System Director - System Operations Center (Staffing and Scheduling)

Fairview Health Services•St. Paul, MN

About The Position

The System Director, SOC Staffing & Scheduling provides system-level leadership for the design, optimization, and execution of staffing and scheduling operations across Fairview. Reporting to the VP, System Operations Center, this role translates enterprise staffing strategy into scalable operational models, workforce analytics, and technology-enabled solutions. The director partners with clinical, operational, finance, and IT stakeholders to advance data-driven staffing models, workforce forecasting, and scheduling optimization in support of labor performance, patient flow, and care delivery outcomes. The role helps advance a coordinated, predictive System Operations Center. The position leads workforce strategy execution and optimization; integrates staffing and scheduling with SOC workflows and patient flow operations; oversees workforce analytics, financial forecasting, and performance management; and partners with IT and Data & Analytics on staffing systems and data infrastructure. It also provides system-level leadership to managers, analysts, and staffing leaders; supports workforce capability development and change management; and collaborates with senior clinical, finance, HR, and operational leaders. The director is responsible for communication, complaint resolution, conflict management, committee participation, regulatory and policy compliance, labor relations, and maintaining a supportive work environment focused on service excellence, customer needs, employee engagement, inclusion, patient care, quality, and nursing professionalism.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare, or a related field.
Seven years of progressive leadership in healthcare operations, workforce management, or staffing strategy.
Progressive responsibility in resource financial management and/or staffing leadership experience.
Broad knowledge of evidence-based staffing models and infrastructure supporting frontline involvement.
Ability to manage large-scope initiatives, including gap analysis and assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Excellent organizational skills and knowledge of clinical areas, needs, and skills required in each organizational department.
Computer, problem-solving, and excellent communication skills.
Knowledge of labor union contracts.
Experience leading in a complex, highly matrixed health system environment.

Nice To Haves

M.A. or M.S. in business or a healthcare-related field.
Experience with rural healthcare operations and workforce variability.
Background in healthcare finance, analytics, or performance improvement.
Current Minnesota RN license.

Responsibilities

Operationalize system-wide staffing strategies in alignment with SOC and enterprise priorities.
Develop and implement predictive staffing models aligned to patient demand, acuity, and flow.
Lead short- and long-term workforce forecasting and capacity planning across care settings.
Standardize staffing models and scheduling practices across hospitals and service lines.
Integrate staffing and scheduling operations with SOC workflows and patient flow operations.
Partner with the transfer center, nursing leadership, and operations to support dynamic staffing aligned with demand.
Identify system barriers and lead cross-functional solutions to improve staffing effectiveness.
Support real-time and proactive workforce management approaches.
Lead development of labor productivity models, financial forecasts, and variance analysis.
Design and maintain enterprise workforce analytics and reporting infrastructure.
Provide executive leadership with insights on labor cost, productivity, and staffing utilization.
Partner with Finance to align staffing models with budget targets and financial performance goals.
Partner with IT and Data & Analytics to optimize staffing and scheduling technologies, dashboards, and tools.
Drive adoption and optimization of workforce management systems, including UKG, Kronos, and MyTime.
Ensure data integrity, interoperability, and real-time decision-support capabilities.
Evaluate and implement technologies to improve workforce efficiency and scalability.
Provide system-level leadership to managers, analysts, and staffing leaders across SOC staffing functions.
Build operating discipline through standard work, accountability structures, and performance management.
Develop workforce capabilities in analytics, forecasting, and staffing operations.
Support change management and adoption of new staffing models and technologies.
Serve as a key operational partner to the VP SOC, CNOs, Finance, HR, and operational leaders.
Lead or co-lead staffing optimization initiatives and system workgroups.
Support labor relations strategies and compliance with contractual requirements.
Build partnerships across acute, ambulatory, and rural sites.
Communicate clearly in writing and verbally, seek clarification, investigate and respond appropriately to complaints, take corrective action when necessary, identify and resolve interpersonal or professional conflicts, and participate in committee assignments.
Maintain familiarity with union contracts and participate in grievance resolution as applicable; remain aware of TJC, Department of Health, and licensure requirements; evaluate, develop, and revise clinical systems to assure regulatory compliance; and promote effective labor relations policies.
Develop and maintain a healthy, supportive work environment and demonstrate service excellence in interactions with patients, visitors, physicians, and employees.
Listen to customers, anticipate needs including cultural needs and preferences, act to meet and exceed customer needs, and implement strategies to improve customer satisfaction.
Model appreciation and acceptance of differences, provide a welcoming and supportive environment, and take action to enhance employee engagement.
Build credibility with medical staff as a champion for patient care, quality, and nursing professionalism.