At Houston Methodist, the Manager Information Technology (IT) position for the Clinical Informatics department is responsible for effectively managing the IT applications and support functions for clinical or business systems in close collaboration with clinical and operational leadership. This position effectively manages business workflow analysis, system definition, design, acquisition and implementation of new and modified systems for assigned departments. The Manager IT position manages vendor activities in conformance to contracts and outside consultants and contractors who assist with implementation and support activities. This position ensures that annual goals and objectives are met.

The manager position responsibilities include managing the daily work activities of the work unit/department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency while assisting management in accomplishing strategic and operational objectives. This position will oversee both clinical informatics and IT analyst roles as they work together to integrate innovative technological solutions within clinical workflows. This requires the understanding of IT and clinical informatics including the application of quality improvement and change management principles as well as the use of data to drive decisions. In addition, this position provides guidance to staff and is responsible for staffing, budget compliance, contributing to staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance, and assisting in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also implements training, monitoring and operations initiatives that assure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees in assigned IT department. Provides development and mentoring of staff. Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover. Develops direct reports to perform these same functions.

• Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem.

• Facilitates the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.

• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Plans and organizes day-to-day assigned IT department operations, schedule and activities. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.

• Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the assigned department.

• Develops strong collaboration with key customers and effectively manages difficult conversations.

• Maintains solid relationships with business area leaders to ensure effective planning and scheduling of initiatives.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the assigned IT department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines.

• Uses and optimizes information systems to enhance operations; supports entity-specific performance improvement and data management/analysis functions.

• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes by monitoring and improving the department workflow, using peer-to-peer accountability, and identifying solutions via collaboration. Adopts lean principles in driving process improvements. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.

• Monitors self and employee compliance with policies, procedures, and System HR Standards of Practice and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., focal point review requirements, disaster plan, inservices, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).

• Establishes, maintains and enforces departmental and application documentation and change control processes for system management. Ensures up to date and accurate disaster recovery plans.

• Ensures timely issues resolution and effective communication among all stakeholders.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists in the development of department budget and ensures that the department operates in a cost effective manner. Manages/audits department expenses within approved budget parameters, ensuring that the assigned department meets the budgeted/flex revenue and/or expense targets on a monthly and annual basis. Develops staffing plans and schedules to meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.

• Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, developing others to do the same, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.

• Manages vendor software and service contracts, ensures conformance to contract procedures. Evaluates associated expense and recommends appropriate actions. Maintains up to date knowledge of all contracts and vendor agreements for assigned department(s) and manages to terms.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department operations or other department-specific measures by leading unit projects and/or other department/system directed activities. Supports change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.

• Proactively evaluates processes; recommends and implements action plan(s) for change. Participates in the development and implementation of new procedures and the review and revision of existing procedures.

• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one's area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals.

• Seeks opportunities to identify developmental needs of self and staff and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development plan on an on-going basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development.

• Stays up-to-date on industry trends and customer needs in terms of vendor products and service delivery.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration or relevant field

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Eight years' experience in information technology or related operations. Three years experience must be in information technology

• Demonstrated project management experience

• System development or configuration experience

• Experience leading teams

• Healthcare IT experience preferred