Vice President, Perioperative Nursing

Vice President, Perioperative Nursing
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)

As the Vice President, Perioperative Nursing, you will lead and evolve MSK's perioperative nursing strategy, workforce, and operations across surgical and procedural settings. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Perioperative, Procedural & Clinical Operations and dotted line to the Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive (SVP/CNE), you will translate MSK's Department of Nursing vision into execution across perioperative services.

This is a critical leadership role with oversight of nursing operations and surgical services across MSK's inpatient and procedural platforms-including the main hospital, Josie Robertson Surgery Center, regional outpatient surgical sites, and interventional procedural areas. You'll partner with cross-functional leaders to strengthen safety, optimize workflows, and ensure high-quality care experiences for patients undergoing surgery and procedures.

The ideal candidate is operationally savvy, team-oriented, and calm under pressure-able to lead through change, engage front-line teams, and deliver strong clinical and operational outcomes.

Role Overview

Strategic and Program Development

• Shape short- and long-term strategies for perioperative nursing aligned with MSK's institutional priorities.

• Develop strong relationships with leaders in surgery, anesthesia, operations, and clinical administration.

• Collaborate with the SVP/CNE to ensure nursing strategy and practice are fully aligned and consistently executed.

• Represent perioperative nursing operations in enterprise planning and surgical services governance.

Operational and Clinical Leadership

• Oversee nursing operations across perioperative, procedural, and surgical settings at all MSK sites.

• Ensure safe, high-quality, and efficient workflows that support surgical volumes and patient access.

• Determine staffing models that reflect case mix, patient acuity, and operational constraints.

• Lead cross-disciplinary coordination to support integrated surgical care and throughput.

• Support emergency preparedness planning as it relates to procedural services.

People Leadership and Development

• Guide and support a high-performing perioperative nursing workforce across diverse locations and specialties.

• Foster a culture of professional development, psychological safety, and shared governance.

• Support leaders and staff through complex change-modeling transparency and stability.

• Develop future nursing leaders and mentor high-potential team members.

Care Quality and System Outcomes

• Collaborate with surgical services, patient safety, and quality leaders to implement and monitor perioperative care standards.

• Track outcomes related to patient safety, surgical site infection prevention, experience, and staff engagement.

• Lead improvement initiatives grounded in data and frontline feedback.

• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and well-being.

Financial and Operational Stewardship

• Partner on development and oversight of perioperative nursing budgets.

• Drive resource allocation decisions that prioritize quality care, fiscal responsibility, and sustainability.

• Monitor KPIs and use data to guide staffing, scheduling, and operational decisions.

Professional Engagement and Advancement

• Stay abreast of national trends, innovations, and regulations impacting perioperative practice.

• Maintain active engagement with professional associations and peer institutions.

• Champion MSK's mission and values throughout all levels of the perioperative team.

Key Qualifications

• Direct experience as an Operating Room Nurse.

• More than 10 years of progressive nursing leadership in perioperative or procedural environments, preferably in an academic medical center or large health system.

• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing OR/procedural operations across multiple sites.

• Proven ability to drive alignment, efficiency, and safety in complex surgical settings.

• Experience supporting end-user optimization in Epic environments.

• Master's degree required; NYS and NJ RN license and ANCC Magnet-recognized certification required

• CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room) required

**We're open to candidates willing to relocate**

Core Skills and Abilities

• Deep understanding of perioperative nursing standards, regulatory requirements, infection prevention, and surgical workflows.

• Able to lead through uncertainty-balancing empathy, urgency, and accountability.

• Operationally strong: understands case scheduling, capacity management, and throughput.

• Trusted partner to surgeons, anesthesiologists, and procedural leaders.

• Skilled in engaging distributed teams and unifying practice across sites.

• Thoughtful communicator with sound judgment and practical problem-solving ability.

• Values-aligned with MSK's mission, with a focus on patient-centered care and team collaboration.

Helpful Links

• MSK's Compensation Philosophyand Benefits

• Learn more about Nursing at MSK