Manager Operational Excellence

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

Primary Purpose

Responsible for supporting a lean culture by identifying needed improvements in operating efficiencies and labor cost reductions as well as providing leadership oversight for Parkland’s lean academy. Provides services that contribute to Parkland Health’s fiscal and operational well-being.

Accountable for the day-to-day operations of the Operational Excellence department, including implementation of strategic initiatives; identification and allocation of appropriate resources for identified organizational priorities; and successfully developing, implementing, and communicating process and productivity improvements at Parkland.

Minimum Specifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, finance, healthcare administration, industrial engineering, management engineering, or related discipline required.
• Master’s degree in business administration, healthcare administration, industrial engineering, or related discipline preferred.

Experience

• Seven (7) years of hospital management engineering experience and/or management consulting in hospital operations or hospital financial operations required.

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• Five (5) years of experience working in a comparable position within a healthcare organization may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.

Certification/Registration/Licensure             

• Lean/Six Sigma Yellow Belt or higher certification required within two years from date of entry into position.

Skills or Special Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively and professionally across disciplines and with a variety of constituents as well as the ability to articulate complex information in understandable terms.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and influence for results.
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups across and beyond the organization.
• Strategic thinking and long-range planning skills with the ability to lead major organizational initiatives, accomplish results, and achieve measurable outcomes or goals.
• In-depth knowledge of hospital-based care delivery systems including hospital operations and financial processes, including benchmarking, budgeting, and productivity.
• Ability to work in challenging situations involving competing interests, and high level-interdisciplinary groups.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and presentation skills with the ability to manage multiple demands and respond to rapidly changing priorities.
• Strong analytical, statistical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex systems and develop recommendations for improvement.
• Proven ability to lead and implement significant operational and process changes within the organization.
• Demonstrated project management skills and project methodology expertise.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and standards applicable to the healthcare environment.
• Sound business acumen.
• Advanced Microsoft Office and computer skills. Ability to learn new software programs.

Responsibilities

Operations

• Assists in monitoring the system for tracking labor productivity and benchmarking, including implementation and development actions and strategies that ensure the most effective use of resources with fluctuating demands.
• Implements and monitors process improvement initiatives across the organization focused on efficiency, throughput, and workflow management. Implements appropriate changes to improve effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency that support the department's and Parkland's overall goals.
• Collaborates with management to implement improvements in work processes that both improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational processes.
• Monitors and facilitates the mitigation of departments' labor budget performance and variances for departments with cost-saving initiatives. Helps coordinate the development of action plans to address variances and oversees accountability for improvement within a determined time frame to optimize labor.
• Provides guidance and leadership to all Operational Excellence projects, ensuring appropriate recommendations, successful implementation, and proper maintenance and resource allocation.
• Identifies and analyzes the design of jobs, work processes, workflows, etc., for the assigned areas and implements appropriate changes to improve effectiveness, productivity, efficiency, financial performance, access, and quality that support the division and Parkland's overall goals.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field of Operational Excellence Project Management and Six Sigma/Lean Six Sigma by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and maintaining licensures. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.

Regulatory

• Develop processes to maintain compliance with regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies. Ensures operations are carried out in compliance with these regulations.
• Works collaboratively with others to validate and sustain compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Conducts routine compliance audits identifying gaps and implementing remediation plans as necessary.
• Works collaboratively with leadership and/or Compliance to investigate and respond to matters of concern or alleged violations taking corrective action as necessary.
• Provides timely and accurate responses to requests for information from regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies.

Fiscal Management and Operating Budget

• Operationally responsible for the financial performance of assigned area(s).
• Promote activities to achieve operational efficiency.
• Manage the approved budget through frequent and regular monitoring. Implement written action plans to address variances adjusting strategies as necessary to meet budgetary targets.
• Manage staffing levels within established targets.

Talent Management

• Recruit and retain talent with a variety of backgrounds, skills, experiences, and viewpoints that reflect the communities we serve.
• Promote and support a culturally welcoming, inclusive, collaborative, and highly engaged work environment where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.
• Accountable for orientation, ongoing education and training, and competency verification for all employees.
• Ensure Human Resource metrics (i.e., retention, vacancy, engagement) meet established targets. Utilize workforce metrics to monitor, identify, and respond to workforce trends.
• Annual performance appraisals are completed timely.
• Conduct regular meetings, inform team of changes in policy or procedure, and provide information regarding overall strategy and direction of the organization.
• Mentor, coach, and support direct reports with building teamwork, professional development, and education to achieve optimal performance and develop talent.
• Ensure employee engagement survey participation rates and results meet established targets.
• Mandatory requirements are completed timely by employees.
• Required licensure, certification, and/or registry are current and in good standing for all employees.
• Employee performance is monitored and managed. Consult with the Office of Talent Management as appropriate regarding employee performance concerns and disciplinary action.

Professional Accountability

• Acts with the highest integrity and ethical standards while adhering to Parkland's Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Adheres to organizational and department policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Completes assigned training, self-appraisal, annual health screening and other mandatory requirements timely.
• Attends required meetings and events.
• Recognizes and communicate ethical and legal concerns through the established channels of communication.
• Demonstrates accountability and responsibility by independently completing work, including projects and assignments on time, and providing timely responses to requests for information.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.
• Performs other work as requested that is reasonably related to the employee’s position, qualifications, and competencies.

Job Accountabilities

• Identifies and analyzes the design of jobs, work processes, workflows, etc. for the area and implements appropriate changes to improve effectiveness, productivity, and efficiency that support the overall goals of the department and Parkland.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.
• Develops and monitors annual budgets that ensure the department has the necessary funds to carry out the goals and objectives that have been established for the department.
• Develops, implements, monitors, and revises annual goals and objectives for the department that support the missions and objectives of Parkland.
• Selects, trains, schedules, motivates, supervises, and evaluates employees making recommendations for disciplinary actions up to and including termination, to ensure maximum utilization of individual and group capabilities. Ensures that assigned employees receive opportunities to further their knowledge.

Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status. As part of our commitment to our patients and employees’ wellness, Parkland Health is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.