Director-Operational Excellence

IU Health • Indianapolis, IN

2d

About The Position

Our leaders shape strategic initiatives, develop passionate teams, and work to improve health outcomes. They advance our mission and exemplify excellence, compassion, teamwork and purpose in all that they do. Indiana University Health is seeking individuals who embody these values to join our leadership team in the role of Director of Operations Excellence.

The Director, Operations Excellence leads the advancement of IU Health’s operational performance by driving strategic initiatives and building a high-performing Ops Excellence team. This role is responsible for developing talent, establishing priorities, and executing the IU Health operating model across assigned facilities or regions.

The Director partners closely with physicians, senior leaders, finance, and cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements that enhance quality, safety, patient experience, and financial performance. Leveraging Lean, project management, change management, and data-driven methodologies, this role ensures the effective design, execution, and continuous improvement of operations.

This leader plays a critical role in shaping and scaling a culture of continuous improvement—proactively identifying opportunities, prioritizing high-impact initiatives, and delivering measurable results that meet or exceed performance goals. The Director also integrates services across the organization and supports emerging care delivery models to drive high reliability and operational excellence.

Additionally, the role champions the adoption of process improvement principles across the organization, serving as a coach and facilitator to build capability and sustain impact. In partnership with system leadership and Transformation teams, the Director helps set strategic direction, establish standards, and is accountable for delivering results within their scope.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree is required.
• Requires 7-10 years of relevant experience.
• Requires 5+ years of management experience.
• Proven track record of driving quantifiable improvements in a complex matric organization is required.
• Must have a track record of developing project plans/road maps for implementation in a matrix organization.
• Project management experience required.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree is preferred.
• Experience in leading a multi-site/lean six sigma implementation is preferred.
• Understands theory and has demonstrated application of change management fundamentals is preferred.
• Operations experience preferred, healthcare or manufacturing experience desired.
• Experience with VSM/VSA, High Reliability Organization (HRO), SIPOC, DMAIC, is preferred.
• Additional experience in the following is desired: Scientific thinking, operating systems, Training w/in Industry (TWI), 3P, various problem-solving tools, system thinking, Just Culture, and FMEA.
• Process Improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) certification preferred; Green Belt certification or equivalent desired.

Responsibilities

• Leads the advancement of IU Health’s operational performance by driving strategic initiatives and building a high-performing Ops Excellence team.
• Develops talent, establishes priorities, and executes the IU Health operating model across assigned facilities or regions.
• Partners closely with physicians, senior leaders, finance, and cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements that enhance quality, safety, patient experience, and financial performance.
• Ensures the effective design, execution, and continuous improvement of operations by leveraging Lean, project management, change management, and data-driven methodologies.
• Plays a critical role in shaping and scaling a culture of continuous improvement—proactively identifying opportunities, prioritizing high-impact initiatives, and delivering measurable results that meet or exceed performance goals.
• Integrates services across the organization and supports emerging care delivery models to drive high reliability and operational excellence.
• Champions the adoption of process improvement principles across the organization, serving as a coach and facilitator to build capability and sustain impact.
• Helps set strategic direction, establish standards, and is accountable for delivering results within their scope in partnership with system leadership and Transformation teams.

Benefits

• Access to many diverse opportunities to learn and develop in meaningful ways that matter most to you, such as advanced clinical training, leadership development, promotion opportunities and cross training development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director