Unit Director, Main Operating Room, UPMC Hamot Retained Search

Summit Talent Group (STG) is honored to partner with UPMC on a national search for the UPMC Hamot Unit Director, Main Operating Room.

UPMC Hamot is a 445-bed hospital, Magnet designated, in Erie, PA, offering a full complement of inpatient and outpatient services, and serves as a regional referral hub and Level II Trauma Center. Supported by over 650 physicians and nearly 4,000 dedicated employees, UPMC Hamot’s mission is to serve its patients, communities, and one another in the UPMC Hamot tradition of quality, health, healing, and education. UPMC Hamot’s superior health care services are continually recognized by notable accrediting bodies.

Combine your leadership skills and nursing experience and join UPMC, one of the country’s premier health systems. UPMC is a nonprofit health care provider and insurer that is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. UPMC is a global leader in clinical care, research, and treatments, and has more than 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York. UPMC also has a presence overseas.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Unit Director to lead and manage the daily operations of the main operating room. This role serves as “traffic control” and liaison between the OR staff, surgeons, anesthesiologists and patients. The Unit Director is accountable for leading, managing and creating a culture of patient safety and establishing an environment that supports clear, effective communication which fosters engagement, and shared accountability between disciplines.

The successful candidate will be pivotal in ensuring the delivery of high-quality surgical care, optimizing operational efficiency, and nurturing a collaborative multidisciplinary team environment. Focus will be on accountability, building and developing high functioning teams, and driving continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities include managing surgical staff schedules and development, ensuring sterile environments and equipment, coordinating with surgeons, and ensuring efficient workflow and patient care within the department.

This role reports to the Clinical Director of Perioperative Services. There are five clinicians (assistant managers), who are responsible for designated service lines and are direct reports to this position. The Main OR has approximately 120 staff members including surgical technologists, registered nurses, anesthesia technicians, patient care technicians, & surgical schedulers. The Main OR works closely with the Women’s OR team to share resources and ensure the best care is provided to all surgical patients.

Operating room facts

• Main OR: 17 surgical suites: Primary service lines: orthopedics, neurosurgery, urology, robotics, cardiovascular, bariatric surgery, colorectal, renal transplant, trauma, and more.
• Women’s OR: 5 Surgical Suites: OB/GYN, general surgery, eyes and more
• Volumes: Approximately 1,100 surgeries are performed each month in both the Main OR and Women’s OR.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with medical staff to monitor outcomes, set quality priorities, and implement safety initiatives. Tracks unit/department quality indicators and develop action plans to address concerns.
• Apply research and evidence-based practices to improve clinical care. Shares successful improvements across units and the broader system.
• Analyzes nurse and patient satisfaction data and creates responsive action plans. Encourages staff nurse involvement in evidence-based and quality improvement efforts.
• Build strong internal/external relationships through mentoring and positive communication. Manages conflict effectively and fosters trust through transparency and active listening.
• Plans work schedules that promote safety, balanced hours, and healthy lifestyles. Communicates clearly across various media to engage and inform audiences.
• Coaches staff on diversity, addresses workplace violence, and promotes inclusivity. Develops a shared vision using critical thinking, financial data, and stakeholder input.
• Leads complex change while supporting staff through transitions. Adapts interpersonal styles to gain support and accommodate diverse needs.

• Participates in professional organizations to influence external environments. Promotes patient-centered care within the Relationship Based Care framework.
• Ensures nursing practice aligns with clinical, professional, and regulatory standards. Apply national best practices to foster excellence in patient care.
• Encourages interdisciplinary collaboration through committee participation. Align clinical, financial, and HR priorities with organizational goals.
• Manages department budget responsibly and ensures efficient resource use. Sets high performance standards and fosters professional growth and innovation.
• Supports staff development, orientation, continuing education, and certification. Creates a best-practice environment for students and new nurses.
• Recruits nursing students through exceptional clinical experiences. Supports shared governance and uses staff feedback to improve care and practice. Develops Clinicians into strong leaders and mentors. Assist in ensuring all direct care staff meet competency requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years progressive Operating Room leadership experience. Ideal candidate will have experience as an OR nurse.
• Demonstrated management and effective leadership skills in a highly complex OR environment.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of CSP workflows and processes.
• Analytical ability to evaluate staff and address clinical issues.
• Ability to devise solutions to complex problems. Leadership skills to develop staff and maintain standards of performance.
• Compliance with administrative requirements. Superior interpersonal and communication skills.
• Effective relationship-building with patients, families, staff, physicians, and hospital personnel. Written and verbal communication proficiency

Education & Licensure

• BS/BSN required at time of hire, master’s degree/MSN preferred. If BS degree not in nursing, a master’s or higher degree in Nursing is required. If master’s degree is not in nursing, a BSN is required.
• If the master’s degree/MSN is not present at time of hire you must be enrolled in a Master’s or MSN program within one year of hire/transfer date and completed within three years of enrollment.
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance
• *Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state.