Systems & Business Applications Program Manager

Department: Administration

Reports To: Director of Operations and Value-Based Care

FTE: Full-Time | Individual Contributor 

POSITION SUMMARY
Kidney Specialists of Minnesota (KSM) is seeking a Systems & Business Applications Program Manager to own and optimize the full portfolio of business and clinical systems that support our private nephrology practice. This role serves as a senior individual contributor with accountability for vendor management, systems optimization, and execution of technology-enabled initiatives across the organization.

The Program Manager independently evaluates system performance, leads vendor assessments, develops recommendations, and executes approved changes end-to-end. This role requires strong technical aptitude, vendor and program leadership experience, and comfort operating autonomously in a multi-vendor healthcare environment. A clinical background is helpful but not required. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Systems & Application Portfolio Ownership

Own the end-to-end oversight of all core business and clinical applications, including EMR, IT help desk vendor services, telephony and paging, scheduling platforms, and collaboration tools.

Maintain a holistic understanding of how systems interact and support clinical, operational, and administrative workflows.

Ensure systems reliability and usable data for decision making, while proactively identifying system risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for performance improvement.

2. Vendor Management & Accountability

Serve as the primary point of contact for external system and technology vendors.

Monitor vendor performance and hold partners accountable to service expectations.

Independently research, evaluate, and compare alternative vendors when performance, cost, or risk concerns arise.

Develop and present recommendations for vendor optimization, consolidation, or replacement.

Execute approved vendor changes and system initiatives, including planning, coordination, and go-live support.

3. Program, Project & Stakeholder Leadership 

Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives (e.g., vendor transitions, application migrations, major optimizations), owning planning, execution, risk management, and stakeholder communication.

Partner with patient access, nursing, and operations leaders as a trusted thought partner to translate clinical and operational needs into system solutions.

Provide analysis, updates, and recommendations to the KSM leadership and physician stakeholders.

4. EMR & Clinical Systems Optimization

Serve as the internal owner of EMR optimization strategy.

Evaluate and improve templates, workflows, smart phrases, and reporting to support provider efficiency and standardization.

Act as escalation point for complex EMR issues; routine end-user support is limited and purposeful.

5. Systems Asset & Operational Oversight

Coordinate with IT vendors on vendor-managed hardware and access.

Maintain internal tracking for systems-related assets not covered by vendors (e.g., monitors, peripherals).

Identify lifecycle, refresh, and security needs and make recommendations to leadership.

6. Other Duties: Perform other duties aligned with systems ownership, vendor management, and program leadership, as needed.

7. Qualifications & Experience

Required

3-5+ years of experience in systems management, business applications, IT program management, healthcare operations, or related roles.

Demonstrated experience managing external vendors and leading complex initiatives.

Strong technical aptitude and ability to learn new systems quickly.

Proven ability to operate independently and manage ambiguity.

Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred

Experience with EMR systems or healthcare applications.

Experience in healthcare or another regulated environment.

Experience leading system migrations or vendor transitions.

8. Education & Certifications

Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degrees in Healthcare Administration (MHA, Business, Information Systems, or related fields are welcomed. Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a specific degree.

Certifications (e.g., PMP, ITIL, Agile, Health Informatics) are preferred but not required.

Benefits: Medical+Dental Insurance, PTO, 401K with company match, Life Insurance, Short-term/Long-term Disability, Misc. Voluntary Benefits.