Surgery Operations Manager

The primary responsibility of the Surgery Operations Manager is to oversee the OR patient workflow of the surgery department. The Surgery Operations Manager will work closely with the LVT Senior Director of Peri-operative Services, LVT Director of Surgery, Surgery Practice Manager, Surgery Inventory & Equipment Operations Manager, and Team Leaders to manage the process of operating room scheduling and distributing available operating room time focusing on maximum patient benefit, optimizing distribution of time among surgeons, personnel productivity and suite utilization. Over sees the surgical, pre-operative, prep, and recovery for all surgical services including Surgery, Neurology, Interventional Radiology, Dentistry, Ophthalmology, and Exotics. Actively monitoring block time utilization and re-distribution of block time for services.

The Surgery Operations Manager is responsible for building important relationships between the sterile processing staff and OR staff. They are the go-to person, making sure everything is in place for every surgery and solving any problem that could arise, whether it’s a missing or dirty instrument or a scheduling mishap, serves as a resource for staff with related issues and works with others in a team environment.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Current NYS Veterinary Technician license required 
• Minimum 5 years ‘experience as an LVT  
• Strong knowledge of surgical procedures, equipment, patients scheduling, and other areas as applicable 
• Ability to work and multi-task in a fast-paced environment 
• Demonstrate a high level of initiative independently and within a team environment 
• Demonstrates leadership associated with the core values of the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center 
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively 
• Motivated self-starter, able to work with minimal supervision 

Education: 

• Associate or bachelor’s degree from an AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology school 

Experience:  

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as an LVT  
• Leadership experience necessary 

Duties and responsibilities 

• Over sees the OR patient workflow of the surgery department
• Manages OR schedule, block utilization and surgical scheduling staffing to the earliest most convenient time slot while considering factors such as procedure time and availability of operating room personnel and equipment.
• The key communicator on behalf of the department regarding OR time
• Over sees the surgery Team Leaders and establishes workflows to ensure efficiency of OR time
• Knowledge of OR workflow, procedures, medical terminology, instrumentation.
• Knowledge of infection control and health & safety policies and procedures
• Assist with setting surgical protocols and standardizing work practices as needed
• Assists the surgery LVT Director in developing, planning, and implementing training schedules, process improvement plans, and evaluations for surgery coordinators, patient care assistants, and Veterinary Assistants, and LVTs
• Communicates with Biomedical Equipment Operations Manager of schedule changes and conflicts to OR staff so equipment and supply requirements can be adjusted accordingly
• Coordinates and leverages the use of operating rooms to increase utilization
• Track and analyze OR turnaround time and prep to table time to improve surgery workflow
• May assist team leaders and/or LVTS with schedules for pre-operative evaluation and diagnostic pre-operative tests
• On a regular and continuous basis, exercises good judgment and assumes responsibility for decisions, consequences, and results having an impact on patients, costs, and/or quality of service within the functional area
• Provide anesthesia support as needed
• Participates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation events and stabilization of critical patients
• Other duties as assigned

Direct Reports:  Team Leaders, Surgery LVTs

Reports to:  LVT Director of Surgery

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous sign-on bonus
• Four-day work week
• Comprehensive benefits including health insurance with medical, dental, and vision benefits, very generous paid time off, paid continuing education time-off and stipend, and 403-b retirement plan with employer contribution.
• Possibility of housing in an AMC apartment building or assistance to find housing
• School loan debt forgiveness opportunity as a non-profit hospital
• Non-corporate practice with no pressure for percentage pay
• Collegial work with colleagues in a non-competitive structure with strong teaching and mentoring opportunities as well as opportunities for research