The Program Manager of Regional Surgical Access co-designs and coordinates the KPNW regional strategy for surgical services in partnership with the Surgical Access Medical Director and the Senior Director for Care Experience. The Program Manager co-designs the planning and execution of strategic initiatives, including daily oversight, with NWP and HP surgical leaders, Clinician Scheduling, and Central Surgery Scheduling to achieve optimal surgical block allocation and utilization to effectively manage and minimize surgical backlogs. The Program Manager collaborates with all surgical and procedural specialty care departments to ensure that all teams provide consistent, patient-centric surgical access for KP members.
Major Responsibilities / Essential Functions:
- Serves as the primary owner of the KPNW operating and procedural block schedule, overseeing the full lifecycle of schedule build, publication, assignment, release, and reclaim.
- Develops and maintains systems that support efficient block management in partnership with Clinician Scheduling, Central Surgery Scheduling, hospital and ASC leadership, and Specialty Care.
- Collect and synthesize feedback on block performance to identify opportunities for operational improvement.
- Manages the log of block change requests and coordinates evaluation with Chief Surgical Officers and Surgical Core Leadership.
- Facilitates block committee processes, including analysis, voting, and communication of decisions to stakeholders.
- Designs, monitors, and implements daily oversight systems that ensure timely and equitable access to surgical and procedural services.
- Collaborates with surgeons, proceduralists, anesthesiology, and operational leaders to improve surgical flow and address access barriers.
- Develops performance monitoring tools for OR utilization, turnover, case accuracy, on‑time starts, and cancellation rates.
- Understands and evaluates the impact of block scheduling on hospital operations, emergency access, and policy adherence.
- Supports strategic planning for case movement across hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
- Develops business plans to enhance OR efficiency and reduce cost and waste associated with surgical products and resource use.
- Partners with Analytics to enhance access reporting, forecasting, and supply management tools; uses data to drive system improvements.
- Collaborates with capital planning to project surgical needs based on trends and backlog demands.
- Works with quality leaders to assess how access decisions influence patient outcomes and wellbeing.
- Engages financial services, informatics, and perioperative leadership to strengthen operational performance and modernize oversight tools.
- Provides regular reporting on block committee performance to Surgical Operations Groups and maintains strong relationships with hospital and ASC leadership.
- Demonstrates advanced leadership that aligns teams and stakeholders with regional surgical access goals.
- Leads major change initiatives using structured project and program management methodologies.
- Partners with senior leaders to develop and deliver presentations and strategic plans related to surgical access.
- Defines performance targets, monitors outcomes, and drives continuous improvement to ensure organizational objectives are met.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration or a related field; or equivalent education and experience.
- Minimum three (3) years of combined experience in process improvement and managing complex projects.
- Minimum two (2) years’ financial analysis experience
- Leads and coordinate large interdisciplinary teams on complex, system‑wide initiatives.
- Manages multiple strategic projects with on‑time, on‑budget delivery.
- Facilitates diverse stakeholder groups, builds teams, and resolves conflict.
- Influences organizational change and applies effective change‑management practices.
- Uses data‑driven, fact‑based methods to support surgical services goals.
- Conducts, interprets, and presents quantitative and qualitative analyses.
- Identifies key business issues and develops actionable, multidisciplinary solutions.
- Communicates effectively across all levels with strong interpersonal, written, and verbal skills.
- Exercises sound judgment in evaluating recommendations and determining actions.
- Performs complex data and financial analyses and synthesizes information from multiple sources.
- Leads effectively in culturally diverse environments and promotes culturally competent care.
- Demonstrates strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
- Brings experience or exposure to surgical, procedural, or perioperative acute care.
- Maintains a data‑driven mindset with strong technological aptitude.
- Possesses advanced proficiency with spreadsheets, process‑mapping tools, project workplans, charts/graphs, pivot tables, macros, and Microsoft applications.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in healthcare, business administration or related field.
- Minimum five (5) years’ financial analysis experience
- Inpatient health care experience.
- Ability to analyze, integrate, and use quantitative data informed decisions about quality improvement and collaborating with surgeons, proceduralists, and anesthesia.
- Ability to influence the performance and engagement of staff involved in surgical and procedural services.
- Ability to establish partnerships with physician groups, organized labor representatives and peers to create a culture of commitment to patient focused service, excellent support of physician and nursing practices, innovation, compliance, and integrity.
For more information about this position, contact Courtney Johnson, courtney.l.johnson@kp.org.
About Northwest Permanente:
We are the Permanente in Kaiser Permanente. Northwest Permanente is a self-governed, multi-specialty group of 1,500 physicians, clinicians, and administrative professionals caring for 630,000 members in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Together with Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, we form Kaiser Permanente of the Northwest, an integrated health care program. Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's pre-eminent health care systems, a benchmark for comprehensive, integrated, value-based, and high-quality care.
Our Northwest Permanente administrative professionals enjoy a wide range of company sponsored benefits:
- 15% employer contribution to retirement programs, including pension
- 90% employer-paid health plan
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Child Care Benefits
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Paid Parental Leave
- Self-Care Days + Paid Time Off
Equal Opportunity Employer
Northwest Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair, respectful, and inclusive workplaces. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status.
