RN Program Director, Congenital Heart

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

8/1/2026

Entity:

Wisconsin

Job Code:

801053

Job Title:

RN Program Director, Congenital Heart

FLSA Exemption Status:

Exempt

Management Level:

Manager/Program Director

JOB SUMMARY

The RN Program Director, Congenital Heart Hospital Services plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing strategies that advance the congenital heart program in pursuit of clinical excellence, programmatic growth, and care model transformation. Reporting to the Director, UWH Kids Congenital Heart, this leader is responsible for establishing, achieving, and continuously evaluating program goals that align with UW Health's strategic priorities and support the vision to become a nationally recognized leader in pediatric and congenital heart care.

This position is accountable for day-to-day operations and optimizes patient flow across inpatient, surgical, and procedural areas within the Congenital Heart program. Beyond operational excellence, the Program Director drives initiatives that enhance quality, safety, and innovation, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, humble inquiry, and respect for people. This leader will serve as a dyad partner to medical director physician leaders in areas that include, but are not limited to, pediatric cardiac critical care, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric catheterization services, pediatric and adult congenital cardiology, pediatric congenital cardiac anesthesia, and quality and safety. While the Program Director maintains programmatic oversight in key operational domains, many functions fall under other reporting structures, requiring this leader to work closely with other operational and clinical leaders to achieve program goals. The Program Director will foster a collaborative environment that supports physician engagement, shared decision-making, and multidisciplinary teamwork.

A key aspect of this role is building and sustaining strategic partnerships across health systems, ensuring seamless coordination of care and advancing collaborative efforts that improve patient outcomes and drive efficiencies. The Program Director works closely with a broad network of internal and external stakeholders—including the UW Health Kids Congenital Heart Triad, AFCH Triad, Pediatrician-In-Chief, Surgeon-In-Chief, Medical Director of UWH Kids Quality and Safety, Senior Director of Pregnancy & Newborn Services at UPH-Meriter, Children's Wisconsin's Herma Heart Institute leaders and care teams, and more—to strengthen system integration, elevate clinical performance, and support team well-being.

Through visionary leadership and strategic collaboration, the Program Director ensures that UW Health remains at the forefront of congenital heart care, delivering safe, high-quality, and innovative services to patients and families across Wisconsin, the region, and beyond.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Provides an experience and environment of patient- and family-centered care.

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Supports impact of broad scope organizational change for staff and develops change strategies for successful implementation.

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Incorporates UW Health’s vision, mission, and values in goals and programs within congenital heart inpatient, surgical, and procedural areas

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Supports the development of and assists the management of operational initiatives with measurable outcomes.

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Supports Congenital Heart and UW Health Kids objectives, goals and strategies collaboratively with other stakeholders.

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Identifies and supports opportunities to improve financial outcomes, engaging staff in the process.

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Monitors, reviews financial data to provide recommendations regarding FTE’s, staffing and operational budget.

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Supports the annual operating and capital budget process, demonstrating fiscal responsibility through meeting budget targets.

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Supports high-level strategic planning as well as the creation of operational/business plan(s).

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Advises and supports managers and other frontline personnel on day-to-day guidance to effectively allocate resources based on patient volume, space availability, budget constraints, and program priorities, goals and objectives.

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Contribute to the success of UW Health by providing leadership, direction and coordination of day-to-day operations, finances and human resources for area of responsibility.

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Leads and directs all activities within area of responsibility.

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Maintain records related to operations and services that are complete, accurate, available, and in compliance with all legal, regulatory, and policy requirements.

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Engages staff and other stakeholders in continuous improvement of systems and processes; manages resources for staff participation in improvement work activities.

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Ensures effective facilitation of improvement teams in support of identified process and quality improvement initiatives

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Organizes and prioritizes time and resources to manage efficiency. Appropriately delegates.

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Remains current of new trends and best practices and incorporates into practices and programs.

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Articulates and enforces standards for quality/safe patient care

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Develops and implements innovative systems and processes that improve staff and patient quality and safety

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Demonstrates achievable and measurable results and develop action plans for improvement

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Initiates, monitors and enforces regulatory requirements

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Holds self and others accountable to policy, standards and commitments and provides timely follow through on questions and concerns.

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Ensures development of initiatives to improve patient satisfaction and family centered care.

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Develops, implements, and monitors clinical outcome measures for quality improvement, cost and complication reduction, and the implementation of evidence-based medicine.

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Incorporates the use of evidence based practice and appreciative inquiry into program development and improvement activities

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Actively listens to staff ideas and concerns, assesses others communication styles and adapts to them.

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Effectively facilitates meetings at local and organizational level.

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Creates bi-directional systems that effectively communicate information and data, utilizing multiple methods.

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Articulates and presents data, information and ideas in a clear and concise manner.

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Communicates opinions and ideas in a nonthreatening and nonjudgmental manner to staff, peers and others.

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Communicates with physicians, academic department leaders, and senior administrators to maintain coordination with other UW Health programs.

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Demonstrates empathy and concern while ensuring goals are met.

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Manages the complex interdepartmental and interdisciplinary relationships to ensure collaboration and effective/efficient operations

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Creates an environment that encourages diverse opinion, recognizes differences and incorporates into process and services.

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Exhibits awareness of personal attitudes and beliefs, recognizing its effect on response to others.

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Creates a culture and systems for recognizing and rewarding staff.

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Creates and maintains a satisfying workplace that fosters professional growth and job satisfaction for all members of the healthcare team.

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Interviews to select top talent, matching needs with appropriate skill sets.

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Develops and implements recruitment and retention strategies that support a culture of leadership.

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Identifies and addresses own professional growth needs.

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Assesses direct reports’ development needs, identifies goals, and provides resources.

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Identifies lack of competency in performance and establishes a plan which includes goals, interventions and measures.

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Maintains membership in professional organization(s) to develop knowledge and resources through networking, continuing education, and participation in national, regional, and/or local activities.

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Ensures integration of ethical standards and core values into everyday work activities.

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Provides opportunities to aspiring clinicians and leaders to develop skills to meet career goals.

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Contributes to a learning environment by providing educational and research experiences to students, residents, fellows, and faculty.

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Leads and/or serves on a variety of appropriate internal and external committees to represent inpatient, surgical, and procedural congenital heart services across the UW Health system of care.

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Serves as a representative of inpatient, surgical, and procedural congenital heart services to UW Health in order to facilitate the shared interests and relationship between the parties.

As needed, additional responsibilities reasonably within the scope of duties and physical requirements may be assigned.  ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE COMMITTMENTS.

X

Non-Clinical

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's Degree

In Nursing

Required

Master's Degree

In Nursing, Healthcare, Administration or related field

Preferred

Doctorate Degree

In Nursing or related field

Preferred

2 years

Relevant experience in healthcare operations supervisory/management or program leadership or three (3) years of progressive relevant leadership experience

Required

5 years

Progressive, relevant supervisory/management or program leadership experience

Preferred

3 years

Clinical experience caring for cardiac populations

Preferred

Has held an administrative position in a large academic or complex health system

Preferred

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact

Upon Hire

Required

Basic Life Support/CPR

Upon Hire

Required

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

Preferred

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Preferred

Relevant clinical certification

Preferred

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED PER UW HEALTH POLICY. 

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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to include the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts and build teams.

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Demonstrated creativity and flexibility.

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Ability to operate in high-pressure situations.

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Excellent organizational skills.

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Demonstrated innovative approach to problem resolution.

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Ability to work collaboratively across UW Health entities and disciplines. Demonstrated commitment to patient- and family centered care.

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Demonstrated effective managerial and administrative leadership of clinical operations

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Ability to recognize personal strengths and weaknesses and develop goals for professional growth and achievement.

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Ability to demonstrate a commitment to quality and excellence.

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Effective leadership abilities

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Ability to implement change in a positive, sensitive and forward- thinking manner

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Planning and problem solving

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Developing goals and objectives, and establishing priorities

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Inspires confidence, appropriate risk taking and achievement of high standards

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Self-starter with a willingness to try new ideas

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Positive, can-do attitude coupled with a sense of urgency

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Good judgment and ability to act decisively at the right time

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Ability to persuade others and develop consensus

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Effective communication skills both in written and verbal presentation with a communication style that is open and fosters trust, credibility and understanding.

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Ability to effectively collaborate and promote teamwork

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Ability to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction including employees, patients, visitors, faculty, referring physicians and external stakeholders

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Ability to create win/win solutions and relationships

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

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Sedentary: Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Up to 10 lbs.

Negligible Weight

No Weight

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Light: Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that they can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

11-25 lbs.

1 - 10 lbs.

Negligible weight

☐

Medium: Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that they can also do sedentary and light work.

26-50 lbs.

11-25 lbs.

1 - 10 lbs.

☐

Heavy: Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. If someone can do heavy work, we determine that they can also do medium, light, and sedentary work.

51-100 lbs.

26-50 lbs.

11-25 lbs.

☐

Very Heavy: Very heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more. If someone can do very heavy work, we determine that they can also do heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work.

Over 100 lbs.

Over 50 lbs.

Over 25 lbs.

Other - list any other physical requirements or bona fide occupational qualifications not indicated above:

Over 50 lbs.

UW Health does not require, nor does it expect that its employees lift more than 50 lbs unassisted. Objects in excess of 50 lbs should be lifted or moved with mechanical means or through a team lift. Employees in patient care areas are expected to utilize mechanical lifts and adhere to the "Use of Mechanical Lifts (Liko)" policy in the Patient Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.

THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT AN APPROVED ACCOMODATION. Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.