Director of Surgical Services

Description:

Job Title: Director of Surgical Services

Department: Surgical Services

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Exemption: Exempt

Location: Covington, LA

Position Summary

The Director of Surgical Services provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the

Surgical Services department. This role drives departmental performance, innovation, and cross-

functional collaboration in alignment with LOPA’s mission and values. As a key advisor to senior

leadership, the Director fosters a culture of accountability, inclusion, and excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Provides vision and direction for departmental strategy aligned with LOPA’s mission and long-term goals, driving innovation and collaborating with executive leadership on organization-wide initiatives.
• Operational Management: Oversees day-to-day departmental operations, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and quality while managing budgets, policies, and systems that support optimal performance.
• Talent & Culture Development: Builds and sustains a high-performing, inclusive team culture through mentoring, leadership development, and strategic workforce planning in partnership with HR.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serves as a departmental representative in executive and board-level discussions, fostering collaboration, alignment, and trusted relationships across internal and external stakeholders.
• Surgical Services Oversight: Leads all surgical functions within the Surgical Services Department, including direct oversight of Surgical Coordinators, Organ Preservation Coordinators, Sterile Processing, and the Supply Department. Oversees clinical protocols, staffing, and regulatory compliance in collaboration with internal partners. Supports pathology services, drives quality and process improvements, and ensures operational readiness. Provides leadership in policy development, and employee performance.
• Additional Responsibilities: Supports 24/7 operational readiness, participates in strategic planning forums, ensures compliance with required training and documentation, and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in a clinical or healthcare-related field required; Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• CPTC certification required or obtained within 12 months of hire.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in clinical or healthcare operations, preferably in organ recovery or transplant settings.
• Strong understanding of donor management, clinical compliance standards, and regulatory frameworks (CMS, OPTN, AOPO).
• Proven ability to lead teams in high-acuity clinical environments and develop cross-functional collaboration.
• Strategic thinker with operational and budgetary oversight experience.
• Skilled communicator and consensus-builder with executive presence, especially in healthcare and emotionally sensitive environments.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and related organizational tools.
• Committed to ethical leadership, continuous improvement, and inclusive culture-building.

Work Environment & Expectations

• Full-time, salaried position (Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM), with flexibility as needed
• May require after-hours availability and occasional travel
• Office and clinical environments; occasional exposure to clinical materials
• This position may require the ability to lift, move, or reposition equipment and/or patients. Tasks may be performed independently or with assistance from team members or appropriate devices. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

ADA & EEO Compliance

LOPA provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance

with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need accommodation for any part of the

employment process, please contact Human Resources. LOPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees