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System Director Surgical Services

Cayuga Health System
Ithaca, NY Full Time
POSTED ON 3/15/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/12/2031

Department: Surgical Services

Title: System Director of Perioperative Services

Reports To: Senior Director, Procedural and Perioperative Services

Job Summary:

The System Director of Perioperative Services is responsible for the direction and leadership of operational, financial, programmatic, and personnel activities for all Cayuga Health perioperative services departments. These include Main campus, Surgicare, Endoscopy, and Schuyler Hospital. This includes establishing, meeting, and continuously monitoring the goals and objectives while maintaining alignment with the strategic goals and objectives for Cayuga Health System. The director is responsible for the integration and alignment of surgical and procedural operations within Cayuga Health Medical Center perioperative departments to increase patient safety, satisfaction, efficiency, throughput, and margins.

Departments of responsibility include operating room, preoperative and post-operative care, preadmission testing, surgery schedulers, and sterile processing department.


Job Responsibilities

  • Develops and sustains an environment in the patient care units that supports excellence and innovation in clinical nursing practice and patient care through assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and standards that support positive patient care outcomes
  • Directs the overall daily operations of perioperative departments, ensuring compliance with JCAHO, local, state and federal regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements.
  • Assures that all perioperative departments complies with all the standards, policies and procedures of the licensee hospitals.
  • In conjunction with the Surgical Services leadership establishes and implements short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates operational effectiveness; effects changes required for improvement.
  • Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the organization's goals and objectives.
  • Reports on administrative aspects of operations to administration and provides solutions to surgical services and leadership teams
  • Appropriately represents the facility internally and externally and fosters positive community relations and image, while promoting the center as a community resource.
  • Develops and fosters effective collaboration between clinical departments and medical staff leadership to ensure an integrated approach to providing services.
  • Serves as the coordinating force that aligns the resources of the medical center to achieve objectives on time and within budget.
  • Responsible for making operation a well-run, integrated multi-disciplinary practice that offers accessibility, improved throughput, and information, all delivered within a culture of service and care that eases the anxiety associated with health care service, drives increased market share and financial return and promotes improved outcomes within the ambulatory environment.
  • Assures ready access to the services of the following perioperative departments (operating room, preoperative and postoperative care units, preadmission testing, OR Scheduling, endoscopy, and sterile processing)
  • Works with the administrative and medical directors of the clinical programs to establish performance targets and measures, including efficiency targets, patient satisfaction targets, service metrics
  • Designs and provides management reports to support providers/managers in coding, appointment utilization, next appointment availability, capacity analysis, staffing ratios, quality management, and other critical data.
  • Develops and monitors systems and procedures to ensure timely response to complaints. Aids in the development of policies and standard workflows.
  • In collaboration with nursing, finance and information services, implements practice-wide utilization of centralized services such as competency review, registration/billing services, infection control, etc. to promote enhanced quality, revenue collections and information flow.
  • Identifies and leverages 'best practice' principles together with clinical department managers and senior leaders.
  • Keeps abreast of changes in the health care industry, organizational trends, and major technological improvements in nursing, and medical practice.
  • Performs other job- related duties as assigned.
  • Delegate's authority and accountability to nursing staff for clinical nursing practice and patient care decisions that are consistent with professional standards, regulatory agencies and organizational policies and procedures
  • Performs a variety of staff management functions including interviews, hires evaluates, counsels, supervises and manages the clinical managers and staff, while collaborating with the program medical directors and other CHS leaders.
  • Serves as a professional role model; develops and mentors leadership staff and employee that report to role
  • Continually monitors and enhances the work culture to attract and retain the staff talent necessary to provide the highest quality of patient care possible
  • 24-hour/7-day accountability for the clinical and building services, supervision of all staff roles
  • Responsible for:
    • recruitment and retention of staff
    • Performance appraisals
    • Professional development
  • Monitors quality outcomes and collaborates with others to develop performance improvement plans
  • Budget Development and Financial Management
  • Assists in the development and management of annual operating and capital budgets and performs cost and productivity analyses. Make fiscally responsible recommendations and decisions.
  • Serves as one of the site leaders for regulatory reviews

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Master's degree preferred, BSN required
  • 5 years of experience in healthcare with a focus on surgical services, 3 years of experience in a surgical services leadership position
  • RN license
  • AORN/CASC or other appropriate leadership certification preferred

*Or equivalent combination of education and/or experience




REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & ABILITIES:

  • Expert knowledge of current clinical nursing standards of care in the Operating Room and perioperative departments
  • Computer application related to nursing services
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
  • Coach, mentor, and support new leaders and staff
  • Requires excellent communication skills, both oral and written, to multiple levels of audiences
  • Must have full understanding of overall business processes and surgical operations.
  • Ability to build/gain consensus.
  • Ability to work effectively within the health system's decision-making and organizational structure.
  • Knowledge of computerized information systems used in financial and/or accounting functions. Must have well-developed analytical ability and database management skills.
  • Knowledge of cost control principles and practices.
  • Ability to use independent judgment. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an efficient course of action
  • Employee development and performance management skills. Expert knowledge of management practices, including staff recruitment and retention plans.
  • Familiarity with accreditation and certification requirements and standards.
  • Proven skill in fiscal management and developing clinical management measures.
  • Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
  • Ability to assess business processes and develop improvement plans to optimize efficiency, throughput and quality of care.
  • Exhibits a respectful, constructive, and energetic management style.
  • Effective project management ability
  • Ability to work effectively in a matrix organization.
  • Knowledge of fiscal operations, practices, and analysis.
  • Knowledge of developing, monitoring and submitting budget reports.
  • Ability to develop and implement marketing strategies

Salary : $155,000 - $165,000

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