Join Our Award-Winning Emergency Services Team at UPMC Hamot!

Are you a dynamic and visionary nursing leader ready to make a meaningful impact? UPMC Hamot, a Magnet-designated hospital and home to the largest Emergency Department in the Erie region, is seeking a dedicated Director of Emergency Services to lead our exceptional team. Our Emergency Department is nationally and internationally recognized for excellence in patient care, innovation, and leadership — including the prestigious Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award.

If you are passionate about driving clinical excellence, fostering collaborative teams, and improving patient outcomes in a fast-paced, trauma-focused environment, we want to hear from you!

Position: Director, Emergency Services

Reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer, the Director of Emergency Services will collaborate closely with nursing and physician leadership to coordinate, implement, and monitor clinical operations and patient care delivery across the Emergency Department and all associated Emergency Services, including the Clinical Decision Unit and Observation Unit.

This role ensures appropriate resource allocation to meet patient care needs and holds accountability for achieving quality patient outcomes through continuous improvement of clinical and operational processes. Key priorities include capacity management and throughput, reducing boarder hours, and enhancing the patient experience. This position is based in a medium to large hospital with typically over 20,000 patient visits per year.

Responsibilities

Healthy Workforce

Foster productive working relationships by building and mentoring teams through positive communication and trust.

Create transparency, clarify expectations, and integrate all team members while valuing diversity and inclusion.

Identify and implement best practices to maximize efficiency and eliminate duplication.

Professional Practice

Promote a culture of patient-centered care within the framework of Relationship-Based Care.

Engage in professional organizations to support growth and collaboration locally and regionally.

Support continuous improvement in patient, caregiver, and physician satisfaction.

Ensure programs operate within defined scopes of practice and job descriptions.

Develop and evaluate clinical systems to support comprehensive patient and family care.

Assist with annual budget development and oversee budgets related to staffing, expenses, and capital.

Quality & Innovation

Collaborate with clinical and administrative teams to identify opportunities for improving quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

Analyze clinical variance trends and guide programmatic improvements.

Champion evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives.

Lead risk assessment and reduction strategies.

Structural Empowerment

Uphold professional standards compliant with legal, ethical, and regulatory guidelines.

Support departmental and personal development through coaching and mentoring.

Share best practices across departments and campuses.

Facilitate shared governance and promote staff involvement in decision-making.

Encourage peer-to-peer accountability.

Transformational Leadership

Create and communicate a shared vision aligned with strategic goals.

Use critical thinking and data to develop and implement operational plans for Emergency Services.

Conduct SWOT analyses and share insights to inform strategic planning with senior leadership.

Address complex challenges proactively, fostering innovation and growth.

Adapt leadership style to team needs and developmental stages.

Promote cross-functional collaboration to drive change and program development supporting strategic initiatives.

If you have any questions about the position or would like to discuss the role in more detail, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our recruiter is available to assist you and provide more information to help you determine if this opportunity is the right fit.

To connect, simply email valencickp@upmc.edu, and we’ll be happy to schedule a time to speak with you or address any inquiries.

Join UPMC Hamot’s Emergency Services team and lead with purpose in an environment dedicated to exceptional patient care and innovation.