Duke University Health System Job Description: |
| Job Title: AMBULATORY OPERATIONS DIRECTOR | Job Code: 5685 |
| FLSA: E | Pay Target: J2 |
| Date: 12/01/2025 | Supervisory Responsibility: Yes |
The Ambulatory Operations Director (AOD) provides executive-level operational leadership for all ambulatory clinics within a designated services, encompassing multiple sites, clinical specialties, and high- volume patient care environments. This role is responsible for driving services performance across clinical quality, patient experience, financial stewardship, and operational efficiency. The AOD ensures strategic alignment with DUHS goals, leads large-scale change initiatives, and fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the services. The AOD partners closely with physician and advanced practice provider leadership, Practice Administrators, Nurse Managers, and Clinic Managers to ensure the delivery of safe, efficient, patient-centered care while meeting regulatory and compliance requirements.
Provide overall strategic and operational leadership for assigned ambulatory clinics within the assigned services, ensuring alignment with DUHS mission, values, and goals.
Informs and executes services strategic plans, including growth initiatives, access expansion, and service optimization.
Oversee the recruitment, development, and evaluation of multi-tier clinic leadership, including Practice Administrators, Nurse Managers, and Clinic Managers.
Manage the services' operational and capital budgets, ensuring financial performance targets are met and resources are allocated effectively.
Ensure compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, safety, and infection prevention requirements across the services.
Lead large-scale performance improvement initiatives to enhance patient access, clinical quality, operational efficiency, and staff engagement.
Analyze operational and financial data to identify trends, forecast needs, and inform decision-making at the services and system level.
Serve as the primary operational liaison to physician and APP leadership, fostering strong partnerships to advance patient care delivery.
Represent the services in system-level committees, councils, and strategic planning forums; advocate for operational needs and resources.
Oversee the implementation and standardization of best practices, workflows, and policies across all assigned clinics.
| Education: | Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, business, or related field required. Master's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, business, or related field preferred. |
| Experience: | Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in ambulatory or hospital operations, with at least three years in a leadership role managing multiple clinic or departmental locations. Experience in ambulatory or outpatient clinic operations preferred. |
| Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification: |
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| Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: | Proven track record of leading complex, multi-site healthcare operations. Deep knowledge of ambulatory care management, financial stewardship, and strategic planning. Strong leadership presence with the ability to engage and inspire multi- disciplinary teams. Expertise in performance improvement methodologies and change management. Exceptional analytical, communication, and negotiation skills. Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment. |
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
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Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.