Project Manager, Performance Improvement & Patient Safety

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a professional and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients.  The College has more than 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.

Summary: Responsible for the full life cycle of Performance Improvement & Patient Safety (PIPS) projects, including planning, executing, performance improvement, and implementation of each product within the program.  Sources and manages external subject matter expert panels and work groups. Ensures the goals and objectives of the projects are accurately defined and accomplished on time and within budget. Serves as a resource to project stakeholders and manages communication internally and externally. Ensures quality standards are met.  Works with staff, leadership, and work groups to identify the needs for PI tools, and to develop and implement these tools.  This position works with the PIPS surgeon chairs and manages the Best Practices Guidelines (BPG) expert panel surgeon leads, expert panel, BPG nurse consultants, and the clinical editor. This role also works with partner organizations for BPG endorsements, the Trauma Protocols Repository collaboration, and for BPG permissions. This position develops and implements strategies to ensure that hospitals can maximize their use of the program and is a resource to hospitals participating in the COT programs, as well as leadership, staff and consultants on PI matters.

This exempt position will report to the Senior Manager, Trauma Center Programs in the Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care. It is based in our Chicago office and is a hybrid role: 3 days per week in the office/2 days per week remote.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $92,000 - $100,000 (commensurate with related experience).

Responsibilities:

• Project Planning & Development: Manages the full life cycle of project process and timeline from beginning to launch and ensures all projects are on track, managing multiple projects at a time. Works with the TQP leadership, program chairs, and project stakeholders to develop strategies related to best practices and performance improvement, and to define project needs, deliverables, scope, timing and budget. Identify resources needed to successfully complete a project, including the assembly of a team with the appropriate subject matter expertise to meet project requirements. Creates detailed project plans that specify sequencing of activities, define major tasks and milestones, and contingency plans. Assigns and schedules project steps.
  
  
• Execution: Presents the BPG process and timeline to new expert leads and panel members each year and guides them through the entire process from beginning to launch.  Communicates project details to teams on a regular basis.  Provides direction and guidance; assigns tasks and responsibilities; manages roles and resources and the day-to-day tasks of the project; monitors project work to ensure adherence to project plan. Leads expert panel meetings and prepares and delivers project reports and presentations. Leads subject matter expert panel, project leads, nurse consultant team, clinical editor, and work groups through the cycle of PIPS projects, providing guidance and direction. Ensures thorough documentation of all phases and steps of project.  May produce work product to move project to the next phase. Implements project deliverables. Creates agendas and leads the PIPS Surgeon Leadership and PIPS surgeon chairs meetings to for status updates on each project and resolutions when issues arise.
  
  
• Customer Support, Issue Identification, and Communication: Collaborate with Director of TQP, surgeon and staff leads, program chairs, subject matter experts, work group leads, nurse consultants and clinical editors on the writing, editing, implementation, and management of all clinical and performance improvement content, as the coordinating liaison between each role for successful process flow. Serves as the main point of contact and facilitates communication, keeping all parties informed of progress throughout the project.  Identifies, communicates and rectifies project-related issues, scope changes and variances that arise during the execution phase of the project. Ensures daily operations of staff, consultants, and volunteers support and stay on course for each project timeline.
  
  
• Quality and Compliance: Leads process improvement efforts on PIPS program products, SOW or MOU agreements, COT nurse consultant and nurse partner roles, responsibilities and terms, etc.  Ensures that all goals are met for each PIPS program/product. Conducts program assessments and implement changes for improvements and efficiency. Ensures timely communication with project stakeholders to inform scope changes and to gain approval on any deliverable changes. Ensures project deliverables are met; interacts with stakeholders to confirm project satisfaction.  Reviews project steps; identifies and communicates best practices and areas for improvement. Shares perspective on process improvements for future iterations of project or similar projects.   Reviews processes and timeline for process improvement purposes before a kick-off of a new BPG. 
  
  

Required Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university is required.
  
  
• Coursework, training, or certification in project management (PMP, CAPM) required; Lean Six Sigma is a plus.
  
  
• At least 4-7 years of similar or related experience, including working with groups and/or committees and guiding them through a project, is required.
  
  
• Comfortable working with subject matter experts (such as surgeons, nurses, and other clinicians).
  
  
• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) required.
  
  
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); ability to learn new software (such as Airtable, Monday.com, and other project management and/or process mapping tools).

Comprehensive Benefits:
We’re committed to attracting and retaining top talent via valuable benefits!

• Vacation, personal, and sick hours including 13 paid holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical—comprehensive coverage through BlueCross BlueShield
• Dental, Vision, and Prescription drug program
• 403(b) Matching Program
• Pension Plan
• Flexible Spending Medical/Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Domestic Partner Coverage

The American College of Surgeons is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.  If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruitment@facs.org or call (312) 202-5000 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Salary : $92,000 - $100,000