Ethics Program Director

About the role

This hire will support the hospitals in our Richmond and Hampton Roads market. The Ethics Services Program Director contributes to the mission of the organization by leading Ethics Services operations across assigned geographies, including coverage of acute care hospitals, ambulatory care sites, and other services across the region. The role works closely with System and regional mission leadership and collaborates with peer ethics leads and spiritual health leadership to implement and maintain system-wide ethics programs and initiatives. The role requires regional travel and in-person and virtual work with leadership, peers, and customers. The Ethics Services Program Director participates in design and implementation of strategies aligned with best practice standards for Catholic healthcare ethics services and engages with clinical and operational leaders, providers, managers, patients, families, and community members.

Responsibilities

• Implement clinical and organizational ethics protocols and guidance within assigned geographies as outlined in the Ethics Quality Plan, in collaboration with System leadership and in support of clinical and operational activities.
• Contribute to mission and ethics strategic initiatives through close collaboration with regional mission leadership, spiritual health leadership, and mission site leads.
• Develop and lead mechanisms, including Ethics Committees and clinical rounding, to create effective, sustainable, and self-sufficient operations that integrate ethics into clinical operations and clinicians' workflows across assigned geographies.
• Identify and address ethics education needs of physicians, operational leaders, and associates across assigned geographies on ethical issues from faith-based and public moral frameworks; work collaboratively with mission leadership to develop education in response to consultations.
• Apply knowledge of Catholic moral frameworks, especially the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs), to ethics consultation, education, policy review, and operational decision-making.
• Collaborate with System, regional mission, and spiritual health leadership to develop prioritized solutions and implement strategies that infuse and sustain a culture of discernment in operational decision-making.
• Conduct and/or supervise clinical ethics consultation across assigned geographies, remotely or in-person, to support patients, families, clinicians, and organizational leaders.
• In collaboration with mission leadership, participate in or lead Mission Due Diligence as requested by System or regional leadership.
• In collaboration with System and regional mission leadership, operational and clinical leaders, and risk and legal departments, participate in development and review of ethics-related policies and procedures and act as a subject matter expert and resource across assigned geographies to assure policy alignment with the ERDs and mission standards.
• Maintain professional skills and competencies necessary to fulfill the role, including current knowledge of clinical and organizational ethics, health care operations, and relevant regulations; work toward achieving or maintaining HEC-C credentials and participate in requisite continuing education.
• Collect and report data to system to empirically assess high reliability, continuous quality improvement, and the impact of Ethics services, education, and integration.
• Manage design and implementation of regional and site sustainability goals and perform other mission and ethics duties as assigned by leadership.

Requirements

Education

• Master's level ethics degree or master's degree in Healthcare Ethics, Bioethics, Theology, or related field (required)
• Doctorate or PhD in Catholic Health Care Ethics (preferred)

Licensing & Certifications

• HEC-C – Healthcare Ethics Consultant-Certified (required or obtained within two years of hire)

Experience

• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in clinical ethics, organizational ethics, mission integration, theology, pastoral care, or a related field in healthcare or Catholic ministry (required)
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in clinical ethics, organizational ethics, mission integration, theology, pastoral care, or a related field in healthcare or Catholic ministry (preferred)
• Experience providing ethics consultation in complex clinical cases involving patients, families, clinicians, and interdisciplinary care teams (required)

Skills

• Clinical ethics consultation skills in complex patient care and organizational situations
• Knowledge of Catholic moral theology and the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs)
• Ability to analyze and apply ethical and faith-based frameworks to clinical, operational, and organizational decision-making
• Skills in ethics education, facilitation, and interdisciplinary case discussion
• Ability to develop ethics committees, clinical rounding processes, education plans, and consultation mechanisms
• Ability to review and develop ethics-related policies, procedures, and guidance aligned with the ERDs and mission standards
• Ability to collect, interpret, and report ethics-related data to support quality improvement and service impact
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong judgment, discernment, and critical thinking
• Ability to navigate sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, and confidentiality
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills across clinical, mission, spiritual health, legal, risk, and operational teams
• Ability to influence, facilitate dialogue, and build alignment without direct authority
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively in a complex environment

Pay

Range Minimum: $51.42 per hour; Maximum: $82.29 per hour

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses and 403(b) with employer contributions (when eligible)
• Medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, HSA/FSA options, life insurance, mental health resources and discounts
• Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, backup care for children and elders
• Tuition assistance, professional development and continuing education support

Benefits may vary based on the market and employment status.