Project Manager, Trauma Center Programs

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a professional and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.

Summary: Responsible for the full life cycle of Performance Improvement – Patient Safety (PIPS) projects, including planning, executing, performance improvement, and implementation of each project deliverable. Sources and manages external subject matter expert panels and work groups. Ensures the goals and objectives of the projects are accurately defined and accomplished on time and within budget. Serves as a resource to project stakeholders and manages communication internally and externally. Works with staff, leadership, hospitals, and work groups to identify the needs for PI tools, and to develop and implement these tools. This position develops and implements strategies to ensure that hospitals can maximize their use of the program and is a resource to hospitals participating in the Committee on Trauma (COT) programs, as well as leadership, staff and consultants on PI matters.

This exempt position will report to the Manager, Trauma Center Programs in the Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care. It is based in our Chicago office and is a hybrid role: 3 days per week in the office/2 days per week remote.

Responsibilities:

• Project Planning & Development: Works with the Trauma Quality Program (TQP) leadership, program chairs, and project stakeholders to develop strategies related to best practices and performance improvement, and to define project needs, deliverables, scope, timing and budget. Identify resources needed to successfully complete a project, including the assembly of a team with the appropriate subject matter expertise to meet project requirements. Creates detailed project plans that specify sequencing of activities, define major tasks and milestones, and contingency plans. Assigns and schedules project steps.
• Execution: Communicates project details to team on a regular basis. Provides direction and guidance; assigns tasks and responsibilities; manages roles and resources and the day-to-day tasks of the project; monitors project work to ensure adherence to project plan. Leads meetings and prepares and delivers project reports and presentations. Leads subject matter expert panel, project leads, nurse consultant team, clinical editor, and work groups through the cycle of PIPS projects, providing guidance and direction. Ensures thorough documentation of all phases and steps of project. May produce work product to move project to the next phase. Implements project deliverables.
• Customer Support, Issue Identification, and Communication: Collaborate with Director of TQP, surgeon and staff leads, program chairs, subject matter experts, work group leads, nurse consultants and clinical editors on the writing, editing, implementation, and management of all clinical and performance improvement content, as the coordinating liaison between each role for successful process flow. Serves as main point of contact and facilitates communication, keeping all parties informed of progress throughout the project. Identifies, communicates and rectifies project-related issues, scope changes and variances that arise during the execution phase of the project. Ensures daily operations of staff, consultants, and volunteers support and stay on course for each project timeline.
• Quality and Compliance: Leads process improvement efforts on PIPS program products, SOW or MOU agreements, COT nurse consultant and nurse partner roles, responsibilities and terms, etc. Ensures that all goals are met for each PIPS program/product. Conducts program assessments and implements changes for improvements and efficiency. Ensures timely communication with project stakeholders to inform scope changes and to gain approval on any deliverable changes. Ensures project deliverables are met; interacts with stakeholders to confirm project satisfaction. Reviews project steps; identifies and communicates best practices and areas for improvement. Shares perspective on process improvements for future iterations of project or similar projects.

Required Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university is required.
• Coursework or training in project management is required.
• Lean Six Sigma and/or PMP/CAPM project management certification is a plus but not required.
• At least 4-7+ years of similar or related experience, including working with groups and/or committees and guiding them through a project, is required.
• Comfortable working with subject matter experts (such as surgeons, nurses, and other clinicians).
• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) required.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); ability to learn new software (such as Monday.com and other project management and/or process mapping tools).