Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

JOB SUMMARY

At Houston Methodist, the Senior Vice President (SVP) position is responsible for multiple departments assigned by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This position is a key member of the executive management team of the hospital; may also serve as the hospital's Business Practice Officer when needed. The SVP position is responsible for the creation and execution of plans to support strategies to improve safety and quality of patient care, increase and improve operational efficiencies, create work environments that support deliver of high-quality patient care increase employee and physician satisfaction while also continuing to work to increase patient experience as reflected by high HCAHPS scores, etc. This position engages with and supports Physician Organization physicians and leaders with the creation of business plans proforma development and physician recruitment and onboarding. The SVP position collaborates closely with Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) for ensuring HM exceeds Magnet nursing requirements and safely delivers high quality nursing care for our patients in all areas of hospital activities not limited to direct patient care, e.g., nursing education, research, etc. This position works closely with Business Development and Marketing to support plans that drive new business activities to HM while also maintaining current market positions in various service lines. The SVP position functions as de facto leader of the TMC campus in the absence of CEO or EVP to support continuous operations.

This position reports directly to the hospital CEO in the organization and has responsibilities which include providing management and oversight of multiple areas and entities, as appropriate, and driving Houston Methodist's mission, vision, values and commitment to excellence. Demonstrating a proven record of successful strategic planning, developing long-range goals and implementation, this position manages a diverse, interprofessional team, collaborating with stakeholders to achieve mutual goals. Directly and indirectly overseeing management staff with the goal of enhancing professional development and personal growth, this position forms and leads internal teams, providing training and mentorship as needed. This position collaborates with all senior leadership to meet the organization's objectives, ensuring operational initiatives are implemented, setting business goals, and solving internal issues when needed. Responsible for the assigned areas' policy and procedure development, revision, and implementation. This position is also accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position ensures compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides direction to management team to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives. Coaches and mentors other executives, directors and managers. Gives timely guidance and feedback to direct report management to strengthen their specific knowledge/skill areas needed for progression. Holds direct reporting management team accountable for the development of staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness.
• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other departments to achieve business goals. Works collaboratively with stakeholders to foster a climate of open communication and mutual problem-solving.
• Develops efficient organizational structures within scope of assignment. Provides leadership for management team to maintain a competent and engaged employee group and provides recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes. Drives initiatives to meet or exceed threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.
• Collaborates closely with Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) for ensuring HM exceeds Magnet nursing requirements and safely delivers high quality nursing care for our patients in all areas of hospital activities not limited to direct patient care.
• Works closely with medical staff leadership to meet quality and strategic goals. Actively participates in assigned medical staff meetings and follows through with activities.
• Engages with and supports PO physicians and leaders with creation of business plans, proforma development and physician recruitment and onboarding.
• Identifies and understands how to leverage human capital to achieve organizational goals and business strategy, utilizing strategic knowledge of human capital.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes. Sets clear goals, priorities and objectives for the direct report management team. Oversees multiple departments’ operations and designated projects to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame, providing guidance to management team to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
• Drives HM service standards and activities to impact system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Responsible for the overall successful operation of the direct report management team.
• Drives collaboration across the organization to identify needs and develop scalable solutions. Prioritizes objectives and implements strategies to achieve organization initiatives as part of the executive leadership team. Delegates responsibilities to direct report management, providing guidance and direction, as appropriate.
• Creates and executes plans to support strategies to improve safety and quality of patient care, increase and improve operational efficiencies, create work environments that support deliver of high-quality patient care increase employee and physician satisfaction while also continuing to work to increase patient experience as reflected by high HCAHPS scores, etc.
• Manages multiple service lines and responsible for implementing strategies in line with the hospital’s overall strategic plan.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Reviews levels of service and significant trends that impact the effectiveness of delivering patient care, critical operational objectives, or other key components within the organization. Ensures that management teams are conducting root cause analyses, as appropriate. Proactively guides management to identify prevention/risk avoidance opportunities and implements continuous improvement plans.
• Monitors and ensures organizational compliance with federal, state and local safety and environmental regulations and standards as well as accreditation requirements. Ensures direct report management monitors and/or revises the departments’ safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines.
• Proactively approaches the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring, improving and enhancing operations, identifying solutions via collaboration. Oversees the implementation of process improvements, utilizing tools such as lean and change management principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
• Directs, delegates and oversees work efforts as appropriate to ensure the highest quality and best possible delivery of service, utilizing knowledge of the industry and impact to the department(s) on achieving overall objectives.
• Reviews levels of service and significant trends that impact the effectiveness of delivering patient care, critical operational objectives, or other key components within the organization. Ensures that department leadership teams are conducting root cause analyses, as appropriate. Proactively guides management to identify prevention/risk avoidance opportunities and implements continuous improvement plans.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures departments’ operational and capital budgets align with organization’s strategic plan. Uses benchmark data to support performance, costs and return on investment.
• Drives the maximization of efficiency and productivity. Leverages relationships with vendors and partners to obtain contracts that support cost-efficient operations and maintenance.
• Evaluates the success of assigned services and scope to achieve the overall budget. Ensures spent budget is appropriate to support hospital operations, meet clinical demands while also investing in new technology.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops long-range goals and strategic plans. Deploys data and research to drive cross-business organization prioritization.
• Maintains acute awareness of market and industry trends. Implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve system operations. Represents HM at community or professional organization meetings.
• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures.

• Initiates and executes succession plans. Conducts conversations with direct report management on their My Development plan.

• Partners closely with Business Development and Marketing to support plans that drive new business activities to HM while also maintaining current market positions in various service lines.

• Develops assigned service line plans with appropriate hospital and system staff, implementing and aligning strategies with the hospital’s overall strategic plan, e.g. Cancer, Neuroscience, etc.

• Researches and identifies new business opportunities, seeking new innovative tools and methods to meet/exceed strategic initiatives of the organization.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Master’s degree, e.g. Healthcare Administration (MHA), Business Administration (MBA) or related degree
• Graduate of accredited medical school degree strongly preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Ten years of directly related leadership experience with eight years in a senior management role within an acute care, public and/or academic healthcare system that demonstrates a high level of understanding of the required knowledge, skills and abilities
• Leadership experience to include accountability over multiple operational areas with a successful track record of strategic planning, change management, operational/clinical integration within a system, clinical/quality management, financial management, and community involvement