Vascular Program Manager - UI Heart and Vascular Center

No Nights, Weekends or Holidays!

The UI Heart and Vascular Center is seeking a Vascular Program Manager to lead and oversee key aspects of the vascular surgery service line, including referral management, clinical throughput, patient satisfaction, staff engagement, quality/safety initiatives and strategic growth planning. 

This position will work closely with vascular surgeons, administrative leaders, and clinical leadership to support the delivery of safe, timely, and efficient patient care. Responsibilities include direct supervision of clinical and technical staff, including nurses, clinical support personnel, and vascular imaging technologists. The manager will oversee the coordination of care, ensure adherence to best practices, and promote clinical education to maintain high standards of care.

This position will directly report to the HVC Administrator with dotted lines to HVC Associate Director for nursing and the HVC Imaging Manger to ensure alignment across imaging services.

The Vascular Program Manager will ensure all team members are equipped with the education, tools, and resources needed to meet performance goals and deliver exceptional patient care. This role will be accountable for optimizing workflows, ensuring patient education and communication are completed within established timelines, and upholding a culture of continuous improvement.

We are the best heart hospital in Iowa

UI Heart & Vascular Center is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the best hospital in the state for cardiology and heart surgery patient care. The best hospitals nationally received this rating based on patient outcomes, number of high-risk patients seen, patient experience, advanced clinical technologies, and more.

Being a Nurse in the Heart and Vascular Center

Position Responsibilities

Quality Assurance & Clinical Excellence

• Identify trends, set quality assurance (QA) priorities, and develop clinical quality standards.
• Collaborate with clinical and departmental leadership to design and refine workflows that enhance patient safety, efficiency, and quality of care.
• Develop, implement, and monitor action plans to improve patient satisfaction.
• Formulate, review, and revise policies to ensure compliance with professional standards of practice and institutional guidelines.
• Oversee maintenance of standard procedures and quality assurance in all aspects of patient communication (e.g., Epic notes, phone calls, voicemails, emails).
• Review and coach staff on administrative and clinical errors following Just Culture principles and institutional expectations.

Operational Leadership

• Oversee daily operations to ensure seamless coordination across clinical, surgical, and imaging services within the Heart and Vascular Center (HVC).
• Collaborate with HVC leadership, including nursing and imaging teams, to align resources with quality and productivity goals.
• Monitor and manage clinical staffing needs, schedules, and unexpected absences to ensure uninterrupted patient care.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Utilize management principles and tools to support smooth unit operations and staff performance.

Patient Care Continuum Optimization

• Coordinate the full continuum of vascular surgery patient care—from referral intake through outpatient assessment, procedural care, and inpatient transitions.
• Communicate effectively with physicians, staff, patients, and families to ensure optimal care experiences and resolution of concerns.
• Design and implement innovative, multidisciplinary care models to promote efficiency and effectiveness.

Staff Development & Supervision

• Recruit, hire, onboard, and manage performance of unit staff in partnership with HVC Human Resources.
• Develop a high-performance team environment through coaching, education, and performance evaluation.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and professional growth across clinical and support staff.

Strategic & Financial Planning

• Participate in departmental strategic planning and contribute to the implementation of new services, technologies, and initiatives.
• Provide resource estimates for new services, including staffing, supplies, and equipment.
• Analyze and manage budget variances; recommend cost-effective strategies and monitor unit operating expenses.
• Apply performance management systems to improve individual, team, and organizational outcomes.

Other Expectations

• Remain available outside standard business hours to address clinical or operational needs.
• Oversee the management of staff leave in ELMS, including approvals, corrections, and scheduling adjustments.
• Monitor and ensure staff compliance with required certifications, education, and institutional deadlines.

University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®