The Opportunity 

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this is an outstanding opportunity for an authentic, results-oriented, and mission-led leader to serve as the Vice President of Ambulatory Care Services (“Vice President”) for University Hospital, based in Newark, New Jersey. This leader will drive the strategic growth of the ambulatory network, positioning the care delivery enterprise as a best-in-class provider. This leader will direct the programs and strategies resulting in successful health outcomes, patient experience, medical cost efficiency and strong employee, clinical and physician engagement. The Vice President is responsible for directing daily operations, managing and ensuring that every aspect of the ambulatory care system is performing effectively and working efficiently.

The Vice President works collaboratively with the Joint Management Committee and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School faculty to continuously improve processes and care at the Ambulatory Clinics. This includes implementation of quality and service improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the Vice President is responsible for integrating the strategic plan and the execution of the Hospital’s goals and objectives through effective collaboration, quality, key performance indicators, patient relationships, and team member communication and engagement to effectively grow the organization and to ensure financial strength and operating efficiency.

The Organization

University Hospital (UH) is New Jersey’s academic medical center and the principal teaching hospital for Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. UH is ranked among the best hospitals in northern New Jersey, published by the U.S. News and World Report, and is fully accredited by the Joint Commission.

UH is an independent, state-owned, standalone medical center with 519 licensed beds and more than 3,600 employees. It serves as a regional resource for advanced care across a wide range of medical specialties. UH is home to northern New Jersey’s Level I Trauma Center and provides care in an abundance of complex medical specialties such as liver transplant, cardiology, neurosurgery, and stroke. As one of New Jersey’s most outstanding hospitals, the organization is vastly dedicated to patient care, research, and educating the providers of tomorrow.

Mission

As New Jersey’s public academic health center, University Hospital is committed to providing exceptional care to every patient, every time.

Vision

Partnering with our communities, University Hospital improves health for generations to come.

Values

• Respect: We embrace the value of each person, sensitive to each individual’s unique and diverse needs.
• Reliability: We’re passionate about the care we provide, and we are accountable to each other to achieve high quality, safety, and service.
• Teamwork: We communicate and collaborate to achieve shared goals, recognizing the contribution of each team member.
• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and are committed to an honest and equitable environment.
• Stewardship: We responsibly manage resources for our patients, their families and the communities we serve.

The Role

The Vice President of Ambulatory Care Services provides executive leadership for the operational and financial success of the ambulatory network in accordance with organizational policies and objectives. The Vice President serves as a strategic partner to the Chief Operating Officer regarding ambulatory care services and works to achieve goals that address organizational operations, team members, and overall growth of the ambulatory network. Maintaining a long, big-picture view, the Vice President maintains a clear vision for the business and ambulatory operations and will offer contingency plans and generate breakthrough ideas. They build trust and inspire confidence that University Hospital will successfully meet the inherent challenges of today’s rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

Key Responsibilities

The Vice President of Ambulatory Care Services will have a broad set of responsibilities, with a focus on the following areas:

• Ensures that processes are patient-centered.
  • Actively contributes to creating a friendly, welcoming, and safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
  • Drives collaboration among the University Hospital and Rutgers University leadership team.
  • Organizes and monitors operations to accommodate and respond to patient needs, concerns, and complaints within a timely manner to provide positive patient impact.
  • Continuously displays a “can do” attitude within the department and across department lines to contribute to the overall customer service plan.
  • Monitors and analyzes data on patient satisfaction and takes corrective actions as appropriate.
  • Acts as a role model for Service Excellence, developing professional liaison with all customers.
  • Maintains professional composure and confidence during stressful situations.
  • Drives customer service scores that meet/exceed targets.
  • Ensures that all staff demonstrate respect for patient rights and are committed to the uniqueness of the individual patients.
• Directs the management, ancillary, and support staff for all ambulatory care services in the achieving of requirements for the operations of all clinic-based services and other programs falling under the jurisdiction of the ACS.
• Ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of Ambulatory Clinic operations and ensures staff coverage for all Ambulatory Clinic services.
• Oversees staff recruitment, hiring, compensation, development, and termination.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with practicing physicians and service protocols.
• Ensures staff follow physician support, patient processes, and service protocols.
• In consultation with the Chief Operating Officer, leads the development of the operating and capital budgets of the Ambulatory Clinics. Determines budgetary requirements and tracks trends of financial performance on a continuous basis. Completes financial performance reports as required by leadership.
• In conjunction with the quality and patient experience teams, participates in quality improvement activities to improve outcomes and patient experience.
• In collaboration with the Director of Accreditation & Regulatory Affairs and the Office of Compliance, assures compliance with all state and federal regulations applicable to the operation of provider-based Ambulatory Clinics.
• Ensures all clinical staff at the Ambulatory Clinics are trained and evaluated no less than annually.
• Provides day-to-day leadership and management to the organization that aligns with the hospital’s strategic objectives and values.
• Apprises other executive leadership of challenges and opportunities within ambulatory operations.
• Participates in providing expertise and direction in the development of contemporary and developing delivery models, patient-centered medical homes, community and population health initiatives, and innovative continuum of care models.
• Supports the goal of employing a diverse workforce for the Ambulatory Clinics.
• Understands and adheres to University Hospital’s compliance standards as they appear in University Hospital’s Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct, and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal, state, and University Hospital regulations, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Ensures that all staff are trained and evaluated on their knowledge of and adherence to compliance policies and procedures specific to their jobs.
• Under the leadership of the Chief Operating Officer, builds and sustains relationships with a range of constituencies such as community groups, public officials, and other hospital and academic medical center partners.
• Determines departmental programs toward stated goals and objectives by reviewing analyses of financial, operational, and forecast data.
• Fosters open dialogue and expression of ideas and promotes communication in all directions throughout the organization.
• Leads, influences, and empowers direct reports while encouraging commitment to a common vision and promotes collaborative teamwork.
• Actively communicates, collaborates, and cooperates with labor unions across the organization.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

The Vice President of Ambulatory Care Services of University Hospital will be a talented healthcare leader with a successful record and extensive experience as a senior executive. The ideal candidate will have strong administrative skills in all aspects of healthcare administration including, but not limited to, patient care, clinical operations, finance, physician relations, human resources, and strategic planning.

The Vice President is recognized as a leader that possesses outstanding communication, listening, and people skills that build successful relationships with internal and external stakeholders, individuals at all levels of the organization, and the community. They will be an operationally talented and innovative leader that effectively collaborates and works synergistically with diverse constituencies to affect the cultural and operational changes necessary to ensure high quality, patient-centered care is delivered.

Skills and Qualifications

The Vice President of Ambulatory Care Services will have the following skills and qualifications:

• Possesses a high-level of experience in healthcare fiscal management, preferably reporting to a Board.
• Must be knowledgeable of current healthcare trends and policies.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and gain support of physicians and have a practical understanding of physician engagement and enterprises.
• Evaluates performance utilizing data analytics.
• Possesses strong verbal, active listening, and written communication skills required.
• A leader who has good interpersonal skills, including the ability to persuade others to change their minds or behavior and work effectively with all levels of an organization.
• Serves as a recognizable leader that is self-directed, thorough, and committed to a team-based approach.
• Must possess solid analytical and strategic skills. Furthermore, has the ability to make quick and effective decisions under pressure.
• Demonstrates someone of high energy and holds the capacity to successfully manage multiple projects/responsibilities simultaneously.
• Has strong resource management skills, including the ability to effectively manage time, finances, materials/facilities, and personnel.
• Possesses a high level of proficiency and success in problem solving and implementing innovative programs related to increased departmental and organizational operating efficiency.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in managing, directing departmental operations and senior administrative/management/supervisory personnel, evaluating, training and motivating performance.
• Demonstrated ability to delegate effectively and establish clear guidelines for accountability.
• Successful at building consensus and provides strong leadership in a team environment, with the highest level of professional and personal integrity.
• Possesses a strong executive presence, keen to political savviness, and has effective communication skills that promote a respectful environment where all perspectives, insights, and recommendations are encouraged and considered.
• Demonstrated experience in aligning, scaling, expanding, and sustaining innovative quality, safety, and performance improvement initiatives that achieve superior clinical quality, favorable financial outcomes, and high patient/physician/and employee satisfaction.
• Strong fiscal management, business acumen, and change management skills. Serves as a change agent and has a record of leading transformational change.
• Demonstrates seasoned judgment and the ability to balance competing priorities. Achieves goals in a dynamically changing environment, represents adaptability, and can work through ambiguity.
• A courageous and innovative individual with a “can do attitude” that inspires an organization to do its best and stay the course even in difficult circumstances and periodic uncertainty.
• Results-driven individual with the ability to demonstrate strategic influence, cultivate strategic relationships, and engage and inspire stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to drive the implementation of strategic and annual operating plans that ensure people, systems, and processes are coordinated, integrated, and aligned for optimal organizational performance.

Work Experience

• Minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of strong operational experience and proven experience in an executive leadership position such as an Executive Director or Vice President of Ambulatory practice and provider-based ambulatory care.
• Change management, organization efficiency, and finance experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in a highly matrixed organization requiring repeated results delivery through collaboration with other team members is a must.

Education

Master’s Degree in Business or a related health field is required.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.