Director of Surgical Services Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Director of Surgical Services roles qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B visa, making employer sponsorship achievable for international candidates with a clinical or healthcare administration degree. Many large health systems actively file Labor Condition Applications for this title, and EB-2 or EB-3 green card pathways are common next steps.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: Milwaukee, WI
Facility: Columbia St. Mary's Hospital
Department: Surgical Services
Schedule: Full-time
Eligible for an annual bonus incentive
COMPENSATION
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
- Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Directs all clinical activities, patient care planning, and service delivery while resolving obstacles to uphold high standards of patient care and satisfaction.
- Establishes departmental goals aligned with medical, administrative, ethical, and legal healthcare standards.
- Oversees nursing area budgets and resource allocation to ensure continuous financial efficiency and accountability.
- Coordinates and executes internal and external clinical and operational audits to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Leads end-to-end talent lifecycle—hiring, training, and evaluating staff—while partnering with physicians and leadership to optimize operational workflows.
LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION / REGISTRATION
- Required Credential(s):
- BLS Provider obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Registered Nurse obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in nursing or diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing required. Master's degree or combination of Bachelor's degree and experience preferred.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- 5 years of experience required. 10 years of experience preferred. 2 years of leadership or management experience required. 5 years of leadership or management experience preferred.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
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.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Facility: Columbia St. Mary's Hospital
Department: Surgical Services
Schedule: Full-time
Eligible for an annual bonus incentive
COMPENSATION
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
- Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Directs all clinical activities, patient care planning, and service delivery while resolving obstacles to uphold high standards of patient care and satisfaction.
- Establishes departmental goals aligned with medical, administrative, ethical, and legal healthcare standards.
- Oversees nursing area budgets and resource allocation to ensure continuous financial efficiency and accountability.
- Coordinates and executes internal and external clinical and operational audits to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Leads end-to-end talent lifecycle—hiring, training, and evaluating staff—while partnering with physicians and leadership to optimize operational workflows.
LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION / REGISTRATION
- Required Credential(s):
- BLS Provider obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Registered Nurse obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in nursing or diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing required. Master's degree or combination of Bachelor's degree and experience preferred.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- 5 years of experience required. 10 years of experience preferred. 2 years of leadership or management experience required. 5 years of leadership or management experience preferred.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
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.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Director of Surgical Services Jobs
Align your credentials to specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires that your degree field directly relates to surgical services leadership. A clinical degree alone may not suffice if your role emphasizes administration, so document any dual qualifications in nursing, healthcare management, or a related field before applying.
Target health systems with existing LCA filing history
Large hospital networks and academic medical centers file Labor Condition Applications for surgical services leadership far more consistently than community hospitals. Use Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified sponsorship activity in this exact title category.
Verify prevailing wage tier before accepting an offer
Your offered salary must meet the DOL prevailing wage for your geographic area and experience level. Run your job title and location through the OFLC Wage Search before the offer stage so you can flag underpayment early and avoid LCA complications.
Get your nursing or clinical license confirmed for the state
Many states require an active RN license or specific clinical credentials to hold a Director of Surgical Services title. Confirm state licensure requirements before an employer files your petition, since USCIS will expect proof that you meet all role prerequisites at filing.
Ask your employer about PERM timing if you want permanent residence
Employers sponsoring you for H-1B can initiate PERM labor certification concurrently, which matters enormously if you're from a country with priority date backlogs. Confirm whether the health system's legal team has PERM experience in clinical leadership roles specifically.
Prepare a scope-of-role letter for the specialty occupation case
Surgical services directors manage clinical staff, budgets, and regulatory compliance, which creates specialty occupation ambiguity if the job description reads as general management. Work with your employer to draft a detailed duties letter that ties each responsibility to your specific degree field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Director of Surgical Services role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, in most cases, but the employer must demonstrate that the position typically requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field such as nursing, clinical administration, or healthcare management. If the job description is drafted too broadly or emphasizes general management over clinical expertise, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence. A tightly written duties letter that ties each responsibility to a specific discipline significantly reduces that risk.
Which visa types are realistic for international candidates in this role?
H-1B is the most common nonimmigrant path for Director of Surgical Services candidates with the required degree. It's subject to an annual cap and selection process. Candidates from Australia may qualify for the E-3 visa, which has its own annual allocation and no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to an eligible USMCA profession. All three require a qualifying specialty occupation degree and an employer willing to file.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor visas for this role?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship activity for clinical and healthcare leadership roles, so you can target health systems that have already committed to the filing process rather than cold-pitching organizations that may decline at the offer stage.
Does the employer need to do anything before I apply for a visa?
Yes. For H-1B, E-3 visa, and H-1B1 visa, the employer must file a Labor Condition Application with DOL and receive certification before your visa application can proceed. For H-1B, the employer then files an I-129 petition with USCIS. This employer-side filing process takes weeks, so your start date needs to account for that lead time. Employers unfamiliar with clinical leadership sponsorship sometimes underestimate this timeline.
Can I transfer my H-1B to a new surgical services employer mid-employment?
Yes. Once you're in H-1B status, you can begin working for a new employer as soon as the new employer files a transfer petition with USCIS, without waiting for approval. The new employer must file a fresh LCA reflecting the new position and location. For Director of Surgical Services roles, the specialty occupation case needs to be rebuilt from the new job description, so a detailed duties letter matters as much at transfer as it does at initial filing.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Director of Surgical Services jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.