Director of Surgical Services
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Seattle, WA, 98101
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : 79.83-113.71 HOUR
Date Posted : 6 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
The Director of Perioperative Services is a Registered Nurse (RN) leader responsible for the overall strategic direction, operational management, and clinical excellence of all perioperative areas. This includes, but is not limited to, the operating room (OR), pre-operative holding, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and potentially sterile processing. The Director ensures the delivery of safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care while fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment for staff. This role requires strong leadership, communication, financial management, and problem-solving skills, as well as a deep understanding of perioperative nursing practice and regulatory requirements.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Leadership and Strategic Planning:
- Develops and implements a strategic plan for perioperative services that aligns with the organization's overall mission, vision, and goals.
- Provides leadership and direction to all perioperative staff, fostering a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Operational Management:
- Oversees the daily operations of all perioperative areas, ensuring efficient patient flow, optimal resource utilization, and adherence to established policies and procedures.
- Develops and manages the perioperative services budget, ensuring financial sustainability and responsible resource allocation.
- Clinical Excellence and Patient Safety:
- Ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care in accordance with established standards of practice.
- Develops and implements policies and procedures to promote patient safety and prevent adverse events.
- Staff Management and Development:
- Recruits, hires, trains, and supervises perioperative staff.
- Conducts performance evaluations and provides ongoing feedback to staff.
- Communication and Collaboration:
- Communicates effectively with all members of the healthcare team, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians, and other staff.
- Collaborates with other departments to ensure seamless patient care transitions.
Education/Work Experience Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field, graduation from an accredited school of nursing and a minimum of six years of recent work experience in perioperative nursing that demonstrates attainment of the requisite job knowledge/abilities, including three years in a supervisory or management capacity.
Equivalent additional qualifying work experience that would demonstrate attainment of the requisite job knowledge/abilities may be substituted for two years of the degree requirement.
Licensure/Certification:
· Current licensure as a Registered Nurse by the Washington State Board of Nursing.
· Current healthcare provider BLS certification from AHA
We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
#HelloSurgicalServicesLeaders
Where You'll WorkVirginia Mason Franciscan Health brings together two award-winning health systems in Washington state CHI Franciscan and Virginia Mason. As one integrated health system with the most patient access points in western Washington, our team includes 18,000 staff and nearly 5,000 employed physicians and affiliated providers. At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you will find the safest and highest quality of care provided by our expert, compassionate medical care team at 11 hospitals and nearly 300 sites throughout the greater Puget Sound region. While you’re busy impacting the healthcare industry, we’ll take care of you with benefits that include health/dental/vision, FSA, matching retirement plans, paid vacation, adoption assistance, annual bonus eligibility, and more!
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Frequently asked questions
In Seattle, holding active RN licensure by the Washington State Board of Nursing combined with AHA BLS certification is essential. Additional perioperative certifications like CNOR can significantly enhance a candidate’s competitiveness for Director of Surgical Services positions.
Seattle’s healthcare sector is growing robustly, creating strong demand for surgical services directors. Compared to many US cities, competition here balances well due to the presence of integrated systems like Catholic Health Initiatives, offering stable opportunities in surgical leadership.
Effective communication, strategic planning, and financial management stand out as vital. A Director must inspire teamwork, oversee complex perioperative operations, and drive continuous clinical quality improvements in dynamic hospital environments.
Some believe this role is purely administrative, but it deeply involves clinical oversight, staff mentorship, and patient safety initiatives. Understanding its blend of clinical expertise and operational leadership is key to grasping the job’s full scope.
Days often blend strategic meetings, staff coordination, budget reviews, and hands-on problem-solving to ensure smooth patient flow. Balancing clinical standards with operational efficiency is a daily challenge shaping quality surgical care delivery.
In Seattle, salaries typically range from $140,000 to $180,000 annually, reflecting the region’s cost of living and healthcare market. This is slightly above the national median, recognizing the high demand and leadership responsibilities in perioperative services.
Catholic Health Initiatives provides access to a large integrated health system in Western Washington, fostering collaboration across 11 hospitals. Leaders benefit from comprehensive resources, a culture emphasizing patient safety, and competitive benefits tailored to surgical service management.
At Catholic Health Initiatives, the position emphasizes strategic alignment with mission-driven care and integrates multidisciplinary coordination across a broad network. This focus on cultural values alongside operational excellence sets it apart from more fragmented systems.
Balancing efficient OR scheduling, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering staff engagement are top challenges. Navigating these while maintaining high patient safety standards requires adaptive leadership and constant quality improvement.
Seattle’s traffic congestion and variable weather can extend commute times. Directors often consider flexible scheduling or proximity to medical campuses to maintain work-life balance amid busy perioperative management demands.