The Senior Operations Specialist leads performance monitoring and sustainment efforts across ministries to ensure alignment with One CHRISTUS operational standards and performance expectations. This role sets and manages priorities to maintain strategic initiatives in sustainment, proactively identifying risks through advanced data analysis, process evaluation, and cross-functional engagement.
The Senior Specialist applies critical thinking to lead root cause investigations, recommends corrective actions, and escalates systemic deviations to senior leadership when necessary. This position serves as a coaching ministry leader and collaborates with clinical, operational, and analytical teams to reinforce high performance and consistent execution.
The Senior role serves as an SME because of their high level of expertise in operational metrics and process improvement methodologies, and the ability to influence across all levels of the organization. This position deals with highly sensitive and confidential information.
Responsibilities:
Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
Develops and maintains trusted, collaborative relationships with leaders, physicians, associates, and cross-functional teams to promote operational excellence and sustainment of One CHRISTUS standards.
Leads performance monitoring and sustainment activities across ministries, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and operational standards.
Utilizes data analysis and process evaluation to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement, translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
Facilitates and supports root cause investigations, working with stakeholders to develop and implement corrective actions that achieve sustainable results.
Applies appropriate process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) to identify opportunities for efficiency, waste reduction, and improved performance outcomes.
Coordinates and oversees improvement initiatives, managing priorities, timelines, and stakeholder engagement while adapting to project scope and available resources.
Prepares and delivers clear, concise reports, visualizations, and presentations to communicate performance insights and recommendations to diverse audiences, including executives and ministry leaders.
Provides guidance, coaching, and mentorship to Operations Specialists and other team members, fostering the consistent use of PET tools, methods, and sustainment practices.
Collaborates with operational, clinical, and analytical teams to ensure that performance improvement strategies are realistic, data-informed, and aligned with enterprise priorities.
Escalates unresolved or systemic performance deviations to senior leadership for further review and intervention.
Benchmarks and research industry and market trends to inform ongoing improvement strategies and sustainment plans.
Participates in special projects and performs other job duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
Education/Skills
Master?s degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Industrial Engineering, or a related field required.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite Tools: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Project, and Outlook
Proficient with Lean and Six Sigma methodologies
Ability to work full-time in a hospital, clinic, or office environment
Ability to work with all levels of associates across the organization
Exceptional teaching, speaking, and interpersonal communication skills
Bilingual, English/Spanish is preferred
Experience
Minimum 5 years of professional experience in a healthcare setting
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications
Lean Green Belt, Six Sigma Green Belt, or Lean-Six Sigma Green Belt required
Lean Black Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt, or Lean-Six Sigma Black Belt preferred
In accordance with the CHRISTUS Health License, Certification and Registration Verification Policy, all Associates are required to obtain the required certifications for their respective positions within the designated time frame.
CHRISTUS HEALTH is an international Catholic, faith-based, not-for-profit health system comprised of almost more than 600 services and facilities, including more than 60 hospitals and long-term care facilities, 350 clinics and outpatient centers, and dozens of other health ministries and ventures. CHRISTUS operates in 6 U.S. states, Colombia, Chile and 6 states in Mexico. To support our health care ministry, CHRISTUS Health employs approximately 45,000 Associates and has more than 15,000 physicians on medical staffs who provide care and support for patients. CHRISTUS Health is listed among the top ten largest Catholic health systems in the United States.