Program Director-Audiology

The salary range for this position is $65.92 - $88.99 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Description

The  Program Director  reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

• The Program Director will lead planning and implementation activities for Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. This will include managing a portfolio of projects of strategic and operational importance to the organization. The Program Director will develop project work plans and performance metrics, monitor work plans and metrics to assure activities are executed on-time and on-budget, coordinate the internal and external resources to complete activities as assigned using established Process Improvement and Project Management Methodologies.  The Program Director  will effectively communicate at all levels of Management and will work closely with managers, directors and analysts to develop work plans, metrics and resources to achieve the department’s strategic goals and objectives. 

Responsibilities:

• Define and drive a systemwide Audiology strategy aligned with Northwestern Medicine’s values of Patients First, Excellence, Integrity, and Teamwork as well as to ensure alignment across all regions and service lines.
• Provide enterprise clinical leadership and governance for audiology services, establishing standards, care models, and accountability structure across all sites. Partner with leaders across multiple clinical sites, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care.
• Lead enterprise growth strategy initiatives for audiology, including new care models, service lines, technology adoption, outreach programs, and multisite expansion alignd with market and system priorities.
• Evaluate performance trends, patient access, referral patterns, and market needs to inform strategic planning.
• Serve as central strategic leader aligning clinical, academic (i.e., department leadership, physician partners, faculty, trainees) and operational stakeholder (i.e., administrative teams) to advance system-wide excellence in hearing care in terms of patient care, education, and research.
• Define and oversee system wide quality and performance-improvement initiatives; ensuring alignment with institutional benchmarks and national standards.
• Establish system-wide clinical standards, documentation, and quality measures to ensure quality, consistency, and scalability.
• Oversee financial performance of audiology services, including revenue growth, cost optimization, and capital planning.
• Drive innovation and adoption of advanced diagnostics and therapeutics to position Northwestren Medicine as the national leader in hearing care. Ensure alignment and compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations (e.g., Joint Commission, HIPAA, OSHA) by collaborating with operational leaders.
• Collaborate with Northwestern Medicine and Northwestern University faculty and investigators to develop and expand nationally recognized research program in hearing, including on clinical trials and grant activities.
• Champion the development of integrated clinical data infrastructure to enable data-driven care, outcome measurement, and research innovation.
• Represent Audiology on institutional committees and external professional organizations to influence policy, strategy, and professional standards.
• Communicate strategic priorities, operational updates, and changes in regulatory or clinical practice standards to relevant people across the system.
• Lead the workforce development and engagement strategies for the Audiologist’s across the institution and department while creating a positive, collaborative, and inclusive culture that supports diversity and professional growth.
• Complete dyad leadership training to advance strategic coordination, shared accountability, and operational excellence across the health system.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 8-10 years industry experience or Master’s degree and minimum 3 years experience.
• Strong Knowledge of Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point, Project
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills, demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills, excellent oral and communication skills, demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships with peers and constituents at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent capability to lead projects with budgets in excess of $1,000,000.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent oral and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships with peers and constituents at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated strong leadership capabilities.
• Strong skills in working with and negotiating with external vendors.

Preferred

• Doctor of Audiology (AuD) or PhD in Audiology or related-area.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA).
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in Audiology with leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced audiologic diagnostics and implantable technology.
• Strong operational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Management experience in healthcare, academic, or multisite clinical environment.
• Experience with program expansion, quality improvement, or project leadership.
• Clinical trials and research experience.

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.