Executive Director, Emergency Department Operations The Executive Director, Emergency Department Operations provides national strategic and operational leadership for Kaiser Permanente's emergency departments and front door acute access model across the hospital system. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Hospital System Operations, this role is accountable for setting enterprise strategy, operational standards, and performance expectations for emergency department services. The Executive Director partners closely with Hospital Operations, Permanente Medical Groups, Quality, Finance, and Health Plan leaders to improve access, patient experience, quality outcomes, throughput, and affordability across 24/7 acute care environments. This position leads through influence, governance, and partnership, and serves as the systems senior operational leader and subject matter expert for emergency operations, including ED flow, alternatives to the ED, and integration across the continuum of care.
Essential Responsibilities
National Strategy & System Design:
Develops and leads a systemwide strategy for emergency department services aligned with organizational priorities, access goals, and care delivery transformation.
Defines the future state operating model for EDs and front door alternatives, including integration with inpatient, ambulatory, and virtual care.
Serves as a thought leader on industry trends, benchmarks, and best practices related to emergency services and acute access.
Operational Performance & Standardization:
Establishes enterprise standards, policies, and performance expectations for emergency departments operations.
Partners with regions and medical centers to improve patient flow, throughput, length of stay, left without being seen rates, and patient experience.
Oversees systemwide monitoring of quality, safety, access, and operational metrics for ED services.
Identifies variation in performance and leads the development of scalable best practices to drive consistent, high reliability operations.
Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Readiness:- Ensures alignment with federal, state, and accreditation requirements
- Supports readiness for regulatory surveys, audits, and trauma designation requirements in partnership with quality and compliance teams.
- Promotes a culture of patient and workforce safety, continuous learning, and just culture across all emergency settings.
Integration Across the Continuum:
Works closely with hospital operations, medical groups, and care delivery leaders to design and implement alternatives to the emergency department, including observation and care at home models.
Partners with EMS, transfer center, and bed management leaders to ensure right patient, right time, right location, and right level of care.
Strengthens coordination between EDs, inpatient units, specialty services, and ambulatory partners to improve transitions of care.
Leadership & Change Management:
Leads complex, cross functional initiatives without direct authority, influencing regional and local leaders through governance and partnership.
Acts as a change agent to support operational redesign in high acuity, high complexity environments.
Coaches and mentors emerging leaders and supports leadership development across ED operations.
Basic Qualifications
Experience:
Minimum ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare operations, including emergency department or other 24/7 acute care environments.
Education:
Bachelors or four (4) years of experience in a directly related field.
High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required.
License, Certification, Registration:
- N/AAdditional Requirements:
- Demonstrated experience leading multi site or system level clinical operations in a complex health system.
- Strong knowledge of emergency services operations, patient flow, regulatory requirements, and quality improvement.
- Proven ability to lead large scale operational change through influence and partnership.
Preferred Qualifications: Masters degree (MHA, MBA, MPH, Nursing, or related discipline) preferred.
