The Director, Referral Optimization, has primary accountability for optimizing the referral process to maximize organ donation opportunities and assumes responsibility for referral response, referral suitability, clinical assessment, and referral management.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provides oversight and participates in the planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of all aspects of referral and clinical assessment, and referral management.
• Supports LifeCenter Northwest’s (LCNW) Administrator-on-Call (AOC) and Resource Triage Coordinator (RTC) by providing consultations as needed, addressing referral response and prioritization, donor evaluation, organ suitability, and referral case management.
• Provides rotational administrative on call support for escalated referral and donor optimization situations.
• Participates in the development of the organization’s key performance indicators (KPI) focusing on increasing LCNW’s organ donation and transplantation rates.
• Is responsible in partnership with Clinical Operations leadership for development and implementation of the Organ Donation Services (ODS) strategic plan and ensures the initiatives are carried out to achieve KPI’s.
• Collaborates with the Director, Quality & Regulatory Affairs (QRA) to collect and analyze the data necessary to monitor and improve organ donation systems and processes.
• Works in concert with LCNW’s Medical Director and Medical Advisors to develop effective referral management protocols aimed at optimizing donation opportunities, with focus on medical suitability and health care team collaboration.
• Routinely reviews performance metrics and recommends changes in systems, policies, and procedures to maximize the performance of LCNW’s organ donation program.
• Ensures compliance with Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) standards and policies as well as all hospital, state, and federal policies for donation.
• Analyzes and recommends changes in organ donation systems, policies and procedures and ensures their implementation.
• Critically examines and identifies opportunities for improvement; leads performance improvement initiatives in collaboration with other members of the LCNW leadership team.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates strategic and departmental plans focused on optimizing referral suitability and management.
• Serves as a change agent for the organization by leading and/or directing process improvement initiatives aimed at increasing efficiency and effectiveness, cost containment, cost reduction, and improved outcomes. Manages the Continuous Performance Feedback program for department employees, including regular one-on-ones and personal development plans.
• Mentors and develops staff using a supportive and collaborative approach; assigns accountability, sets objectives, establishes priorities, and monitors and evaluates results.
• Provides effective coaching to engage, support, and motivate staff to realize their greatest potential in service of LCNW’s mission.
• Participates in and provides supervision and guidance to the management team regarding LCNW’s annual budget process, providing administrative and fiscal oversight of departmental budgets within Organ Donation Services.

Training Responsibilities

• Promotes a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Develops and implements training plans for all direct reports.
• Assures adequate staffing and training of the Procurement department.
• Responsible for ensuring the educational development of the leadership team members who report directly to this position.
• Manages effective training, documentation, and provides an environment for continuous learning.
• Participates in professional development activities to keep current with trends and practices in donation and healthcare.

Communication Responsibilities

• Ensures effective communication and collaboration with team personnel, management, and senior leadership.
• Is responsible for effective communication and collaboration with LCNW’s medical leadership.
• Is responsible for effective communication and collaboration with donor hospital leadership and other recovery partners to facilitate successful transplant outcomes.
• Serves as a clinical resource, which includes giving presentations to various groups.
• Works in concert with LCNW leadership, including medical leadership, to increase outcomes, reduce risk, and ensure quality processes are in place.
• Participates on regional and national committees as appropriate.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• An understanding of the hospital system environment, especially the critical care environment.
• This individual must demonstrate operating knowledge of computers with a demonstrable, intermediate-level skill (at a minimum) with email, Word, Excel, and other comparable software programs.
• This position may require the ability to operate specialized equipment, such as audio-visual equipment.
• Ability to utilize interpersonal communication skills to motivate individuals.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Effective public/professional speaking skills.
• Effective communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interact effectively and diplomatically with LifeCenter employees, hospital partners, donor families, and the public.
• Ability to be detail-oriented and maintain accuracy while meeting deadlines.
• An accommodating and flexible team approach is required and should be demonstrated at all times.

BEHAVIORAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee in this position must uphold the core values of LifeCenter; these include:

• Integrity: We are trustworthy, reliable, respectful, and accountable.
• Collaboration: We work in partnership with others, seeking to understand and be understood, and finding common ground and shared goals to build upon together.
• Courage: We take personal responsibility and face challenges head-on.
• Service: Through professionalism and dedication, we honor our commitment to serve others and our obligation to be good stewards of the gift of life.

Physical Activities/Requirements

• This position requires availability to promptly travel within and outside LifeCenter’s donor service area.
• This position requires the supervision of employees that may be in any part of LifeCenter’s donor service area.
• This position requires the ability to effectively operate phones, computers, and other office equipment.
• The individual must have the ability to communicate clearly using the English language to accurately convey information and be able to hear at normal speaking levels both in person and over the phone.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Generally, working conditions do not require exposure to hazardous materials nor extremes in health and safety hazards.  Work is normally performed in an office setting as well as other business environments, which may include remote work in a home office setting, if applicable
• This position is required to follow hospital immunization, health screening, and background check requirements. Immunizations and tests will be provided by LifeCenter as required.
• The employee is required to move up to 25 pounds with or without assistance.

ANTICIPATED WEEKLY TIME COMMITMENT

This position requires on-call availability, evening, and weekend work.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Registered Nurse, Physician’s Assistant, or other relevant health care practitioner
• Bachelor's degree required; master’s degree strongly preferred
• Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator (CPTC) preferred
• At least 8 years of relevant work experience in organ and/or tissue donation with at least 5 years of leadership experience
• Must possess valid state or federally issued identification suitable for air travel

LifeCenter Northwest offers medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and travel accident insurance. Employees have the option of enrolling in the following supplemental or voluntary plans: life insurance, short-term disability, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness coverage and pet insurance. Employees enrolled in our 403(b) program will receive an employer match of up to 7% after one year, employees are auto enrolled at 3% and may change their enrollment at any time. LifeCenter encourages all employees to find balance and well-being and provides all employees access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and provides a quarterly Wellness Reimbursement. Employees enjoy paid holidays throughout the calendar year and earn 119 hours of PTO annually (to start) as well as Health Time Off hours that is earned 1 hour per 30 worked, paid living donor leave, two weeks paid jury duty leave after 6 months of service, and three weeks of paid parental leave after one year of service is complete. A comprehensive review of benefits can be found at https://lcnw.org/about/employment-opportunities/.   

The pay range for this role is $140,000 - $210,000. Where a candidate’s compensation falls within this range is based on several bona fide factors such as experience, tenure, and other specialized knowledge. LifeCenter Northwest is committed to providing its employees equitable and competitive compensation.  
This position is eligible for additional compensation to the base pay rate in the form of the Management Incentive Compensation Program.  

LifeCenter Northwest is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.