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Work Location: Atlanta, GA

The Director of Ethics provides system-wide leadership for the Ethics Program across Emory Healthcare (EHC), including hospitals and ambulatory sites. In collaboration with EHC leadership and the Office of Quality, this role is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive Ethics program that supports high-quality, compassionate, and ethically grounded patient care.

Role Scope and Effort Allocation

• 0.25 FTE: Protected leadership time for system-wide ethics program oversight

• Minimum 0.50 FTE: Clinical ethics consultation, including formal and informal consults

• Remaining FTE: Education, supervision, scholarship, and system-wide ethics initiatives

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Ethics Program Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and oversee a system-wide Ethics consultation service across Emory Healthcare.

• Maintain responsibility for overall program leadership, strategy, and operational oversight.

• Align ethics initiatives with the mission, vision, and strategic priorities of Emory Healthcare.

• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in ethics program delivery.

Clinical Ethics Consultation

• Provide formal and informal ethics consultations across the health system.

• Serve as the consultant of record for complex, high-risk, or ethically challenging cases.

• Support and guide other ethicists in delivering consistent, high-quality consultation services.

• Maintain active clinical ethics practice as a core responsibility.

Program Development, Innovation & Systems Integration

• Support ongoing development and enhancement of the system-wide Ethics consultation service.

• Track, evaluate, and report on the impact of ethics consultations.

• Integrate ethics workflows and documentation within the electronic medical record (EMR) system.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Supervise, mentor, and develop clinical ethicists and related staff.

• Provide performance management, coaching, and professional development opportunities.

• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

Education & Professional Development

• Develop and deliver ethics education programs across the health system.

• Lead multidisciplinary education initiatives, including Ethics Grand Rounds.

• Promote ongoing learning and awareness of ethical standards and practices.

Policy, Governance & Organizational Ethics

• Lead the development, review, and implementation of ethics-related policies, protocols, and guidelines.

• Provide ethics consultation and guidance for organizational decision-making and system-level initiatives.

• Ensure alignment with regulatory, legal, and organizational standards.

Committees & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate and support hospital-based Ethics Committees across the system.

• Collaborate with Quality, Risk Management, Legal, and executive leadership on complex ethical matters.

• Participate in interdisciplinary initiatives to support ethical clinical and operational practices.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform additional duties as assigned to support program effectiveness and organizational priorities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Master’s or doctoral degree in Ethics or a related field with a focus on healthcare ethics, clinical ethics, or bioethics required.

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in healthcare and clinical ethics.

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience providing ethics consultation to patients, families, and healthcare teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience supervising clinical ethicists or similar professionals.

• Advanced expertise in clinical and organizational ethics within complex healthcare systems.

• Strong conflict resolution, mediation, and interdisciplinary communication skills.

• Working knowledge of health law, cultural and religious considerations, and institutional policy frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

Terminal degree (PhD, MD, JD, or equivalent) in Ethics or a closely related field preferred.

Certification

Healthcare Ethics Consultation Certification (HEC-C) strongly preferred.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership within regional or national healthcare ethics organizations.

• Record of scholarly activity, including publications in clinical or healthcare ethics.

• Experience advancing ethics programs within large, complex healthcare systems.

Additional Information

• Work Type: On-Site

• Travel: Required to support various Emory Healthcare facilities and provide on-site consultation

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (Medium Max 25lbs): up to 25 lbs., 0-33% of the work day (occasionally) Lifting 25 lbs. max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs.; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure, Bio-hazardous waste chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors, Communicable diseases, Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.

Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org. Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.