Director of Patient Care Services, Heart Institute

The Director of Patient Care Services for the Heart Institute provides overall leadership and management for one or more departments by developing short- and long-term departmental strategic plans and goals; developing and directing the implementation of goals, objectives, and performance standards; representing the hospital in national/regional professional organizations; and fiscal oversight for multiple cost centers. The Director, Patient Care Services also provides clinical expertise, promoting evidence-based medicine, nursing, and behavioral health and drives continuous process improvement in operational and service excellence. Finally, the Director, Patient Care Services provides leadership in managing Clinical Managers and complex or controversial patient/family issues.

More about the Heart Institute

Children's Hospital Colorado's Heart Institute is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric and congenital cardiac care, providing comprehensive services across the continuum of care. In 2025, the Heart Institute received our highest ranking yet by U.S. News and World Report - No. 2 in the nation for Cardiology and Heart Surgery among children's hospitals. This recognition reflects the unwavering dedication, expertise, and compassion of our entire team. Home to one of the region's largest pediatric heart surgery programs, performing more than 750 surgeries annually, the Heart Institute includes a state-of-the-art Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (CPCU), caring for patients from diagnosis (fetal and neonatal) through adulthood. The Heart Institute is also the home of four State -of- the- Art Cardiac Operating Rooms and three State-of-the Art Interventional Cardiac Catheterization suites. Specialized programs supported within the Heart Institute include heart transplantation, cardiomyopathies, pulmonary hypertension, adult congenital heart disease, cardiac genetic disorders, and single ventricle care. The Heart Institute is also home to a Platinum Level ECMO Center of Excellence and a comprehensive Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program, delivering advanced mechanical circulatory and cardiopulmonary support for some of the most critically ill pediatric cardiac patients. Supported by a highly skilled interdisciplinary team, innovative technology, robust mentorship and education programs, and a commitment to exceptional outcomes, the Heart Institute offers a collaborative and rewarding environment for clinicians passionate about cardiac care. Our accomplishments reflect the best of who we are - a team of many, working together in the spirit of collaboration and excellence to provide the best care possible to the patients and families we serve. Consider joining this incredible team!

• Position Status
  Full-time, eligible for benefits
• Shift
  Days, Monday-Friday (with availability for infrequent evening/night/weekend escalations as they arise)
• Salary Information
  Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience.
  Annual Salary Range (Based on 40 hours worked per week): $137,944.29 to $229,907.13

Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborates with senior leadership to identify and develop organizational objectives. Provides leadership in developing and communicating short- and long-term departmental strategic plans and goals to team leaders and team members to secure buy-in.
• Develops and directs the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and performance standards to enhance clinical practice and professional growth. Reviews, approves, and implements recommended changes to plans.
• Provides clinical expertise, promoting evidence-based medicine and nursing, to include the appropriate clinical care standards and standardized processes. Utilizes principles of patient and family centered care to ensure a seamless continuum of care for patients in collaboration with service line and other hospital leadership.
• Drives continuous process improvement in operational and service excellence while considering safety, outcomes, effectiveness, and cost, along with the impact on the delivery of services. Ensures the delivery of quality and safety initiatives and practices through the utilization of improvement tools and principles and industry benchmarks.
• Prioritizes and allocates staff and financial resources to achieve strategies. Utilizes resources to develop or expand operations. Ensures resources are utilized appropriately and shifts resources to meet both patient and department needs within budget restraints.
• Represents the hospital in national/regional professional organizations and in contributing to professional journals. Serves as a representative on various internal committees. Fosters collaborative relationships to assure integration of services.
• Interprets, explains, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards and hospital policies, procedures, and rules to managers and employees.
• Reviews and approves performance metrics established by managers. Works with Clinical Managers to achieve department outcomes, performance and professional development standards; identifies opportunities for continual improvement to performance standards.
• Resolves escalated, complex, or controversial operational and patient/family issues, making decisions that are inclusive of multiple perspectives and solves underlying problems.
• Selects, trains, develops, and evaluates subordinate managers and team members. Champions educational programs in collaboration with the professional development department, nurse managers, and medical directors. Mentors and coaches departmental leaders with consideration of leadership development and succession planning.
• Makes decisions on hiring, terminations, promotions, and disciplinary actions as required.
• Develops and monitors the budget for multiple cost centers to ensure compliance with organizational financial goals. Utilizes financial data evaluate existing programs and formulate a business plan to develop new programs/services.
• By position, collaborates on the development of comprehensive planning, strategic growth and competence alignment for site based clinical matrix operations. Collaborates on performance and management expectations for all operation metrics areas pertaining to staff engagement and service excellence.
• By position, provides relationship management and partnership with Physician Relations and referring providers in sustaining and growing market share across the Network of Care.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degrees
  • Master's degree in Nursing or Advanced Respiratory Care or a directly related health care field. Master of Arts or Master of Science in behavioral health related filed if area of specialty is Behavioral Health.
• Experience
  • Minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience in addition to a minimum of three (3) years of clinical leadership experience.
• Licenses & Certifications
  • Current licensure as a Registered Nurse or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) in the State of Colorado is required at the time of hire.
  • State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Psychologist if area of specialty is Behavioral Health.
  • Certification as a Nurse Executive, Nurse Executive Advanced, or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) is required within two (2) years of hire if that is area of specialty

Benefits Information
Here, you matter. As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, company provided life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, 403b employer match (retirement savings), a robust wellness program, and access to professional development tools, including an education benefit to help you advance your career.

As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.

Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.

EEO Statement
It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information. The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.