Surgical Center Leader (CONFIDENTIAL)

We are conducting a CONFIDENTIAL search for a Surgery Center Leader --- a senior leadership role to oversee operational performance, patient experience, regulatory compliance, and financial success of a new ophthalmology ambulatory surgery center (ASC). This role partners closely with ophthalmologist, providers, clinical leaders, and executive leadership to ensure safe, efficient, high quality surgical care while supporting physician productivity and an exceptional patient experience.

As the Surgery Center Leader, you will serve as the operational leader for the center and will be responsible for developing high performing teams, strengthening culture, improving workflow efficiency, maintaining accreditation readiness, and supporting strategic growth initiatives across ophthalmic surgical services.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Leadership

· Direct day-to-day operations of the ophthalmology surgery center to ensure efficient patient flow, surgeon satisfaction, and excellent clinical outcomes.

· Ensure talent acquisition strategies deliver right resources at right time to deliver patient experience objectives. Strategies may include direct hire as well as vendor sourcing of specialized expertise, e.g. anesthesiologist.

· Optimize operating room utilization, block scheduling, turnover times, staffing efficiency, and surgical throughput.

· Partner with surgeons and clinical leaders to improve workflow and eliminate operational barriers.

· Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including case volume, cancellation rates, first-case on-time starts, patient wait times, turnover times, and patient satisfaction scores.

· Ensure operational readiness of surgical equipment, instrumentation, and ophthalmic technology.

· Leverage internal shared services teams effectively with regard to teams such as call center, billing, etc.

CLINICAL QUALITY & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE:

· Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.

· Partner with nursing and clinical leadership to maintain high standards of patient safety and surgical quality.

· Support quality assurance, peer review, risk management, credentialing, and emergency preparedness programs.

· Maintain survey readiness and lead corrective action planning as needed.

· Ensure proper handling, sterilization, and maintenance of ophthalmic instruments and surgical equipment.

FINANCIAL & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT:

· Partner with internal stakeholders to develop and manage the center's operating budget and financial performance.

· Monitor cost and revenue cycle performance to escalate mitigation opportunities as needed.

· Identify opportunities during a quarterly business review cycle to improve profitability, efficiency, and capacity while maintaining high-quality patient care.

· Support service line growth and surgical volume expansion initiatives.

· Collaborate with leadership on operational forecasting.

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE DEVELOPMENT:

· Lead, coach, and develop surgery center managers and team members.

· Build a culture centered on accountability, teamwork, service excellence, and patient care.

· Foster employee engagement, retention, and professional development.

· Provide ongoing performance coaching and leadership support to supervisors and emerging leaders.

· Promote effective communication and collaboration across clinical, surgical, and operational teams.

PHYSICIAN PARTNERSHIP:

· Develop strong working relationships with ophthalmologists and anesthesia providers.

· Serve as a trusted operational partner to surgeons by proactively addressing workflow, scheduling, and patient experience concerns.

· Support physician efficiency and productivity through operational improvements and service excellence.

· Participate in physician meetings, operational reviews, and strategic growth discussions.

PATIENT EXPERIENCE:

· Ensure patients receive compassionate, efficient, and high-quality surgical care.

· Support initiatives that improve communication, education, safety, and overall patient satisfaction.

· Address patient concerns and service recovery opportunities promptly and professionally.

· Design and optimize patient and physician flow across clinics to improve experience and maximize physician time.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Nursing, or related field required. Master's degree preferred.

· 5+ years of healthcare leadership experience required.

· Prior ophthalmology ASC, surgical services, perioperative, or ambulatory care leadership experience strongly preferred.

· Experience working in a fast-paced procedural or surgical environment required.

· Experience managing operational budgets, physician partnerships, and multidisciplinary teams preferred.

· Strong knowledge of ophthalmology surgery center operations and perioperative workflows.

· Understanding of cataract, retina, glaucoma, oculoplastic, and refractive surgery environments preferred.

· Knowledge of ASC accreditation and regulatory requirements.

· Strong operational, financial, and analytical skills.

· Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage change, and drive accountability.

· Excellent communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.

· Commitment to patient-centered care and service excellence.

PREFERRED LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

· Strategic leadership

· Operational excellence

· Culture development

· Physician relationship management

· Team development and coaching

· Process improvement mindset

· Emotional intelligence

· Change management

· Accountability and execution

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position operates in a fast-paced ophthalmology ambulatory surgery center environment with frequent interaction with patients, surgeons, providers, clinical staff, and practice shared services teams. The Surgery Center Leader may occasionally need to respond to operational or patient care matters outside of standard business hours.