritizes resources to support surgical growth, facility expansion, and technology advancement.
• Oversees enterprise quality, patient safety, accreditation, compliance, and risk management programs related to surgical services.
• Collaborates with executive leadership, physician leaders, department chairs, anesthesia leadership, and interdisciplinary stakeholders to advance surgical services and patient outcomes.
• Establishes enterprise perioperative governance structures and chairs system-wide councils responsible for surgical operations and performance.
• Develops and implements surgical throughput strategies that optimize operating room utilization, capacity management, scheduling effectiveness, and patient access.
• Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with physician groups, academic organizations, industry partners, and external stakeholders.
• Monitors enterprise performance metrics and directs corrective actions that improve quality, efficiency, financial performance, and patient satisfaction.
• Establishes organizational policies, standards, and care delivery models that support system-wide consistency and clinical excellence.
• Develops leadership succession plans and promotes leadership development throughout the perioperative organization.
• Defines and executes system-wide strategies to advance the mission, health equity, and patient-centered care.
• Leads multi-campus operations with alignment across clinical, academic, and administrative domains to ensure cohesive execution.
• Oversees complex budgets and regulatory structures, aligning finances with population health goals and building key external partnerships.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Ten (10) years related progressive leadership experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading enterprise surgical or perioperative services across multiple hospitals.
• Experience with strategic growth planning, physician alignment, capital planning, and large-scale healthcare operations.
• Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs.

This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.