The posting
Job Title: Director of Surgical Services
Location: International Falls, MN
Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent
Department: Surgical Services / Perioperative Nursing
Schedule: Monday–Friday | 8-Hour Day Shifts
Weekly Hours: 40 Hours Guaranteed
Pay Range: $95,000–$135,000 annually, based on experience
Clinical Setting: Hospital-Based Surgical Services / Perioperative Care
Departments Overseen: Pre-Op, Operating Room, PACU, Central Processing, Orthopedic and General Surgery Outreach Clinics
EMR: Epic
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Director of Surgical Services to lead perioperative operations at a community-focused healthcare facility in International Falls, Minnesota.
In this leadership role, you will oversee the daily operations, clinical performance, staffing, and overall management of Surgical Services, including Pre-Operative Care, the Operating Room, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Central Processing, and Orthopedic and General Surgery outreach clinics. You will provide strategic and operational direction to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality surgical care while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and professional nursing practices.
This opportunity is ideal for an experienced perioperative Registered Nurse with a strong surgical background and demonstrated leadership abilities who is ready to take ownership of a multidisciplinary surgical services department. The position offers a consistent Monday–Friday schedule, competitive leadership compensation, negotiable sign-on and relocation assistance, and a comprehensive benefits package. You will have the opportunity to strengthen surgical operations, support staff development, and make a meaningful impact on patient care within a smaller, community-focused healthcare organization.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership, direction, and operational management for the Surgical Services Department, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care.
- Oversee daily operations across multiple perioperative service areas, including:
- Pre-Operative Care (Pre-Op)
- Operating Room (OR)
- Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
- Central Processing / Sterile Processing Department
- Orthopedic Outreach Clinics
- General Surgery Outreach Clinics
- Direct departmental staffing, scheduling, clinical workflows, and resource utilization to support effective surgical operations.
- Supervise, mentor, and support perioperative nursing staff and other surgical services personnel.
- Establish and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and clinical standards consistent with organizational goals and applicable healthcare regulations.
- Monitor patient safety, surgical outcomes, infection prevention practices, and quality improvement initiatives across perioperative services.
- Ensure compliance with Minnesota nursing regulations, regulatory organizations, external accrediting agencies, and healthcare licensing requirements.
- Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, physicians, nursing leadership, hospital administration, and other interdisciplinary teams to coordinate surgical services.
- Oversee operating room efficiency, patient throughput, surgical scheduling, and coordination between pre-operative and post-anesthesia services.
- Support safe and effective instrument processing, sterilization practices, and central processing department operations.
- Develop and implement strategies to improve departmental performance, operational efficiency, patient satisfaction, and quality of care.
- Participate in departmental budgeting, resource planning, equipment management, and evaluation of operational needs.
- Lead staff recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluations, professional development, and ongoing education within Surgical Services.
- Promote a positive, accountable, and collaborative work environment focused on staff engagement and clinical excellence.
- Oversee clinical documentation practices and support appropriate utilization of Epic EMR.
- Coordinate surgical services with orthopedic and general surgery outreach clinics to support continuity of care and efficient patient access.
- Identify operational challenges, evaluate potential solutions, and implement process improvements to strengthen surgical services.
- Maintain departmental readiness for regulatory inspections, accreditation surveys, and compliance reviews.
- Ensure departmental operations align with the organization's mission, vision, values, and commitment to patient-centered care.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) or a related field.
- Licensure: Active Minnesota Registered Nurse (RN) license.
- Certifications:
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
- Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.
- Experience: Minimum 3 years of professional experience working in a surgical department.
- Clinical Knowledge: Strong understanding of perioperative nursing practices, surgical workflows, patient safety, and surgical services operations.
- Leadership Skills: Ability to provide direction, supervision, and operational oversight for multidisciplinary surgical teams.
- Department Management: Understanding of pre-operative care, operating room operations, post-anesthesia recovery, and central processing workflows.
- Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of applicable healthcare regulations, accreditation requirements, infection prevention practices, and professional nursing standards.
- Technical Skills: Ability to utilize electronic medical records and oversee accurate clinical documentation.
- Communication: Strong interpersonal, organizational, and leadership communication skills when working with surgeons, physicians, staff, and hospital administration.
- Operational Skills: Ability to manage staffing, departmental resources, workflow efficiency, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Additional Requirements: Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills, with the ability to lead a multidisciplinary department.
Preferred Qualifications
- Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certification.
- Master's Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum 3 years of previous management or leadership experience in a surgical services or perioperative healthcare setting.
- Previous experience serving as a Director, Manager, or Supervisor of Surgical Services.
- Experience overseeing multiple perioperative departments, including Pre-Op, OR, PACU, and Sterile Processing.
- Familiarity with Epic EMR.
- Previous experience working in a Critical Access Hospital, rural healthcare facility, or community hospital environment.
- Experience managing orthopedic and general surgery programs or specialty outreach clinics.
- Strong background in departmental budgeting, staffing optimization, surgical scheduling, and operational performance improvement.
- Experience leading regulatory compliance initiatives, accreditation readiness, patient safety programs, and clinical quality improvement.
- Demonstrated success in staff development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and building highly engaged perioperative teams.
Benefits
The position includes a comprehensive benefits package designed to support long-term professional and personal well-being.
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Multiple coverage options available.
- Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with applicable health insurance plans.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Available for eligible expenses.
- Paid Time Off (PTO): Comprehensive PTO package.
- Retirement Benefits: 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
- Life Insurance: Employer-provided or available coverage.
- Long-Term Disability Insurance: Available coverage.
- Sign-On Bonus: Negotiable based on candidate qualifications and offer discussions.
- Relocation Assistance: Negotiable for eligible candidates.
