Job Description
JOB TITLE: Executive Director, Surgical Services
SUPERSEDES: 05/16 (Director, Surgical Services), 01/19, 08/21
FLSA: Exempt
JOB CODE: 3617
ISSUED: 05/2016
REVISED: 03/2026
BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY
The Executive Director, Surgical Services serves as a member of the executive leadership team and provides strategic, operational, and financial oversight for enterprise surgical services across all MU Health Care locations. The role is responsible for planning, financial performance, personnel management, regulatory compliance, service excellence, and overall operational outcomes for perioperative services, including the Operating Room, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Same Day Surgery, Pre-operative Holding, and Central Sterile Processing.
The Executive Director collaborates with surgical department chairs, division chiefs, service line directors, physician leaders, and executive leadership to ensure efficient utilization of perioperative resources and alignment with organizational strategic priorities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for Surgical Services across the health system, ensuring alignment with organizational mission, vision, and long-term growth objectives.
Oversees clinical and operational performance of the Operating Rooms, Post Anesthesia Care Units, Pre-operative Holding, and Central Sterile Processing to ensure high-quality, safe, and efficient patient care delivery.
Leads development and execution of strategic and operational plans that advance quality, service, people, growth, community, and financial performance goals.
Collaborates with surgical department chairs, division chiefs, service line directors, and executive leadership to optimize block utilization, throughput, scheduling efficiency, and perioperative resource allocation.
Directs financial stewardship for Surgical Services, including development and oversight of operating and capital budgets, long-range financial plans, productivity management, and cost containment strategies.
Establishes and monitors key performance indicators related to safety, quality, patient experience, workforce engagement, access, growth, and financial outcomes, implementing corrective actions as indicated.
Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and accreditation standards and maintains regulatory readiness, including adherence to Centers of Excellence requirements.
Leads recruitment, retention, succession planning, and leadership development efforts for perioperative leadership and management teams.
Promotes a culture of safety through proactive risk mitigation, event review, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
Drives performance improvement initiatives that enhance satisfaction, reduce expenses, improve productivity, and achieve quality and financial targets.
Assists in short- and long-term planning for facility construction, renovation, and expansion projects related to Surgical Services.
Partners with medical staff to engage physicians in strategic planning, operational performance, and quality improvement initiatives.
Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with University stakeholders and external regulatory, financial, and professional agencies.
Represents Surgical Services in institutional, medical staff, campus, and community activities and serves on relevant administrative committees.
Oversees the selection, hiring, development, evaluation, discipline, and, when necessary, termination of management and leadership staff in accordance with MU Health Care policies.
Leads a culture of safety through proactive risk mitigation and continuous
quality improvement, taking measures to evaluate regulatory readiness routinely. Monitors and analyzes safety and performance metrics to identify trends and implement corrective actions for staff and/or patients as appropriate.
May complete unit/department-specific duties as outlined in department documents.
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.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Supervision is received from the Chief Operating Officer, Hospital Services or designee.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Supervision is exercised over professional, technical, and support staff in assigned areas with clinical supervision matrixed to the designated licensed staff.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree in health administration, business administration, or related discipline.
Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience, with at least five (5) in surgical services.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in an academic medical center or large tertiary teaching hospital.
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.
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job; however, completion of these duties is a measure of successful performance. Employees of this job classification are subject to performance reviews. Basic function, responsibilities and characteristics duties may change at any time with or without notice.
SAFETY SENSITIVE STATUS
This position is considered safety sensitive.
This document is a general description of typical job duties, responsibilities and qualifications of employees holding the associated job title. Additional duties, specific qualifications and work emphasis may vary between individual positions.