Manager, Hospital Operations

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Duke Nursing Highlights:

• Duke University Health System is designated as a Magnet organization
• Nurses from each hospital are consistently recognized each year as North Carolina's Great 100 Nurses.
• Duke University Health System was awarded the American Board of Nursing Specialties Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy for being strong advocates of specialty nursing certification.
• Duke University Health System has 6000 + registered nurses
• Quality of Life: Living in the Triangle!
• Relocation Assistance (based on eligibility)

Shift is 8P - 8A 

Occ Summary

The Operations Administrator provides on-site operational leadership for Duke University Hospital on a 24-hour basis, including weekends and holidays. Serving as the designated representative of the Chief Operating Officer, the Operations Administrator has the authority to act on their behalf in real-time decision-making and crisis response.

This role requires a high level of autonomy and judgment to manage operational challenges, ensure hospital-wide coordination, support patient care, and maintain effective communication across departments. The Operations Administrator functions as the administrative liaison for patients, families, staff, and external partners, playing a critical role in promoting safe, efficient, and responsive hospital operations.

Job Responsibility I: Operational Oversight and Interdepartmental Coordination

• Exercise sound judgment and self-sufficiency in effective problem solving.
• Intervene in situations involving patients, visitors, hospital staff, and external partners as needed.
• Coordinate operations and personnel activities to meet CSU, departmental, hospital, and health system objectives.
• Maintain communication with departmental staff to ensure adequate space and facilities for patient care.
• Support patient flow by monitoring, redirecting, and allocating appropriate resources.
• Investigate patient and visitor concerns and implement appropriate resolution strategies.
• Take immediate corrective action when required, including interpreting and enforcing hospital policies and work rules.
• Mediate and resolve interdepartmental and intradepartmental issues; facilitate communication, collaboration, and decision-making.
• Analyze data to identify and proactively manage potential or actual safety and risk management issues.
• Communicate timely and relevant information to hospital leadership, both verbally and in writing.
• Document key events, actions, and decisions, and ensure appropriate follow-up with leadership.

Job Responsibility II: Clinical Support and Patient Flow Management

• Collaborate with clinical and support teams to promote the delivery of high-quality care.
• Coordinate and triage activities in partnership with the Emergency Department, Patient Flow, and Chief Medical Officer, as needed.
• Assist staff in identifying appropriate clinical contacts for specific patient population concerns.

Job Responsibility I: Operational Oversight and Interdepartmental Coordination

• Exercise sound judgment and self-sufficiency in effective problem solving.
• Intervene in situations involving patients, visitors, hospital staff, and external partners as needed.
• Coordinate operations and personnel activities to meet CSU, departmental, hospital, and health system objectives.
• Maintain communication with departmental staff to ensure adequate space and facilities for patient care.
• Support patient flow by monitoring, redirecting, and allocating appropriate resources.
• Investigate patient and visitor concerns and implement appropriate resolution strategies.
• Take immediate corrective action when required, including interpreting and enforcing hospital policies and work rules.
• Mediate and resolve interdepartmental and intradepartmental issues; facilitate communication, collaboration, and decision-making.
• Analyze data to identify and proactively manage potential or actual safety and risk management issues.
• Communicate timely and relevant information to hospital leadership, both verbally and in writing.
• Document key events, actions, and decisions, and ensure appropriate follow-up with leadership.

Job Responsibility II: Clinical Support and Patient Flow Management

• Collaborate with clinical and support teams to promote the delivery of high-quality care.
• Coordinate and triage activities in partnership with the Emergency Department, Patient Flow, and Chief Medical Officer, as needed.
• Assist staff in identifying appropriate clinical contacts for specific patient population concerns
• Respond to RRTs, BERTs, Code Blues, First Responder events, and Code Strokes; ensure timely and accurate documentation of involvement.
• Maintain visibility on units through regular rounding and availability to staff.
• Assist in assessing and reassigning staff in response to emergent or crisis situations.
• Provide coaching and support in staff development, communication, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving. 

Job Responsibility III: Crisis Leadership and Emergency Response

• Optimize staffing, space, and equipment to maintain safe and effective hospital operations.
• Monitor and initiate emergency response protocols, including coordination of patient or staff evacuation when necessary.
• Serve as the on-site leader during internal/external disasters and significant operational disruptions.
• Assist with activation and oversight of the severe weather policy, in collaboration with the Administrative team.
• Escalate issues to the AOC (Administrator On Call) when second-level intervention is required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires graduation from an accredited master's degree program in either business or health-related fields. 

Experience

Work requires a minimum of five years of administrative experience. combined with a minimum of two years of clinical experience. OR ANY OTHER EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE; Preferred nursing experience in addition to some type of management experience. Work requires evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays - 12-hour day shifts 8A - 8P in a self-scheduling model with the scheduling being posted for 6 weeks increments. 

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

Active NC license required.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.