Assignment Overview
We are seeking an experienced, results-oriented Interim Director of OR Services to lead a focused, time-bound engagement aimed at stabilizing, evaluating, and optimizing perioperative operations. This leader will bring an objective, systems-level perspective to assess current performance, culture, and structure, and partner with executive and clinical leadership to drive meaningful, sustainable improvement.
Purpose of the Role
This interim leader will:
- Provide objective assessment and operational leadership of the OR environment
- Address performance, accountability, and cultural challenges
- Establish clear standards and expectations for staff and leadership
- Deliver actionable recommendations for future state structure and operations
Key Responsibilities
1. Operational Assessment & Optimization
- Conduct a comprehensive review and action planning of OR operations including:
- Throughput, block utilization, case flow, staffing models, and scheduling practices
- Efficiency, financial performance, and resource utilization
- Identify operational gaps and implement rapid-cycle improvements where appropriate
- Elevate and optimize block governance, policies, and expectations
2. Culture & Leadership Effectiveness
- Assess team dynamics, engagement, and accountability across OR staff, including surgeons, anesthesia, nursing, and OR leadership
- Identify cultural barriers impacting performance and collaboration
- Provide coaching and real-time feedback to leaders to strengthen expectations and behaviors
- Address behavioral and cultural issues affecting team performance across disciplines
3. Performance Management
- Evaluate current staff and leadership performance practices
- Support leaders in addressing performance concerns, including:
- Clarifying expectations
- Reinforcing accountability
- Ensuring consistency in performance management approaches
- Help “reset” standards for professionalism, teamwork, and clinical excellence
- Partner with HR and clinical leadership to address performance concerns, including those related to professionalism and adherence to agreed upon standards.
- 4. Standardization of Expectations
- Develop and implement clear, consistent expectations for:
- OR staff roles and responsibilities
- Leadership behaviors and accountability
- Operational workflows and decision-making processes
- Align standards with organizational priorities and best practices
- Partner on the development of clear expectations for surgeon and anesthesia participation in operational improvements
5. Future-State Design & Recommendations
- Provide a structured evaluation of current OR leadership and organizational design
- Deliver recommendations for:
- Optimal leadership structure
- Staffing models
- Governance and decision-making processes
- Outline a sustainable roadmap to maintain improvements beyond the interim period
Key Deliverables
By the end of the engagement, the interim director will provide:
- Comprehensive Assessment Report
- Summary of operational, cultural, and structural findings
- Standardized Expectations Framework
- Clear guidelines for staff and leaders
- Performance Improvement Actions
- Implemented and in-progress initiatives with measurable impact
- Future-State Recommendations
- Organizational structure and strategic priorities
- Leadership Transition Plan
- Recommendations to ensure continuity and sustainment
Ideal Candidate Profile
- Proven experience as an OR/Perioperative Director in complex health systems
- Demonstrated success in operational turnaround, performance improvement, and cultural transformation
- Experience building effective physician partnerships and leading in environments with complex dynamics
- Skilled in change leadership, coaching, and conflict management
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities
- Able to quickly build trust while holding teams accountable
- Preferred:
- Patient care professional (i.e., RN, CRNA, etc.), with a minimum of 5 years relevant clinical experience
- Experience working with individuals with disabilities and/or pediatrics
Success Measures
- Improved OR performance metrics (efficiency, utilization, throughput)
- Clear, adopted standards for staff and leadership expectations
- Demonstrated progress in addressing performance and cultural issues
- Defined and actionable future-state organizational plan
Engagement Approach
This role requires a hands-on, visible leader who can balance objective evaluation with practical execution, partnering closely with clinical, operational, and executive stakeholders.