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

UChicago Medicine; Illinois; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

UChicago Medicine in Chicago seeks an Assistant Director of Clinical Operations for the Transplant Cellular Therapy Program to oversee day-to-day clinical operations and ensure consistent practices and high-quality care.

You will lead outpatient clinical and administrative teams, collaborate with physician leaders, ensure regulatory compliance (FDA, FACT, NMDP, CIBMTR), develop clinical pathways, and drive process improvements and outreach within the UCM network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or a health-related field is required.
• 3–5 years of leadership experience in a clinical or administrative role with clinical operations experience.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and work with physician leaders in an academic medical center.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; strong organizational and data management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day clinical and administrative staff and staffing plans.
• Develop onboarding plans and training materials; mentor staff.
• Ensure compliance with FACT, NMDP, CIBMTR, FDA and other regulators; participate in inspections.
• Collaborate with program leaders to develop clinical pathways and SOPs for inpatient/outpatient care.
• Lead clinical quality initiatives and manage program database and reporting.
• Support outreach, marketing plans, and expansion of cellular therapies within the network.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional teams

Communication

Data management

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing or health-related field

Master's degree in nursing or health-related or business field

Tools

Epic

Job description

Job Description

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system,

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

About Us

We’ve been at the forefront of medicine since 1899. We provide superior healthcare with compassion, always mindful that each patient is a person, an individual. To accomplish this, we need employees with passion, talent and commitment… with patients and with each other. We’re in this together: working to advance medical innovation, serve the health needs of the community, and move our collective knowledge forward. If you’d like to add enriching human life to your profile, UChicago Medicine is for you. Here at the forefront, we’re doing work that really matters. Join us. Bring your passion.

UChicago Medicine is growing; discover how you can be a part of this pursuit of excellence at: UChicago Medicine Career Opportunities

UChicago Medicine is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical, background check, drug screening, and comply with the flu vaccination requirements prior to hire. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered for flu vaccination consistent with applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

UChicago Medicine is committed to transparency in compensation and benefits. The pay range provided reflects the anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position.

The pay range is based on a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) and is reflective of current market data, reviewed on an annual basis. Compensation offered at the time of hire will vary based on candidate qualifications and experience and organizational considerations, such as internal equity. Pay ranges for employees subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements are negotiated by the medical center and their respective union.

Review the full complement of benefit options for eligible roles at Benefits - UChicago Medicine.