Department Overview The OHSU Department of Surgery is comprised of nine integrated yet independent surgery divisions: Abdominal Organ Transplantation, Bariatric, Cardiothoracic, Gastrointestinal and General, Pediatric, Plastic and Reconstructive, Oncology, Trauma and Acute Care and Vascular Surgery. Our department is built on a culture of community and a history of innovative and interdisciplinary collaboration. Our faculty are dedicated to excellence in education, research, scholarship and clinical practice.
We also house one of the largest general surgery residency programs in the country and offer surgery fellowships in all of our disciplines. OHSU as a teaching hospital is fully supported by each of our faculty and staff. The Department of Surgery Project Manager manages projects and programs supporting the mission of the Departments of Surgery and Urology and their divisions within the OHSU School of Medicine.
This role works collaboratively across divisions, central services, Practice Plan leadership, School of Medicine Leadership, etc, to execute strategic initiatives designed to reduce duplication, standardize processes, and improve communication and stakeholder satisfaction. In partnership with the Vice Chair for Administration for Surgery and Urology, the position is responsible for project planning and implementation — including defining scope, resources, execution, monitoring of status and risk, quality assurance, and closure.
In addition to traditional project management, this role incorporates continuous quality improvement (CQI) methodology into departmental project work: developing and tracking key performance indicators, applying root cause and barrier analysis to underperforming processes, and partnering with clinical and administrative leadership to translate data into measurable process improvement. The Project Manager serves as a central liaison between department leadership, division heads, and external partners, and coordinates with HR, Finance, IT, and other operational functions to accomplish strategic and operational objectives.
Function/Duties of Position Project Management Develops and executes project plans for key departmental and divisional priorities, from initiation through closure, including scope, goals, deliverables, timelines, resources, and budget. Collaborates with Department of Surgery & Urology leaders from planning through project completion; serves as subject matter expert on assigned projects. Facilitates identification of key stakeholders and ensures appropriate engagement and communication throughout the project lifecycle.
Monitors and reports on project status, risk, and quality; identifies barriers and drives timely resolution to keep projects within scope, schedule, and budget. Maintains project documentation, status reports, and related correspondence using standard project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet). Develops standard work and shares best practices across divisions and central services to reduce duplication and increase value.
Quality Improvement & Performance Analytics Applies continuous quality improvement (CQI) methodology — including the Model for Improvement, root cause/barrier analysis, and PDSA-style re-measurement cycles — to project and process work. Develops and maintains dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs), and reports to track project outcomes; identifies underperforming areas and facilitates corrective action. Partners with clinical and administrative leadership to define, monitor, and benchmark quality and operational indicators tied to project deliverables.
Extracts and analyzes data (e.g., Epic Reporting Workbench, Excel) to inform process improvement recommendations and reporting to leadership. Maintains awareness of applicable regulatory and accreditation standards as they intersect with project scope and departmental initiatives. Relationship & Stakeholder Management Serves as the central point of contact between the Department of Surgery/Urology leadership, divisional leadership, School of Medicine leadership, and external partners/affiliates as determined by project needs.
Manages across cultural and structural differences within administrative and clinical teams to achieve shared goals. Coordinates cross-functional teams and work groups to identify barriers, resolve conflicts, and implement changes needed to meet project goals. Provides excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders; ensures timely response to questions and issues.
Financial Analysis & Oversight Coordinates proforma development with department/division leadership and OHSU Finance to project the financial impact of program and project work. Tracks project expenses against budget (anticipated vs. actual) and flags variances as appropriate. Financial Analysis & Oversight Coordinates proforma development with department/division leadership and OHSU Finance to project the financial impact of program and project work.
Tracks project expenses against budget (anticipated vs. actual) and flags variances as appropriate. Leadership & Professional Development Participates in activities that enhance knowledge and ability to perform assigned work (training, seminars, staff meetings, professional literature). Engages others in a culture of collaboration and accountability for project deliverables; may provide guidance to project team members or support staff.
Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and seven years of progressively responsible program/project management experience OR Master’s degree and six years of progressively responsible experience OR Equivalent combination of education, training, and demonstrated experience 2 of the required years must include administration or oversight of an ongoing project or program. 2 of the required years of supervisory or management experience.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, self-start, and know when to escalate key issues. Demonstrated ability to utilize Smartsheet (or similar tool) for operational processes and reporting. In-depth understanding of project management and program development; understanding of health care systems.
Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Superb organizational skills and the ability to manage cross-functional teams. Advanced Excel skills and data analysis / dashboard development skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to develop concise, executive-ready communications and presentations. Ability to interact with all levels of management, including executive leadership. Conflict resolution experience; adaptability and ability to thrive in a collaborative, matrixed environment.
Customer-focused with strong service orientation.
Master’s degree in Healthcare Management, Public Health or Business Administration. 7 years of progressive project/program management experience, preferably in a health care setting. Coursework in CAP, Lean, or Six Sigma. Experience in Lean/Agile/Scrum/Kanban environment.
Experience in applying continuous quality improvement (CQI) methodology, including root cause analysis and the Model for Improvement Project management experience in an academic medical center or surgical services environment. Project management experience in an academic medical center or surgical services environment. Proficiency and familiarity with Epic and other OHSU systems and processes (e.g., Epic Reporting Workbench, Cognos, Webi) Experience developing KPI dashboards and performance/quality reporting Knowledge of regulatory/accredition standards (e.g;, DNC, TJC) as they relate to project scope.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Lean Six Sigma training/certification. Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) or Certified Professional Health Risk Management (CPHRM), if QI adjacent scope is included.
Why apply to OHSU? We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research.
We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome.
OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu
40 hours per week