Director of Innovation

At Houston Methodist, the Director Innovation position is responsible for oversight and direction for all aspects of the Center for Innovation at Houston Methodist including financial outcomes, strategic planning, operational effectiveness, vendor management and project planning. This position partners with the Innovation Steering Committee for guidance and strategic alignment. The Director Innovation position also partners with new health technology vendors to identify appropriate solutions to solve consumer and/or patient journeys, clinical workflow enhancements and patient billing revenue cycle enhancements. This position is tasked with leading the innovation strategy within the Center for Innovation for the health system through process engineering, technology utilization, strategic partnership and alignment with external vendors. The goal of the department is to transform the way healthcare is performed within Houston Methodist and develop process and technology that can be shared and potentially sold to external institutions.

The Director position responsibilities include overseeing the activities of the department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency to accomplish strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position is accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work-related performance, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also ensures training, monitoring and operations initiatives are implemented which secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Masters degree in Business, healthcare administration or related field

EXPERIENCE

• Five years experience in a Manager or Director role; for internal candidates, three years of management experience with Houston Methodist performance that demonstrates leadership responsibility
• Five years of progressively responsible project management experience, including projects of organization-wide scope and impact in innovation and technology
• Three years of experience in artificial intelligence
• Experience partnering with new digital health technology vendors

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Preferred

• Project Management, IT, or other related certification

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially about activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in ones intentions and those of the organization
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying ones own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes
• Demonstrates highly effective communication skillsstrong written communications and platform presentation abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership
• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented
• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software
• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor
• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information
• Willingness to take risks and openness to untried ideas and solutions
• Ability to convert abstract concepts into concrete solutions
• Ability to convey vision and effectively communicate to all stakeholders
• Understanding of inherent risks and advances of creative ideas
• Ability to see beyond current process and procedure to develop solutions that address current and yet to be encountered roadblocks
• Ability to inspire others through personal confidence, interactions and communication of ideas
• Project management skills with ability to multitask and manage multiple projects in a system- wide, cross-functional environment
• Ability to deliver projects using leading-edge technology
• Strong knowledge of current technologies
• Strong knowledge and understanding of business needs, with the ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence
• Advanced process engineering skills
• Advanced knowledge of intelligent automation, voice technology for clinicians, ambient listening and artificial intelligence

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high-level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives.
• Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.
• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators: action readiness score, tier level.
• Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between ones area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.
• Directs the functions of Innovation staff in the collaboration and support of HM internal/external clients, including defining service standards, support timelines, and client prioritization.
• Partners with the Chief Innovation Officer to lead Innovation Council meetings, including coordination of vendors, finances, project updates, and the strategic planning process.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
• Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.
• Develops strong relationships with external vendors and internal clients to achieve strategic priorities. Partners with new health technology vendors to identify appropriate solutions to solve consumer and/or patient journeys, clinical workflow enhancements and patient billing revenue cycle enhancements.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable.
• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
• Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).
• Through strong utilization of metrics, ensures that innovative initiatives show the intended efficiencies and effectiveness set forth in project plans. Develops strategic plans for projects and associated success measures.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.
• Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
• Ensures tight costing and ROI controls for all projects and vendors. Ensures project progression and alignment within budget. Sets and defines timeline standards and expectations for team.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity or system operations by leading unit projects and/or other department/ system-directed activities. Proactively leads task forces and committees. May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings.
• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the Individual Development Plan (IDP) on an ongoing basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development and IDP.
• Stays up-to-date on hospital operations to identify organizational needs and team support of those needs.
• Identifies and makes recommendations for projects by evaluating against anticipated ROI and operational and organizational impact.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: No
• Business professional: Yes
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALLNote that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVELTravel specifications may vary by department

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Masters degree in Business, healthcare administration or related field

EXPERIENCE

• Five years experience in a Manager or Director role; for internal candidates, three years of management experience with Houston Methodist performance that demonstrates leadership responsibility
• Five years of progressively responsible project management experience, including projects of organization-wide scope and impact in innovation and technology
• Three years of experience in artificial intelligence
• Experience partnering with new digital health technology vendors

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Preferred

• Project Management, IT, or other related certification

Company Profile:

Houston Methodist is one of the nations leading health systems and academic medical centers. The health system consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the Texas Medical Center, seven community hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Houston Methodist also includes a research institute; a comprehensive residency program; international patient services; freestanding comprehensive care clinics, emergency care and imaging centers; and outpatient facilities. Come lead with us!

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.