Director of Operating Room Endoscopy and Sterile Processing

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the daily operations of the OR, Endoscopy and Sterile Processing Services departments, ensuring optimal workflow, leveraging technology and informatics solutions to enhance patient care outcomes.
• Develop and implement staffing plans, manage recruitment efforts, and ensure staffing levels align with operational and patient care needs across both departments.
• Identify and update relevant competencies for OR, Endoscopy, and Sterile Processing Services staff to align with operational and quality goals.
• Ensure staff have the necessary skills to provide optimal care and maintain high standards of performance.
• Oversee retention strategies to ensure long-term staff satisfaction, engagement, and reduced turnover, including providing ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to optimize surgical schedules, patient flow, and instrument sterilization processes by integrating informatics tools to reduce bottlenecks and improve overall perioperative efficiency.
• Drive performance improvements by implementing evidence-based practices and using performance data to continuously monitor and adjust staffing, workflows, and departmental processes for optimal care delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Maintain standardized clinical pathways that ensure a seamless, efficient, and safe patient journey for intraoperative phase of care.
• Monitor clinical outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and implement quality improvement initiatives that enhance both surgical and patient care standards across departments, in conjunction with the System Directors.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant healthcare regulations and accreditation standards—including those set by The Joint Commission, AORN, and other regulatory agencies—by managing departmental accreditation processes, maintaining continuous readiness for inspections, and collaborating with the System Director of Nursing.
• Oversee risk mitigation efforts, infection control protocols, and trauma care standards to support high-quality, safe perioperative services.
• Work closely with leaders across the healthcare system to standardize clinical workflows, care delivery, and best practices across all hospitals and facilities. Ensure that OR, Endoscopy, and Sterile Processing Services procedures align with system-wide protocols to enhance consistency and quality of care.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including vendors, regulatory bodies, and academic institutions, to support department operations, training, and compliance with best practices.
• Oversee the integration & optimization of cutting-edge technologies into the OR and Sterile Processing Services, ensuring that staff are trained in new systems and that technology enhances patient care and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university. Master’s degree in nursing or a related field such as healthcare administration or its equivalent. Consideration will be given to internal candidates who are matriculated in a Master's Degree program.
• Licensure as Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing or licensure as a Registered Nurse in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
• Certification in perioperative nursing (e.g., CNOR) preferred. American Heart Association BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certifications.
• Certifications related to surgical services, sterile processing, or trauma care are highly desirable (e.g., CSPDT, CST, or trauma certifications).
• At least 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in perioperative services served as an intraoperative RN, including at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Demonstrated experience in managing both OR and Sterile Processing Services departments in a large hospital or healthcare setting, preferably within a Level I trauma center.
• Demonstrated ability to apply principles of Highly Reliable Organizations (HRO).
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams, driving improvements in clinical outcomes, patient flow, and operational efficiency.