Interim Director of Operating Room; OR Services

Interim Director, Operating Room (OR) Services Temporary Assignment (9–12 Months)

Location: Gillette Children's – St. Paul Hospital

Reports To: VP, Clinic & Hospital Operations and Chief Nurse Executive

Gillette Children's is seeking an accomplished and transformational Interim Director of Operating Room (OR) Services to lead a strategic 9–12 month engagement focused on stabilizing, evaluating, and optimizing perioperative services. This highly visible leadership role will provide objective assessment, operational direction, and change leadership to improve performance, strengthen accountability, enhance culture, and establish a sustainable future‑state operating model for OR services.

The successful candidate will bring extensive perioperative leadership experience, a proven record of operational turnaround, and the ability to drive meaningful change through collaboration with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nursing leaders, and executive stakeholders.

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of perioperative operations, including throughput, scheduling practices, block utilization, staffing models, resource allocation, and financial performance.
• Identify operational gaps and implement rapid‑cycle improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, utilization, and patient flow.
• Evaluate and strengthen block governance, policies, procedures, and accountability measures.
• Establish performance monitoring systems and operational standards aligned with organizational goals.

• Assess team dynamics, engagement, communication, and accountability across surgeons, anesthesia providers, nursing teams, and operational leaders.
• Identify and address cultural barriers impacting collaboration, performance, and patient care.
• Provide leadership coaching and real‑time feedback to strengthen leadership effectiveness and accountability.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, teamwork, transparency, and continuous improvement.

• Evaluate current performance management practices and organizational effectiveness.
• Partner with leaders to clarify expectations, address performance concerns, and reinforce accountability.
• Collaborate with Human Resources and clinical leadership to address behavioral, professionalism, and performance‑related issues.
• Establish consistent approaches for performance evaluation and corrective action processes.

• Develop and implement clear expectations and standards for:
  • Staff roles and responsibilities
  • Leadership accountability and behaviors
  • Operational workflows and decision‑making processes
• Partner with physician and anesthesia leadership to establish expectations for participation in operational improvement initiatives.
• Align governance structures and operating practices with industry best practices and organizational priorities.

• Evaluate the current perioperative leadership structure and organizational model.
• Develop recommendations for:
  • Leadership roles and reporting relationships
  • Staffing models and workforce planning
  • Governance and decision‑making frameworks
• Create a sustainable roadmap to support long‑term operational excellence beyond the interim assignment.

At the conclusion of the engagement, the Interim Director will provide:

• Operational, cultural, financial, and organizational findings
• Key risks, opportunities, and recommendations

• Clearly defined expectations and accountability standards for staff and leaders

• Documented improvements and implemented initiatives with measurable results

• Leadership structure, governance model, staffing recommendations, and strategic priorities

• Recommendations to ensure continuity, sustainability, and successful transition to permanent leadership

• Progressive leadership experience in perioperative or operating room services within a complex…