Field Director - Laboratory Accreditation

The Joint Commission; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Joint Commission is seeking a Field Director for accreditation operations focused on Lab CADR. This senior role oversees the field survey process, staffing, training, and performance across programs, with emphasis on delivering high-quality, timely accreditation services. Pathologists are strongly preferred for Lab CADR work.

You will partner with CMS and JC standards experts, manage budgets, staff development, and cross-functional coordination, while traveling 40%+ annually to field sites.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a healthcare-related field or healthcare management; clinical licensure if appropriate.
• Five+ years of healthcare leadership experience.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission standards and accreditation processes.
• Willingness to travel 40%+ annually.

Responsibilities

• Execute long and short-term Accreditation and Certification Operations goals.
• Oversee field representative cadre performance and development.
• Serve as SME for CMS and JC accreditation standards.
• Develop and monitor department strategic plans and budgets.
• Manage field staff hiring, training and performance observations.
• Lead standard setting and survey process improvement.
• Provide training for field representatives and participate in on-call rotation.
• Ensure timely surveys and reviews and proper budget adherence.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Master's degree in healthcare-related field

Clinical licensure (where appropriate)

Job description

Overview

The Field Director for accreditation operations is responsible for oversight and day to day operations of Joint Commission (JC) survey process, surveyors. The role is critical to the Joint Commission’s strategy for inspiring safer, higher quality, and more equitable care across the healthcare industry and improvement across all JC accredited and certified organizations. Oversight responsibilities include consistent execution of the Accreditation and Certification Operations (ACO) and Joint Commission strategic agenda. Field directors have responsibility for day-to-day survey and certification operational oversight to include hiring, training, and managing field representatives. The field director works across different ACO teams to ensure effective scheduling and performance of surveys and reviews, ensures accredited and certified organizations receive excellent service, and that the on-site accreditation and certification needs of accredited organizations are met. Provides program specific knowledge and information to internal and external customers.

This role is for our Lab Accreditation cadre. Pathologists strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Executes Accreditation and Certification Operations long and short-term goals and plans for ensuring that healthcare organizations receive the full continuum of accreditation and certification services.
• Assist in and providers oversight of field representative cadre and performance improvement activities to ensure consistency of accreditation and certification processes.
• Serves as subject matter expert for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and JC accreditation standards for assigned programs.
• Assists the Senior Director, Field Operations to develop, secure approval of, administer, and monitor department strategic plans and annual budgets that meet agreed upon enterprise goals.
• Responsible for management of field representative cadre for specific programs to include interviewing, hiring, development, and hiring. This includes having observations completed for each surveyor in their cadre once every 2 years.
• Establishes standards in alignment with ACO for effective survey process oversight and surveyor and reviewer cadre performance.
• Assesses performance of field representatives through management reports, peer evaluation data, organizational evaluations, and direct observations.
• Serves as subject matter expert and faculty for initial, continuous, and cross-functional training for field representatives.
• Participates in emergency 24/7 on-call rotation for field representative support.
• Provides oversight, in conjunction with scheduling, to assure effective survey and certification operations to include timeliness of surveys and reviews, and budgetary responsibilities.
• Participates in the development of division policies and procedures, including the accreditation decision making process.
• Participates in manpower projection activities to ensure that a sufficient number of field representatives are available; that they are competent and have the necessary skills and resources to perform their responsibilities effectively, efficiently, and in a timely manner.
• Acts as a role model; modeling appropriate behavior when interacting with individuals from surveyed organizations, with field representatives and with central office staff.
• Serves as the principal central office contact for field representatives.
• Works with the Department of Standards and Survey Methods to develop standards; leads the survey process development and refinement.
• Serves as a Joint Commission representative to accredited organizations and public and professional organizations.
• Acts as surveyor/reviewer of record 4 times per year.
• Promotes cooperation, flexibility, and teamwork among supervised staff.
• Participates in product line team activities and development as appropriate.

Qualifications

• A healthcare professional withlaboratory background, holding a minimum of a master's degree in a healthcare-related field or healthcare management. Clinical licensure in the applicable professional discipline isrequiredwhenappropriate. For Laboratory Accreditation and Certification (Lab CADR) surveyor roles, a pathologist is strongly preferred.
• Five plus years of experience in relevant work experience and/or healthcare leadership.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission policies, standards, survey, and accreditation processes.
• Experience as a surveyor (preferred).
• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and change management skills, including the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Superior knowledge of multiple operational functions and principles, including budgeting & finance, workforce planning, service delivery, productivity, and talent management and engagement.
• Proven ability to plan and manage operational processes for maximum efficiency and productivity.
• Results oriented with demonstrated abilities balancing multiple & complex tasks and priorities to achieve outcomes.
• Working knowledge of the current healthcare landscape.
• 40%+ travel required in the field annually, to evaluate field staff and to act as surveyor of record.

SPECIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Ability to plan, organize and implement activities for a diverse staff.
• Ability to lead Task Forces and teams.
• Ability to interact effectively with individuals at various levels both inside and outside of the organization, sometimes in sensitive situations.
• Effective teaching skills.
• Effective problem-solving skills and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to identify manpower requirements and skills required to meet the needs of customers.
• Skilled in performance management coaching and counseling techniques.
• Ability to travel regularly to observe field representatives.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee assigned to this position. The description is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills and abilities, and working conditions associated with this position. All requirements are subject to possible modification due to business needs and/or reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Min

USD $115,000.00/year

Max

USD $180,000.00/year