Executive Director

A strategic systems thinker, you don’t just strive for efficiency but the best possible performance and outcomes as well. Alberta Health Services (AHS) is now seeking a leader bringing deft leadership skills and strategic influence, who leverages proven change management principles and strategies for the role of Executive Director, Optimization. The Executive Director, Optimization, is responsible and accountable for enhancing performance across the organization through targeted initiatives to achieve AHS’s priorities. In this role, you will lead a team of professionals and consult with key stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate province-wide action plans to guide innovation and increase efficiency including reducing emergency room and surgical wait times, improving acute care capacity and flow, and transitioning AHS to hospital-based administration that utilizes the new Patient Focused Funding model. In a refocused healthcare system, AHS plays an integral role in delivering high-quality acute care services to more than 4.5 million people living in Alberta, as well as occasionally to some residents of other provinces and territories. We are a nation-leading hospital-based service provider operating 106 facilities across the province and we are dedicated to excellence in patient care. Showcase your leadership skills at AHS, where we strive to foster an environment where patients, clients, and staff feel safe, healthy, valued and supported. As this position is provincially based, the location for the position is negotiable within Alberta. Whether a bustling city or charming small town, you can choose your ideal setting for an excellent quality of life. It’s an exciting time to showcase your leadership skills at Alberta Health Services. Read on for the full description and apply below.

The Executive Director, Optimization (ED) provides leadership and oversight of the five optimization priorities aimed at enhancing performance across the organization. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations, you will ensure the progression of the respective initiatives from ideation through approval and execution to guide innovation and increase efficiency as the organization carries out these mandates. With support from Senior Vice Presidents in AHS, this role will lead the implementation, change management and engagement for all five key priorities. Working in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders such as the Acute Care Alberta Sustainability Team, Alberta Health, and AHS Clinical Operations and AHS Finance to ensure alignment, the ED leads a small team of up to eight staff in the development and design and supports execution of detailed implementation plans focused on optimization and change management, leading the execution, monitoring, and evaluation plans. This includes using quality improvement methods and stakeholder consultation to present recommended actions, identify risks and barriers to implementation, and develop mitigation plans as you facilitate these plans to inform decision making and ensure consistency, standardization, and alignment with organizational objectives. You will manage and control the departmental budget, ensuring prudent use of organizational resources. The position will develop and maintain strong working relationships with identified stakeholders, including AHS Clinical Operations, Alberta Health, Provincial Health Authorities/Entities, and other Provincial Health Corporations.

The successful candidate possesses a graduate degree in health care management, business administration or a related health care field especially in nursing or allied health. You have progressive senior leadership experience in a healthcare environment, including a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in a senior management role in clinical services or healthcare operations within acute care.

In addition, the incoming Executive Director will possess a record of accomplishment in the following areas: Successful record of achievement as a leader, including experience in senior leadership of a large and diverse range of functions. Utilizes strategic thinking, taking into account long-term goals assessing options and implications. Leadership skills, including demonstrable experience and comfort with decision making responsibilities, coaching and teaching, and the ability to inspire and build confidence in others. Experience in managing change and creating innovative solutions for complex and diverse issues. An effective communicator with strong organizational skills, you are client focused and commitment to providing long term quality services. Experience managing diverse human, financial and physical resources within the complex environment of a large, matrixed organization. Successful track record of building solid relationships with internal and external partners and fostering a climate of cooperation amongst them to achieve organizational goals.

Formal education, and experience, in nursing or an allied health profession is preferred.