Director of Ambulatory Clinic Operations

Description:

The Director of Ambulatory Clinic Operations provides strategic, operational, and financial leadership for all outpatient and ambulatory clinic services across the health system. This role ensures high-quality, patient-centered care; efficient clinic workflows; strong provider partnerships; regulatory compliance; and sustainable financial performance. The Director leads clinic managers, nursing staff, and support teams to deliver exceptional access, throughput, and patient experience across multiple rural clinic locations.

This position is a key member of the operational leadership team and collaborates closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, Medical Director, and Revenue Cycle leadership to advance organizational goals.

Essential Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership — Oversees day-to-day operations of all ambulatory clinics, ensuring efficient workflows, staffing, scheduling, and patient throughput.
• Strategic Planning — Develops and executes multi-site clinic strategies that improve access, expand services, and support organizational growth.
• Clinic Performance Management — Monitors KPIs including access, productivity, quality, patient satisfaction, and financial performance; implements corrective action plans.
• Provider Relations — Partners with physicians and advanced practice providers to optimize clinic operations, panel management, and care delivery.
• Regulatory Compliance — Ensures compliance with CMS, state regulations, accreditation standards, and organizational policies.
• Quality & Patient Experience — Leads quality improvement initiatives, patient experience programs, and safety practices across all clinics.
• Financial Stewardship — Develops and manages clinic budgets, staffing models, productivity standards, and revenue cycle performance.
• Workforce Leadership — Recruits, coaches, and evaluates clinic managers and staff; builds a culture of accountability, engagement, and service excellence.
• Access & Scheduling Optimization — Oversees scheduling templates, provider availability, and access standards to ensure timely patient care.
• Cross-Department Collaboration — Works with HR, IT, Nursing, Finance, and Quality to support clinic operations and systemwide initiatives.
• Technology & EHR Optimization — Partners with IT and clinical teams to improve EHR workflows, documentation efficiency, and reporting.

Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field required
• Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Business, or related field strongly preferred

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive leadership experience in ambulatory, outpatient, or clinic operations
• Experience managing multi-site clinics strongly preferred
• Rural healthcare experience preferred
• Demonstrated success improving operational performance, patient access, and financial outcomes

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills
• Deep understanding of ambulatory operations, scheduling, throughput, and provider workflow
• Knowledge of regulatory standards, quality metrics, and outpatient compliance
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, productivity, and revenue cycle
• Excellent communication, conflict resolution, and relationship-building abilities
• Ability to lead change, improve processes, and drive accountability
• Proficiency with EHR systems (Epic preferred)
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced rural healthcare environment

Working Conditions

• Full-time, exempt leadership role
• Regular travel between clinic locations
• Occasional evening or weekend responsibilities based on operational needs