At MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers and consistently ranked among the top hospitals for cancer care, we are committed to eliminating cancer through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research, and prevention. We are seeking a seasoned and strategic leader to serve as our Director of Risk Management, a critical role responsible for advancing a comprehensive, enterprise-wide risk management program that supports the institution’s mission and commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence.

This position provides executive-level oversight of risk management operations across a complex healthcare environment, with a strong emphasis on patient care risk assessment, claims management, regulatory compliance, and proactive risk reduction strategies. The Director will partner closely with clinical, administrative, and legal leadership to ensure alignment with institutional priorities, while leading a high-performing team responsible for identifying trends, mitigating risk, and driving continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.

MD Anderson offers a highly competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support the overall well-being of its employees, including fully covered medical benefits, generous paid time off, and a robust retirement program with employer contributions. In addition, employees benefit from a strong culture centered on collaboration, professional growth, and work-life balance, all within a mission-driven environment where your work has a meaningful impact on patients and families worldwide.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced healthcare risk management leader with a clinical foundation to contribute at the highest level within a globally recognized institution.

**The ideal candidate will have 8 years of experience in risk management, 7 years of management experience in a patient care risk management or quality improvement setting, a CPHRM and RN license**

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

• Responsible for managing and executing MD Anderson’s risk management program and activities throughout MD Anderson, Houston Area Locations, and off-site facilities. This includes the continued development and review of all aspects of the MD Anderson risk management program with an emphasis on patient safety.

• Creates, maintains, and updates Standard Operating Procedures relating to risk management functions.

• Ensures close collaboration with health care providers, hospital leadership, Patient Advocacy, Patient Experience, Patient Safety and Accreditation, Off-Shift Administration, Social Work, Clinical Ethics, Patient Business Services, Institutional Compliance, and other departments to timely address and successfully resolve patient care matters.

• Works closely with institutional leadership to ensure the risk management program aligns with the institution’s short- and long-term strategies, initiatives, and goals.

• Identifies and coordinates opportunities for the risk management team to collaborate with department leaders regarding targeted risk reduction activities.

• Serves as a subject matter and content expert and policy steward for risk management-related policies and procedures. Reviews other institutional policies and procedures to ensure that appropriate risk assessment and loss prevention provisions are included.

• Ensures risk management personnel are present, where appropriate, on a wide variety of institutional committees and standing meetings.

• Ensures and promotes compliance with standards issued by federal and state governments, regulatory agencies, The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the American Society for Health Care Risk Management. Stays abreast of trends, developments, and changes that may affect risk management programs throughout Harris County, Texas, and the country by maintaining professional networks, reading, and attending professional meetings and conferences.

• Responsible for identifying, organizing, and assessing accumulated risk management data for significant trends, educational opportunities, and informational indicators, and reports these to appropriate institutional leaders to implement process change, define goals, and determine the relevance of this information.

• Develops, prepares, and provides educational programs for MD Anderson health care providers regarding risk management issues.

• Responsible for completion of monthly, semi-annual, and annual claims and incident reports, case summaries, and other reports for Legal Services and various MD Anderson committees.

• Ensures sufficient resources are available for the risk management team to assist and guide health care providers and administrators on a variety of risk management topics, including standards of care, informed consent, surrogate decision makers, handling of potential claims, applicable policies, rules and regulations, insurance coverage through the UT System, and other risk-related issues.

• Directs the investigation and assessment of potentially adverse and compensable events, including potential claims by patients, visitors, or employees, property damage or loss, and other pre-litigation matters.

• Develops, maintains, and archives all pre-litigation claims and related files.

• Responsible for maintaining and overseeing processes regarding risk-related waivers, reimbursements, and settlements.

• Provides risk management support to MD Anderson representatives, Legal Services attorneys, UT System attorneys and representatives, and attorneys from other state agencies and the private sector, as requested and as appropriate.

• Directs Safe Medical Devices Act (SMDA) compliance reporting, which includes report preparation, policy development, and education.

• Provides direct supervision, whether by observation, verbal interaction, or written communication, to employees, including orientation to the Section and Department, training in new procedures, and oversight of completion of tasks and other assignments.

• Conveys institutional changes in policy, compensation, evaluation standards, or other personnel practices to employees.

• Develops an on-call schedule for the Risk Management Section to provide 24-hour coverage to assess and document potential liability claims and provide Risk Management advice daily, including weekends and holidays. Communicates this scheduling information to the switchboard page operators.

• Develops and maintains written position descriptions and standards for positions in the Risk Management Section of Legal Services and trains those employees.

• Prepares and conducts employee conferences, notices, and written performance appraisals.

• Provides sufficient cross-training to ensure continuous operation in the absence of co-workers.

• Performs other duties, as assigned and as necessary or desirable to assist the Legal Services Department.

Education

Required:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field

Preferred:
• Master’s Degree

Work Experience

Required:
• 8 years of experience in risk management, quality improvement, nursing administration, or medicine, including five (5) years of management experience in patient care risk management, quality improvement, or related fields within a large healthcare or insurance organization

• 10 years of risk management experience in a hospital setting, including at least five (5) years managing a healthcare risk management team

• Demonstrated experience working with patients, physicians, nurses, scientists, administrators, attorneys, and claims adjusters

• Direct clinical experience within a healthcare entity or hospital environment preferred

• Prior experience in a large academic medical center preferred

• Successful completion of the LEADing Self Accelerate and/or LEADing Self Discover programs may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience. Completion of both programs can be substituted for a maximum of two years of supervisory or management experience

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, paid time off, retirement, tuition benefits, educational opportunities, and individual and team recognition.

This position may be responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 113.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code and therefore may require routine reviews and screening. The ability to satisfy and maintain all requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of such infrastructure is a condition of hire and continued employment.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws unless such distinction is required by law.http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html

Additional Information