Senior Director, Clinical Ethics Operations, Ascension (S.O. I)

Ascension

Ascension

Sales & Business Development, Operations
Remote
Posted on Jun 10, 2025

Details

  • Department: Mission Integration / Ethics
  • Schedule: Full Time
  • Location: Remote

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO)
Various health insurance options & wellness plans
Retirement benefits including employer match plans
Long-term & short-term disability
Employee assistance programs (EAP)
Parental leave & adoption assistance
Tuition reimbursement
Ways to give back to your community

Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance and salary range at the time of the offer.

Responsibilities

The Senior Director, Clinical Ethics Operations, Ascension, is responsible for providing ethics leadership, analysis, review and consultation that promote the fulfillment of Ascension’s Mission, Vision, Values and Identity as a Ministry of the Catholic Church. The Senior Director, Clinical Ethics Operations, fosters the development of ethics policies, processes, practices and organizational competencies, with a focus on clinical ethics, throughout Ascension. The Senior Director, Clinical Ethics Operations, has primary responsibility to provide sound ethics research, analysis, policy development, ethics education content and programs, and assist the ministry markets and health ministries of Ascension in working through the social, pastoral and clinical and organizational ethics implications of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

A. Fosters a consistent culture of Ethics throughout Ascension by assessing and supporting the quality and growth of ethics services, especially but not exclusively clinical ethics programing, and fostering the advancement of the Proactive Ethics Integration model across the Ministry Markets of Ascension.

B. Provides matrixed leadership and high level consultation support for the Directors, Ethics Integration, who supervise the Managers, Clinical Ethics, in the Ministry Markets.

C. Leads and promotes the development of Ethics competencies at all levels of the organization by developing and delivering Ethics education resources and programs, including in service of the Formation programs and initiatives of Ascension.

D. Responds to requests for ethical research, consultation, and policy review and development pertaining to Catholic moral teaching as exemplified by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, especially as applied in the clinical care setting.

E. Serves on work teams and ad hoc committees, especially but not exclusively those with a clinical focus, providing ethical leadership, research, education and analysis that promotes the integration of our Mission, Vision, Values and Ministry Identity with the operations of Ascension.

F. Promotes and facilitates use of the Organizational Ethics Discernment Process and Values-based Decision-making Process in support of decision-making that advances Ascension’s Mission, Vision, Values, Ministry Identity and Strategic Vision.

G. Maintains and develops professional research and writing skills through publications in books, newsletters and professional journals.

H. Other duties as assigned.

INTERFACING RELATIONSHIPS:

A. Collaborates with other members of the Central Ethics Unit, including the Senior Vice President, Health Care Ethics, Director, Ethics Integration II (Organizational Ethics and Church Relations), and the Executive Assistant.

B. Collaborates with the Mission Leadership Team of Ascension.

C. Represents Ascension in other ethics forums and professional associations of ethicists and theologians, especially those serving or associated with the Catholic health ministry.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties described above, the associate is regularly required to sit or stand for long periods of time. Some travel is required which necessitates handling baggage and navigating through airports. Associate is required to use a computer for extended periods of time.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

A. Reports to the Vice President, Ethics and Church Relations.

B. Supervises the Director, Ethics Integration, for the small ministry Markets that do not have an embedded Director in-market.

C. Has a dotted line supervisory relationship to the Directors, Ethics Integration, embedded within the Ministry Markets.

Requirements

Education:

  • Doctorate degree in Healthcare Ethics, Bioethics, Theology, Nursing, Medical, or Law required. AND 5 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required. 2 years leadership/management experience preferred.

Additional Preferences

A. Doctoral degree in healthcare ethics or equivalent in another related field (e.g., Law, Medicine, Theology or Philosophy), including knowledge of Roman Catholic moral theology, health law, public policy, operations and understanding of healthcare trends and issues.

B. Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively and in a complex organizational structure.

C. 5+ years of experience in the field of healthcare ethics and experience in working with management groups, Mission and Ethics leaders, and physicians.

Why Join Our Team

Ascension associates are key to our commitment of transforming healthcare and providing care to all, especially those most in need. Join us and help us drive impact through reimagining how we can deliver a people-centered healthcare experience and creating the solutions to do it. Explore career opportunities across our ministry locations and within our corporate headquarters.

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 134,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

Our Mission, Vision and Values encompass everything we do at Ascension. Every associate is empowered to give back, volunteer and make a positive impact in their community. Ascension careers are more than jobs; they are opportunities to enhance your life and the lives of the people around you.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

As a military friendly organization, Ascension promotes career flexibility and offers many benefits to help support the well-being of our military families, spouses, veterans and reservists. Our associates are empowered to apply their military experience and unique perspective to their civilian career with Ascension.

Pay Non-Discrimination Notice

Please note that Ascension will make an offer of employment only to individuals who have applied for a position using our official application. Be on alert for possible fraudulent offers of employment. Ascension will not solicit money or banking information from applicants.

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