Executive Director, Rural Patient Safety Organization

University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 130,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Faculty benefits

Fitness center access

Reno community discounts

Employee retirement plan guidance

No state income tax

Job summary

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is seeking an Executive Director for the Rural Patient Safety Organization to lead strategic direction, startup operations, and regulatory compliance for a federally listed PSO. You will collaborate with healthcare partners, universities, and regulators to advance patient safety and quality across rural Nevada.

The role reports to the NCPSS Board and drives sustainability, governance, and stakeholder engagement while ensuring alignment with PSQIA

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of related work experience, or a Master’s with 4+ years.
• Experience leading healthcare organizations or programs and engaging with boards.
• Knowledge of patient safety, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as member of leadership team and contribute to strategic planning.
• Lead startup and operational readiness to establish a federally listed PSO.
• Liaise with Board of Directors, ensure governance and regulatory compliance.
• Guide strategic direction toward financial sustainability and statewide expansion.
• Oversee recruitment and retention of participating organizations.
• Provide executive oversight of patient safety reporting and analytics.

Skills

Leadership experience

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration

Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration

Job description

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at [phone] or [e-mail]. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at [phone].

Job Description

The University of Nevada, School of Medicine is recruiting for and Executive Director, Rural Patient Safety Organization (PSO). This position serves as the chief executive officer of the Rural Patient Safety Organization (PSO), operating within the scope of the Nevada Center for Patient Safety and Simulation (NCPSS), a statewide initiative dedicated to advancing healthcare quality and safety to deliver the highest standard of care across the state of Nevada. This position is responsible for creating the strategic, operational, funding, and regulatory leadership and direction of the organization within the functions of Clinical Safety, Training and Program Implementation, and Data, Reporting, and Compliance. The position serves as the designated Authorized Official for purposes of federal Patient Safety Organization (PSO) requirements and is accountable for ensuring compliance with the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) requirements, confidentiality protections for Patient Safety Work Product (PSWP), and all applicable organizational policies and regulations.

The Executive Director reports to the NCPSS Board of Directors and works collaboratively with participating healthcare organizations, university partners, healthcare associations, regulatory stakeholders, and community partners to advance patient safety and quality improvement throughout rural and frontier healthcare environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the NCPSS leadership team and contribute to strategic planning, program development, and statewide patient safety initiatives.
• Lead organizational startup, implementation, and operational readiness activities necessary to establish and maintain a federally listed Patient Safety Organization.
• Serve as the principal executive liaison to the Board of Directors, ensuring effective governance, strategic alignment, and accountability for organizational performance, financial stewardship, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead the strategic direction and long-term development of the PSO toward financial sustainability and expansion statewide
• Lead recruitment and retention of participating healthcare organizations.
• Provide executive oversight of patient safety reporting, analytics, and learning systems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Health Policy, Nursing Administration, Healthcare Quality, or related field and six (6) years of related professional work experience; OR
• Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Health Policy, Nursing Administration, Healthcare Quality, or related field and four (4) years of related professional work experience

Related Experience

• Progressively responsible leadership experience within healthcare, quality improvement, patient safety, healthcare administration, rural health, healthcare associations, healthcare consulting, or related fields
• Experience managing budgets, programs, and multidisciplinary teams
• Experience working with healthcare executives, governing boards, and external stakeholders
• Experience developing strategic initiatives and organizational partnerships

Certification or licensure s

Nevada driver’s license

Schedule and Trave

Will be required to travel extensively across the state to meet rural hospital leaders and stakeholders. Occasional out of state travel for conferences

Compensation Grade

Administrative Faculty – D

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Administrative Faculty by Grade. Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.

Remarkable Retirement

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow! All permanent employees on an annual “A” or “B” contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program.

Perks of working at UNR

• Health insurance options including dental and vision – Health Insurance
• Generous annual, sick leave, life insurance, and long-term disability – Faculty Benefits
• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate
• No state income tax!

Grants-in-aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner. Faculty Grant-in-Aid.

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada.

University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med)

For over 50 years the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) has trained physicians who are leading the way to 'A Healthy Nevada', nation, and world. Community-based and research-intensive, UNR Med is committed to our four-part mission of education, research, clinical service, and diversity. We show this commitment through our demonstrated core values: people are our strength, we innovate and improve, we serve with integrity, and we success with trust and respect.

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is an inclusive and engaged community. We recognize that diverse faculty and leaders add value to the educational experience and promote excellence in our teaching, patient care, and research missions. We seek applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to our mission and uphold our core values.

Our mission has guided our growth in graduating the next generation of primary and specialty care physicians and medical researchers while maintaining personalized instruction. The School of Medicine has statewide outreach with a local touch providing patient care, health services, and training physicians in Reno, Nevada and in the state’s rural communities. We are expanding provider education to train medical specialists as Medical Doctors as well as Speech Pathologists and Physician Assistants. We are actively expanding technologically-advanced infrastructure to keep pace with our world-class research to meet the needs of students, patients, and researchers. We seek to create an environment that serves all who enter our doors, from the physicians who teach our learners to our employees, patients, and students.

Exempt

Yes

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Posting Close Date

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.