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