Sr Director - Patient Safety & High Reliability Organization

1000 Methodist Le Bonheur Corp; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Commitment to teamwork and community

Educational development opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

1000 Methodist Le Bonheur Corp in Memphis, Tennessee is seeking a leader in patient safety to develop and implement system-wide strategies for preventing harm and enhancing safety culture. This position requires a strong background in safety science and proven leadership experience in healthcare.

The ideal candidate will lead initiatives to reduce serious safety events, promote a just culture, and mentor safety leaders across the organization. Educational requirements include a master's degree in nursing or healthcare administration and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years leadership experience in patient safety or clinical operations.
• Experience leading safety or HRO initiatives.
• Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) or ability to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of patient safety strategy.
• Implement High Reliability framework.
• Oversee safety event reporting and analysis.
• Identify and mitigate safety risks.
• Promote safety culture and education.

Skills

Patient safety science expertise

Analytical capability

Change management

Strong communication skills

Program management

Education

Master's Degree in Nursing

Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration

Clinical degree (MD, RN, PharmD)

Job description

If you are looking to make an impact on a meaningful scale, join us as we embrace the Power of One. As a leader in patient safety and high reliability, you will spearhead system‑wide strategies to reduce preventable harm and strengthen a culture of safety across Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.

Key Responsibilities

• Enterprise Patient Safety Strategy
  • Lead development and execution of MLH’s system‑wide patient safety strategy.
  • Establish system priorities to reduce Serious Safety Events (SSEs) and preventable harm across the continuum.
  • Ensure consistent safety practices across the care continuum.
• High Reliability Organization (HRO) Leadership
  • Design, implement, and sustain MLH’s High Reliability framework.
  • Oversee system‑wide deployment of safety behaviors and tools (e.g., speak up, stop‑the‑line) and simulation‑based safety training programs.
  • Integrate HRO principles into daily operations, tiered huddles, and leadership practices.
• Safety Event Reporting, Review & Learning System
  • Oversee the MLH Patient Safety Event reporting system.
  • Lead standardized system‑wide processes for Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Apparent Cause Analysis (ACA), and event classification.
  • Ensure timely, high‑quality investigation and system‑level learning dissemination.
  • Establish feedback loops to frontline staff to improve transparency and reporting culture.
• Proactive Risk Identification & Harm Prevention
  • Implement proactive safety programs, including risk assessments and hazard identification.
  • Identify and mitigate high‑risk failure points before harm occurs.
  • Develop leading indicators and early warning signals for safety risks.
• Serious Safety Event (SSE) Reduction
  • Lead system‑wide initiatives to reduce serious safety events and never events.
  • Ensure consistent response to serious events, including event review, patient and family communication, and caregiver support programs.
• Safety Culture, Just Culture & Psychological Safety
  • Drive advancement of a Just Culture across MLH.
  • Lead system‑wide safety culture measurement and improvement initiatives.
  • Promote psychological safety and a culture of open reporting and continuous learning.
• Data, Analytics & Reporting
  • Oversee integrity, analysis, and reporting of system safety data.
  • Develop standardized dashboards for care sites, system, and board reporting.
  • Lead interpretation and communication of safety performance trends.
• Clinical Governance & System Integration
  • Serve as a key leader within the System Safety & High Reliability governance structure.
  • Partner with clinical and operational leaders to ensure accountability for safety performance across all levels.
• Collaboration with Risk Management & Health Equity
  • Align event management, claims, and risk mitigation strategies with Risk Management.
  • Integrate health equity, inclusion, and disparity reduction into patient safety programs.
  • Collaborate with equity leadership to identify and eliminate disparities in safety outcomes.
• Education, Training & Talent Development
  • Lead development of system‑wide patient safety and HRO curriculum.
  • Integrate safety training into new employee onboarding, ongoing associate education, and leadership development programs.
  • Mentor and develop patient safety leaders across the system.
• External Engagement & Thought Leadership
  • Represent MLH in regional and national patient safety forums.
  • Establish partnerships with external organizations and benchmarking collaboratives.
  • Introduce innovative practices and emerging trends into MLH’s safety strategy.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Reduction in Serious Safety Event (SSE) rate.
• Improvement in safety culture survey results.
• Increased reporting of near misses and good catches.
• Timeliness and effectiveness of event investigations.
• Reduction in system harm indicators (falls, pressure injuries, medication events).
• HRO training compliance and adoption of reliability behaviors.

Education Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Nursing (Preferred)
• Master's Degree in Business Administration (Preferred)
• Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration (Preferred)
• Master's Degree in Public Health (Preferred)
• Clinical degree (MD, RN, PharmD, or equivalent) (Preferred)

Experience Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in patient safety, quality, or clinical operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading system‑level safety or HRO initiatives.

Skills and Abilities

• Deep expertise in patient safety science, human factors, and high reliability principles.
• Ability to lead enterprise‑wide change and culture transformation.
• Strong analytical capability in safety data interpretation and performance improvement.
• Ability to influence physician, nursing, and executive leadership without direct authority.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (board, executive leadership team, and frontline engagement).
• Strong program management, facilitation, and team leadership capabilities.
• Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation requirements (DNV, CMS, or equivalents).

Licenses and Certifications

• Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) – Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) or ability to obtain within one year of employment (Required).
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) – National Association for Healthcare Quality (Preferred).
• Six Sigma Black Belt – Authorized Six Sigma Certification Issuer (Preferred).

Supervision

• Directly manages system‑level patient safety and HRO team members.
• Provides matrix leadership to facility‑based safety leaders.
• Oversees coordination across multiple departments and care settings.

Physical Demands

The physical activities may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion. Must have good balance and coordination. Exert up to 25 lbs occasionally or 10 lbs frequently. Visual acuity required for data analysis, transcription, computer usage, extensive reading. Work performed under general office conditions.

We value family, team, and a Power of One culture that requires commitment to the highest standards of care and unity.