General Description of the Job Class

The System Chief Radiation Therapy provides strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for Radiation Therapy services across Duke University Health System and its network sites. This role oversees radiation therapist staffing, daily operations, quality, performance, workload balance, and workforce development across multiple sites.

As a technical and clinical expert, the System Chief partners with Radiation Oncology physicians, medical physicists, dosimetrists, nursing, administrative, and revenue cycle teams to ensure safe, high- quality, efficient, and compliant care delivery. Key responsibilities include advancing clinical practice, optimizing workflows, ensuring accurate charge capture, and supporting regulatory and reimbursement compliance.

This leader drives system-wide initiatives in clinical excellence, operational performance, workforce development, and patient-centered care, while guiding the adoption of new technologies and care models. The role requires regular collaboration and travel across Duke Health locations.

The position will have a dual reporting relationship to the Radiation Oncology Ambulatory Operations Director and the Vice Chair of Clinical Operations. The System Chief Radiation Therapy plays a key role in advancing Radiation Oncology services across the Duke Health System.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

System Leadership and Operations

• Provides system-wide leadership for radiation therapy services across all sites.
• Aligns clinical and operational priorities in partnership with physicians and interdisciplinary leadership.
• Directs staffing models, workflow, and care delivery across academic and community settings.
• Standardizes clinical workflows, treatment protocols, and operational policies.

Clinical Oversight

• Ensures safe, accurate, and timely delivery of radiation therapy in accordance with physician orders and regulatory standards.
• Optimizes clinical operations to enhance patient flow, safety, and experience.
• Leads implementation of new technologies, equipment, and clinical procedures.
• Manages operational disruptions, including equipment downtime and site transitions.
• Identifies and mitigates clinical safety risks.
• Maintains clinical competency and proficiency in radiation therapy practice to remain current with evolving technologies, workflows, and standards of care.
• Provides clinical support and staffing coverage as needed during operational disruptions, workforce shortages, or periods of increased patient volume.
• Maintains an active understanding of frontline clinical operations to effectively support staff, inform decision-making, and foster credibility with the clinical team.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Leads and develops chiefs, team leads, and frontline staff.
• Recruits, retains, and builds a high-performing workforce across all sites.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Oversees onboarding, competency validation, and ongoing professional development.
• Implements a system that develops and rewards expertise and superior performance in radiation therapists.

Quality and Safety

• Ensures compliance with accreditation, regulatory, and institutional standards.
• Leads quality improvement initiatives to ensure safe, timely and efficient treatment.
• Monitors safety events. quality metrics. and clinical outcomes.
• Partners with physicists and dosimetrists on quality assurance and equipment performance.
• Monitors and improves productivity, access, and service performance metrics.
• Leads charge capture efforts; partners with revenue cycle teams to improve documentation and reduce billing errors.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Radiation Therapy or related field required.
• Master's degree in healthcare administration, leadership, or related field strongly preferred.

Experience

• 5 years of radiation therapy clinical experience required.
• 3 years of leadership experience in radiation oncology preferred.
• Experience in an academic medical center environment preferred.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Current certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), Radiation Therapy [RT(T)]

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of radiation therapy technologies and oncology workflows.
• Demonstrated leadership and experience managing multi-site operations.
• Strong communication, organizational, and change management skills.
• Ability to drive operational improvement and performance outcomes.
• Commitment to patient-centered, high-quality care.
• Experience with Varian systems and software preferred.
• Experience with proton therapy delivery, brachytherapy delivery, and adaptive therapy delivery desirable.