Active Searches DSG Grant Cooper

Vice President, Operations

  • Company: UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
  • Location: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Date:
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Role Summary

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is seeking a new Vice President of Operations to direct, administer, and coordinate operations for the cancer service line under the direction of, and in accordance with, policies, goals and objectives, established by the President, the VP of Cancer Service Line, and physician executive leaders. The VP of Operations will assist the senior leadership team in the development and implementation of policies and activities covering organization operations, personnel, financial performance, and growth. 

The VP of Operations will be responsible for Hillman Cancer Center operations, including all UPMC hospitals and associated UPMC Hillman Cancer Center sites. This individual will have oversight of a total team of approximately 1,772 with eight direct reports including: Clinical Director of Medical Oncology, Senior Director of Medical Oncology, Senior Director of Hillman Operations, Senior Director of Radiation Oncology & Medical Physics, Director Safety, Regulatory, Professional & Patient Education, Executive Administrator, Division Administrator, and Sr. Project Managers. The Vice President of Operations will report to the CFO, Hillman Cancer Center.  

Responsibilities 

  • Guide and direct the clinical and operational staff of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in the day-to-day operations of medical oncology and radiation oncology, in conjunction with physician medical leadership.
  • Direct organizational operations to achieve budgeted positive operating margin results and other financial criteria, and to preserve the capital funds invested in the enterprise.
  • Direct the development of annual operational goals and budgets based upon the broad organizational goals and growth objective; assume responsibility for capital expenditures.
  • Direct the development and installation of standard reporting tools and reports to maintain communication and adequate flow of information, and to maintain management control.
  • Develop and establish organizational operating policies consistent with the President's approved overall policies and objectives, and ensure their adequate execution.
  • Act in an operational leadership role in a matrixed organization, including interaction with staff, senior leadership, and physician leadership within various divisions of UPMC.
  • Ensure sound working relationships with key staff of Cancer Center strategic partners and vendors providing outside services such as consultants, counsel, auditing firms, and with appropriate outside public and governmental bodies.
  • Manage relationships with joint venture partners, including serving on Board of Directors of all JV entities.
  • Manage relationships between the Cancer Center and UPMC hospitals, by leading quarterly management update meetings.
  • Participate in systemwide VP of Operations group.
  • Manage network co-management relationship with physician group.
  • Oversee facility and space management across the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center network.
  • Maintain strong relationship with clinical and basic research operations.
  • Participate in the recruitment of key site personnel, including physicians.
  • Develop business plans for capital projects, including construction and facility-related projects.
  • Ensure that all organizational activities and operations are carried out in compliance with local, state, federal and governmental regulations and laws governing healthcare operations.
  • Ensure timely monitoring of regulatory and policy issues, particularly as they relate to reimbursement and facility requirements.
  • Direct and personally participate in acquisition and growth activities including investigations, evaluations and negotiations in accordance with organizational objectives and plans established by the President; this includes investigation of and participation in payor contract negotiations.
  • Assume other special activities and responsibilities from time to time as directed by the President.
  • Commit to a leadership style that incorporates continuous quality improvement into all aspects of professional responsibilities.
  • Promote a culture of customer service throughout all areas of responsibility and operate in a manner that ensures the delivery of the highest quality of care to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center patients.
  • Create a climate and culture of professional development among the staff of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
  • Lead operations through a data-driven approach.
 Required Qualifications and Experience 
  • Bachelor’s degree is required. MSN, MBA, MHA, or equivalent advanced degree is preferred but not required.
  • Five years of relevant health care leadership experience required.
  • Minimum of five years’ previous experience in an oncology senior management role within an integrated system.
  • Knowledge of current approaches to the delivery of cancer care.
  • Ability to participate in developing and implementing organizational strategies to improve the delivery of cancer care.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.   
 Leadership Skill Requirements 
  • Must have superior communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
  • Action and results-oriented: Ability to establish key goals, drive and track results among multiple decision-makers and stakeholders and meet deadlines in a fast-moving environment.  
  • Ability to build relationships through integrity and trust:  Ability to quickly gain the trust and respect of others, drive collaboration, build a team environment, and search for the win/win scenarios.
  • Influencing skills: Ability to lead an organization using influence, rather than possessing direct authority of others, being sensitive, yet direct, in both verbal and written communications.
  • Managing complexity: Ability to lead and drive results in a complex organization, achieving alignment between conflicting priorities, initiatives, and people.
  • Possess a collaborative, team-oriented leadership mentality.
 Functional/Technical Skills Requirements 
  • Communications: Excellent written and verbal communications skills. Ability to take abstract, complex and/or technical information and break it down for a variety of audiences in a way that is meaningful for each audience.
  • Functional oversight: Issue identification, gap analysis, ability to prioritize business needs, and execute solutions.
  • Financial management: Ability to understand financial reports, develop basic financial models, and identify trends, variances, and opportunities.

In all of the above, a passion for the mission, vision and values of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and for the provision of excellence in all aspects of care to patients and families.

About UPMC Hillman

Founded in 1984, and first designated as an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1990, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is internationally recognized for its leadership in the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. As the preeminent institution in western Pennsylvania for the delivery of cancer care, the performance of basic, translational, and clinical research, and the education of the next generation of cancer researchers and physicians, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is exceptionally well positioned to contribute to the global effort to reduce the burden of cancer.

With more than 70 sites in western and central Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, western Maryland, and western New York, and more than 2,000 physicians, researchers, and staff, Hillman is one of the largest integrated cancer networks in the country. The center treats more than 170,000 individuals each year, of which nearly 50,000 are new patients.