Vice President of Operations

Summary:

The Vice President, Operations is a senior executive leader responsible for overseeing and directing all clinical, surgical, and family operations related to organ donation. This role drives excellence in clinical, surgical, and authorization practices, leads initiatives to maximize donation outcomes, and ensures compliance with all relevant federal, state, and regulatory requirements. The Vice President, Operations also serves as a strategic partner to executive leadership, acts as a key liaison with hospital partners, donor families, transplant centers, and regulatory agencies through the donation process, and effectively leads large teams across a vast territory, motivating them within a positive corporate culture.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

1. Operational Functions. Responsible for the stewardship and execution of the clinical, surgical, and family services functions across the organization’s organ donation operations. Oversees the development and implementation of policies, best practices, and protocols related to clinical operations, donor management, surgical services, family services, and approach and authorization. Ensures accurate reporting, documentation, and data integrity across relevant operations. Monitors and analyzes outcomes and performance data to identify and drive the ongoing development and execution of continuous improvement initiatives through relevant functions and teams.

2. Strategic Leadership. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, participates in the development of the strategic goals and direction of the organization. Ensures sustainable and efficient on-call operations, operational readiness, and safe practices through the donation process. Develops and executes strategic initiatives and operational plans to meet the operational goals of the organization. Leads long-term capacity planning for clinical, surgical, and family services functions, including staffing models and support systems. Balances workforce needs, operational efficiency, and quality outcomes within budgetary parameters. Applies performance metrics to guide operational and strategic decision-making.

3. Compliance and Quality Assurance. Ensures the clinical, surgical, and family services functions are compliant with all applicable regulatory, accreditation, and safety requirements and standards, including OPTN Policies, CMS Conditions for Coverage of Organ Procurement Organizations (both Outcome Requirements and Process Performance Measures), the Texas Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, and the organization’s Corporate Code of Conduct. Monitors operations to ensure quality outcomes are achieved and to mitigate patient, donor, family, and organizational risk. Implements corrective and preventive action plans to reduce operational and regulatory risk.

4. Team Development and Leadership. Leads, mentors, and coaches leaders within clinical, surgical, and family services departments. Fosters a culture of empathy, accountability, innovation, and high performance. Oversees talent development, workforce planning, and succession strategies for the clinical, surgical, and family services functions. Ensures staff education, competencies, and training programs support excellence and compliance. Promotes staff resilience, engagement, and professional growth in high-acuity environments.

5. Performs other job-related duties as assigned that are consistent with the purpose of the role.

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, healthcare administration, or related clinical field is required. A combination of alternative education and executive or senior experience may be considered in lieu of the formal education requirements.
• Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC) is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in organ procurement, transplantation, critical care, or a related clinical field is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a mid- to senior-level leadership role is required.
• Strong working knowledge of organ procurement and transplantation processes and regulations, including federal and state regulations and industry standards regarding organ procurement, is required.
• Proven track record of strategic planning, operational management, cross-functional integration, and financial performance evaluation leveraging performance metrics, KPIs, and quantitative analysis to monitor progress, optimize operations, and achieve organizational goals is required.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills is required.
• Current Driver’s License is required and maintained with an acceptable driving record as defined by STA policy.

Compliance:

• This position is classified as OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Category II. Employees in this role may occasionally perform job duties that could involve contact with blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious materials. Appropriate PPE must be used when performing such tasks.
• Employees will receive mandatory training on bloodborne pathogens, safe work practices, and proper PPE usage. Adherence to all safety and infection control policies is a condition of employment.
• This role requires compliance with HIPAA and all confidentiality standards related to patient, donor, employee, and organizational information. Employees must safeguard all confidential information and disclose it only as permitted by law and organizational policy

Other:

Southwest Transplant Alliance maintains a policy of nondiscrimination with employees and applicants for employment. No aspect of employment will be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other basis prohibited by statute. In addition to federal law requirements, STA complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the STA has staff.

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Job duties may change at any time with or without notice. Nothing in this description constitutes a contract of employment, and employment remains at-will.