Director of Inpatient Advanced Practice Providers, Neurosurgery
| Req Number: | GKLO45 |
| Location: | Albuquerque, NM |
| Posted: | 1/29/2026 |
| Category: | Life Sciences/Healthcare : Hospital/Health Systems |
| Job Type: | Permanent |
Position Overview
APPLY NOW
The Director, Inpatient Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) for Neurosurgery serves as the senior operational and clinical leader for the neurosurgical APP service line at University of New Mexico Hospital, the state’s only Level I Trauma Center and academic medical center. This role is responsible for leading, integrating, and advancing a high-acuity neurosurgical APP program that spans inpatient care, critical care, operative services, and ambulatory practice.
This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the highest-acuity neurosurgical APP teams in the region while maintaining an active clinical footprint. The Director partners directly with the Chair of Neurosurgery, Executive Director of Inpatient APPs, faculty leadership, and health system stakeholders to drive service line strategy, workforce integration, clinical excellence, and cultural transformation.
The service line supports approximately 2,000 neurosurgical cases annually, with ~70 percent trauma, a strong mix of elective and non-elective neurosurgery, and a 24-bed collaborative Neuro ICU. APPs are fully integrated across ICU, inpatient, OR, and clinic environments, practicing at the top of their licensure in a team-based academic model.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Integration
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for a 22-member neurosurgical APP team (employed and locum providers)
- Maintain active clinical practice within neurosurgery (clinic, inpatient rounding, and/or ICU coverage)
- Lead APP integration across Neuro ICU, inpatient neurosurgery, OR first-assist services, and ambulatory clinics
- Partner with neurosurgery faculty to optimize team-based care models and service coverage structures
- Support high-acuity care delivery in trauma, neurocritical care, spine, cranial, tumor, and endovascular services
Operational & Workforce Management
- Oversee complex staffing, scheduling, and coverage models across multiple employment structures and payroll systems
- Ensure reliable shift coverage, particularly for high-acuity night coverage and trauma services
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, retention, and professional development strategies
- Manage performance management, conflict resolution, and interdisciplinary team dynamics
- Build sustainable staffing models aligned with clinical volume, acuity, and residency expansion
Strategic Partnership & Change Leadership
- Partner directly with the Chair of Neurosurgery and senior leadership on long-range service line planning and growth strategy
- Play a central leadership role in UNMH’s transition to a modern, integrated, team-based model aligning APPs, residents, and faculty
- Lead cultural transformation efforts focused on collaboration, accountability, communication, and shared governance
- Serve as a change agent in a complex academic environment undergoing structural and operational evolution
Education, Quality & Academic Mission
- Support the expanding neurosurgery residency program and evolving resident-APP integration model
- Promote clinical excellence, quality improvement, patient safety, and evidence-based practice
- Serve as a clinical and educational resource for APPs, residents, nurses, and interdisciplinary teams
- Contribute to research, education, and academic mission advancement
Clinical Environment
- Neurosurgery volume: ~2,000 cases annually
- Trauma: ~70 percent of total volume
- Case mix: ~50 percent spine / ~50 percent cranial
- Neuro ICU: 24-bed collaborative unit
- Daily neuro census: 25–50 patients
- Service scope: trauma, neurocritical care, tumor, spine, cranial surgery, endovascular services
- APP integration: ICU, OR first-assist, inpatient, clinic (11 clinics per week staffed by APPs)
Ideal Candidate Profile
Required Background
- NP or PA with strong neurosurgery and/or neurocritical care experience
- Experience in high-acuity academic or tertiary care environments
- Deep understanding of service coverage models, multidisciplinary care teams, and complex clinical operations
Leadership Competencies
- Proven leadership experience in APP or clinical program management
- Ability to operate at both tactical and strategic levels
- Skilled in change management, culture building, and team integration
- Strong communicator with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics
- Decisive, persuasive, resilient leader comfortable leading through transformation
Personal Attributes
- High emotional intelligence and resilience
- Comfortable in ambiguity and complexity
- Strategic thinker with operational discipline
- Trusted relationship builder across clinical, academic, and administrative teams
Why This Role Is Unique
- Rare .7 administrative / .3 clinical leadership model
- High-acuity academic neurosurgery environment
- Real authority and mandate for structural change
- Direct partnership with department chair and executive leadership
- Opportunity to build a new culture and care model
- Visibility, influence, and long-term leadership growth potential
- One of the most autonomous and advanced APP practice environments in the region
******
Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.
Apply
APPLY NOWSimilar Jobs
| Title | Location | Date Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Director of Radiology Baltimore, MD Jan 7, 2026 | Baltimore, MD | Jan 7, 2026 |
| Director of Advancement Bellevue Hill Jan 21, 2026 | Bellevue Hill | Jan 21, 2026 |
| Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers Reston, VA Nov 19, 2025 | Reston, VA | Nov 19, 2025 |
| Director of Early Childhood Partnerships & Innovation Flint, Michigan Nov 21, 2025 | Flint, Michigan | Nov 21, 2025 |
| Chief Administrative Officer / Director of Operations Baltimore, MD Feb 1, 2026 | Baltimore, MD | Feb 1, 2026 |
| National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care - Director of NIC Academy Annapolis, MD Oct 16, 2025 | Annapolis, MD | Oct 16, 2025 |
| Vice President of Events Greater Michigan Nov 14, 2025 | Greater Michigan | Nov 14, 2025 |
| Vice President of Advancement St. Bonaventure, NY Dec 27, 2025 | St. Bonaventure, NY | Dec 27, 2025 |
| Chair, Department of Neurology Houston, Texas Jan 7, 2026 | Houston, Texas | Jan 7, 2026 |