Assistant Director Clinical Operations, Transplant Cellular Therapy Department - Full-Time, Days

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system, UChicago Medicine, as an Assistant Director of Clinical Operations in the Transplant Cellular Therapy department. Here, you will provide oversight of the day-to-day clinical operations of the Program to ensure consistent practices and excellent quality care. This includes leading, guiding, and overseeing outpatient clinical and administrative staff, and collaborating cross-functionally with service line and section leaders to promote the Program’s clinical excellence and eminence in transplant and cellular therapy. This position is a 100% onsite opportunity, and candidates must be based in the greater Chicagoland area.

The Assistant Director of Clinical Operations provides leadership and oversight for the Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program. Under the supervision of the Director, this role manages outpatient clinical and administrative teams while ensuring high-quality patient care and operational consistency. A key responsibility includes leading clinical, quality, and regulatory accreditation programs to maintain strict compliance with FDA, FACT, NMDP, and CIBMTR standards. The Assistant Director collaborates closely with Physician Directors, cell lab facility, apheresis unit, and nursing leadership to streamline the patient journey from initial intake through long-term survival follow-up. Additionally, this position supports outreach and marketing plans to expand advanced hematology services in the UCM network.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides oversight of the clinical and administrative staff to ensure appropriate staffing and scope of practice. Manages the Human Resources functions for direct reports, including hiring, performance appraisal, competency assessments, and ongoing performance management
• Develops and manages onboarding plans and training materials for all new staff and provides resources, ongoing training, and mentorship to the team
• Provides oversight of clinical operations in compliance with FACT, NMDP, CIBMTR, FDA, and other external regulatory agencies. Participates in FACT inspection visits and regulatory audits and assists with follow-up action reports and corrective action plans
• Works with Quality Management team to review quality metrics and implement process improvements and provides oversight of the program clinical database
• Works directly with Program leaders, Apheresis, Advanced Cellular Therapeutics Facility, Quality Management team, and Nursing leaders to develop clinical pathways, standing orders,
• and standard operating procedures to administer transplant and cellular therapy in both inpatient and outpatient settings
• Facilitate in-services to hospital staff to implement both standard of care and clinical trial protocols
• Serves as subject matter expert for transplant and cellular therapy and supports clinical research efforts including training of research personnel, facilitation of site qualification and selection visits, and other study-related activities, in partnership with the clinical research leadership team
• Supports the Program efforts to expand the application of cellular and gene therapy into non-oncology indications
• Represents the Program on service line and section-wide initiatives and actively participates in UCM inpatient and ambulatory committees to improve capacity and throughput, patient satisfaction, and staff engagement
• Facilitates resolution of patient management concerns related to admission, discharge, transfer, and follow-up care to enhance patient satisfaction. Implements appropriate patient service recovery protocols
• Works with the Program leadership to coordinate and facilitate marketing and outreach programs. Assist with implementation of advanced heme deployment in the UCM network
• Promotes professional and public awareness of transplant and cellular therapy through development, organization, and implementation of educational programs and presentations to internal and external partners
• Performs other related duties as assigned by senior leadership

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or a health-related field
• At least 3-5 years of leadership experience in a clinical or administrative role with specific experience in clinical operations

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams

• Considerable skill in determining priorities, working independently, and exercising sound judgment.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with physician leaders, preferably in an academic medical center environment

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

• Strong organizational and data management skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and database applications

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree in nursing or a health-related or business field
• At least 5 years prior experience working with stem cell transplant, cellular therapy, or solid organ transplant patients
• Epic experience
• Experience writing standard operations procedures (SOP)
  

Position Details

• Job Type/FTE: Full-Time (1.0 FTE)
• Shift: Day Shift (8:00 am - 5:00 pm)
• Work Location: Onsite
• Unit/Department: Transplant Cellular Therapy – Hyde Park
• CBA Code: Non-Union