Director-Labor Productivity and Workforce Optimization

Location Address: 9521 San Mateo NE Albuquerque, NM 87113-2237 Summary: Presbyterian Healthcare Services (PHS) seeks a strategic, data-driven healthcare leader to serve as its inaugural Director, Clinical Labor Productivity & Workforce Optimization. This newly established enterprise role represents a unique opportunity to build and lead a system-wide function focused on one of healthcare's most critical priorities: aligning workforce resources with patient care needs while maintaining exceptional quality, safety, and financial stewardship. As labor continues to be the largest expense category for healthcare organizations, Presbyterian is creating a centralized leadership function responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive clinical labor management strategy across the delivery system. This leader will establish consistent methodologies, performance standards, governance structures, and operational practices that optimize labor utilization while supporting safe staffing and exceptional patient outcomes. Reporting to senior system leadership, the Director will serve as Presbyterian's primary expert on clinical labor productivity, workforce analytics, benchmarking, staffing optimization, and workforce planning. The role will partner closely with Nursing, Operations, Human Resources, and Finance leadership to drive sustainable workforce strategies across hospitals, ambulatory settings, and patient care departments throughout New Mexico. This is an ideal opportunity for a leader who combines deep knowledge of clinical operations and staffing practices with exceptional analytical capabilities, business acumen, and change leadership expertise. Work Arrangement: • Remote: Open to applicants in the United States, excluding CA, IL, ND, NY, OH, WA, and WY. • Hybrid (Strongly Preferred): For individuals within 60 miles of Albuquerque, in-office presence is required Tuesday through Thursday. Job Description: Enterprise Clinical Labor Strategy & Governance Develop and lead a system-wide clinical labor productivity strategy aligned with organizational, financial, operational, and quality goals. Establish a centralized workforce optimization model that creates consistency across all facilities and service lines. Serve as the primary leader supporting the PDS Labor Productivity Governance Committee. Partner with nursing and operational leadership to establish productivity standards, accountability frameworks, and workforce stewardship practices. Lead workforce forecasting and labor planning activities based on patient volumes, acuity, strategic growth, and financial goals. Provide analytical guidance regarding position control processes and staffing resource allocation. Workforce Analytics & Productivity Management Develop enterprise productivity benchmarks and performance dashboards across nursing, medical group, ancillary, and patient care functions. Monitor and analyze workforce performance indicators, identifying opportunities to improve productivity and operational efficiency. Establish consistent methodologies for measuring labor utilization and workforce performance. Deliver executive-level reporting and insights to support workforce and operational decision-making. Conduct detailed analyses of staffing models, labor costs, overtime utilization, agency staffing, vacancies, and skill-mix optimization. Premier Operations Advisor Leadership Serve as the system-wide administrator and subject matter expert for Premier Operations Advisor®. Ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy, benchmarking validation, and optimal utilization of the platform. Lead enterprise reporting processes and oversee standardized productivity scorecards and dashboards. Translate system performance data into actionable recommendations for nursing and operational leaders. Drive adoption of workforce analytics tools and productivity management practices across the organization. Clinical Benchmarking & Performance Improvement Utilize national benchmarking data to establish evidence-based productivity targets and performance expectations. Identify opportunities to improve labor utilization while maintaining high standards for patient safety and care quality. Standardize productivity metrics, units of service, and workforce performance definitions across all entities. Support initiatives aimed at reducing premium labor, agency utilization, and workforce vacancies. Develop recommendations for workforce optimization strategies that reflect the unique needs of urban, rural, and critical access settings. Workforce Education & Leadership Development Design and implement enterprise workforce productivity education programs. Coach and mentor operational leaders, managers, directors, and nursing leaders in labor management best practices. Provide consulting support to leaders seeking to improve workforce performance and staffing effectiveness. Develop educational tools, training materials, and workshops focused on workforce stewardship and productivity management. Foster organizational capability in data-driven workforce decision-making. Change Leadership & Continuous Improvement Lead organization-wide workforce optimization initiatives and transformation efforts. Facilitate executive and operational reviews of labor performance and workforce opportunities. Partner with stakeholders to identify and implement process improvements that enhance workforce efficiency. Monitor industry trends, workforce innovations, labor market conditions, and regulatory developments. Promote a culture that balances financial stewardship, workforce engagement, and patient-centered care. Success Measures Within the first 12–24 months, the Director will be expected to: Successfully establish and operationalize a centralized clinical labor productivity function across the Presbyterian Delivery System. Create and implement standardized labor productivity metrics, reporting frameworks, and governance processes across all facilities. Improve visibility into workforce performance through enterprise dashboards, scorecards, and analytics. Reduce premium labor and agency spend through targeted workforce optimization initiatives while maintaining safe staffing standards. Improve clinical labor productivity performance relative to national benchmarks and internal targets. Strengthen workforce forecasting and labor planning capabilities across nursing, ancillary, and patient care departments. Increase leadership capability and accountability through comprehensive workforce management education and coaching programs. Enhance utilization and adoption of Premier Operations Advisor as the organization's single source of truth for labor productivity. Deliver measurable financial improvements through labor expense optimization while protecting quality, safety, and patient experience outcomes. Establish trusted partnerships with clinical, operational, finance, and human resources leaders throughout the enterprise. Additional Job Description: Education Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Finance, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master's degree (MSN, MBA, MHA, or related discipline) preferred. Knowledge & Work Experience Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience. Significant experience in clinical labor productivity, nursing operations, workforce analytics, healthcare finance, or clinical decision support. Demonstrated success leading labor productivity initiatives across multiple facilities or system-wide environments. Strong understanding of clinical staffing methodologies, productivity management, workforce planning, and labor benchmarking. Experience utilizing workforce productivity and benchmarking platforms, with Premier OperationsAdvisor strongly preferred. Proven track record improving labor productivity, reducing premium labor utilization, and optimizing workforce performance while maintaining quality outcomes. Experience translating complex operational, workforce, and financial data into actionable recommendations. Preferred Qualifications Active or previous Registered Nurse (RN) licensure. Clinical operations or nursing leadership experience. Experience building or centralizing a labor productivity function within a health system. Lean, Six Sigma, or process improvement certification. Experience with workforce management platforms such as UKG/Kronos, Workday, API Healthcare, or similar solutions. Knowledge of rural healthcare, critical access hospitals, and complex health system workforce models. Benefits Benefits are effective day-one (for .45 FTE and above) and include: Competitive salaries Full medical, dental and vision insurance Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) Free wellness programs Paid time off (PTO) Retirement plans, including matching employer contributions Continuing education and career development opportunities Life insurance and short/long term disability programs About Us Presbyterian Healthcare Services is a locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system of nine hospitals, a statewide health plan and a growing multi-specialty medical group. Founded in New Mexico in 1908, it is the state's largest private employer with approximately 11,000 employees. Presbyterian's story is really the story of the remarkable people who have chosen to work here. Starting with Reverend Cooper who began our journey in 1908, the hard work of thousands of physicians, employees, board members, and other volunteers brought Presbyterian from a tiny tuberculosis sanatorium to a statewide healthcare system, serving more than 700,000 New Mexicans. We are part of New Mexico's history - and committed to its future. That is why we will continue to work just as hard and care just as deeply to serve New Mexico for years to come. About New Mexico New Mexico's unique blend of Spanish, Mexican and Native American influences contribute to a culturally rich lifestyle. Add in Albuquerque's International Balloon Fiesta, Los Alamos' nuclear scientists, Roswell's visitors from outer space, and Santa Fe's artists, and you get an eclectic mix of people, places and experiences that make this state great. Cities in New Mexico are continually ranked among the nation's best places to work and live by Forbes magazine, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, and other corporate and government relocation managers like Worldwide ERC. New Mexico offers endless recreational opportunities to explore, and enjoy an active lifestyle. Venture off the beaten path, challenge your body in the elements, or open yourself up to the expansive sky. From hiking, golfing and biking to skiing, snowboarding and boating, it's all available among our beautiful wonders of the west. AA/EOE/VET/DISABLED. PHS is a drug-free and tobacco-free employer with smoke free campuses.