Description

ABOUT THE JOB

 Ready to lead in a role that redefines what Surgical Services leadership can be? MU Health Care is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking Director of Surgical Services & Sterile Processing to oversee system-wide operations for Sterile Processing, Gastrointestinal (GI) Services, and the Pre-Anesthesia Clinic. This is a rare opportunity to influence the full spectrum of surgical readiness—driving consistency, quality, and innovation across three high-impact service areas. As the system expands both physically and operationally, this Director will guide growth, mentor experienced managers, and strengthen alignment across departments to ensure every patient benefits from safe, efficient, and high-performing perioperative care. Candidates must hold an active RN license and bring substantial hospital-based RN and leadership experience.

Joining MU Health Care means stepping into a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your leadership shapes the future of surgical excellence. You’ll be at the forefront of major expansion projects, including a new Sterile Processing build-out, while working alongside two other Directors of Surgical Services to optimize workflows and unify best practices across the system. For a leader with a passion for operational excellence, staff development, and lasting impact, this role offers an extraordinary platform to make a difference across one of Missouri’s premier academic health systems.

Shift: Exempt Employee – Standard Day Shift
Department: Surgical Services Administration

Compensation:   $126,796.00 - $206,960.00 (based on experience)

ABOUT MU HEALTH CARE

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Learn more about MU Health Care.

Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
• Generous paid leave and paid time off, including nine holidays
• Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
• Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
• Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
• See a comprehensive list of benefits here. 

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION

• Provides strategic direction and leadership for surgical services across multiple locations, including ORs, procedural areas, pre- and post-anesthesia care, sterile processing, and scheduling functions.
• Develops and implements policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure standardization and regulatory compliance across perioperative services.
• Collaborates with healthcare executives, surgeons, anesthesia providers, and department leaders to align surgical services with health system goals and patient outcomes.
• Oversees the system-wide development and coordination of perioperative scheduling to optimize block utilization, reduce delays, and enhance patient flow.
• Directs sterile processing operations, ensuring efficient instrument reprocessing, inventory management, and adherence to infection prevention standards.
• Leads system-wide performance improvement initiatives focused on quality, patient safety, and operational efficiency within all areas of perioperative care.
• Manages complex budgets, analyzes financial performance, and allocates resources to support optimal staffing, equipment, and operational sustainability.
• Develops and maintains metrics dashboards to monitor clinical outcomes, compliance, and efficiency; implements strategies based on data analysis.
• Cultivates a culture of open communication, patient safety, and staff empowerment through regular rounding, debriefs, and staff engagement initiatives.
• Collaborates with education and training teams to ensure onboarding, clinical competencies, and continuing education for perioperative staff.
• Ensures readiness for regulatory and accreditation surveys across all assigned surgical service areas, maintaining documentation and adherence to standards.
• Leads recruitment, mentorship, and retention efforts for clinical and support personnel, building a high-performing team across the perioperative continuum.
• Serves as a liaison to departments and external partners, promoting effective collaboration and service integration.
• Represents surgical services in hospital and system-level committees, task forces, and strategy sessions.
• Leads a culture of safety through proactive risk mitigation and continuous quality improvement, taking measures to evaluate regulatory readiness routinely.
• Monitors and analyzes safety and performance metrics to identify trends and implement corrective actions for staff and/or patients as appropriate.
• Oversees the development, coordination, and maintenance of daily staffing schedules to ensure the appropriate level of coverage and continuity of care across units.
• Directs the implementation and oversight of MU Health Care time and attendance policies and practices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Applies broad clinical and administrative knowledge to align departmental strategy with health system goals and patient outcomes.
• Leads managers and supervisors to foster accountability, develop talent, and ensure high performance across service areas.
• Drives operational efficiency through advanced planning, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement across internal and external initiatives.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or Master of Science in Nursing degree.
• Master’s degree in business or a healthcare-related field. (for hires after 10/15/25)
• Missouri Board of Nursing RN or Nurse Licensure Compact multi-state RN. When primary state of residency changes, compact state RNs must apply under new state of residency within thirty (30) days.
• Seven (7) years of RN experience in a hospital setting. Five (5) years of managerial or supervisory experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. The employee may be required ambulate, remain in a stationary position and position self to reach and/or move objects above the shoulders and below the knees. The employee may be required to move objects up to 10 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.