Director of Operations - Clinical Science Department - SOM

Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine seeks a Director of Clinical Science Operations to lead strategic and operational activities within the Department of Clinical Science.

The role partners with the Department Chair to guide operational planning, resource management, workforce planning, and continuous process improvement, aligning with school priorities and external stakeholders. The Director will manage budgets, governance, risk, and performance metrics, driving complex

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, academic healthcare, medical education, program management, or related settings.
• Minimum of five (5) years of management and/or leadership experience, including staff.

Responsibilities

• Directs faculty lifecycle operations by leading the strategy, design, and implementation of faculty orientation and onboarding programs through partnering with academic and administrative stakeholders.
• Leads departmental functions related to performance management, onboarding, staff development, and workforce planning while ensuring compliance with organizational policies, and employment regulations.
• Develops department workforce strategy and succession planning approaches to address current and future operational talent needs and manage recruitment and selection processes for administrative and operational staff.
• Oversees the evaluation of administrative programs, functions, policies, and procedures; develops solutions to address operational issues; and leads changes to programs, policies, and procedures.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Finance, Management, Organizational Development, Health Sciences or related fields

Job description

Job Summary

The Director of Clinical Science Operations at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine serves as a strategic and operational leader within the Department of Clinical Science, overseeing administrative and educational operations that support the departments mission and priorities. In partnership with the Department Chair, the Director provides leadership for operational planning, resource management, workforce planning, academic administration, and continuous process improvement.

The Director of Clinical Science Operations at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine serves as a strategic and operational leader within the Department of Clinical Science, overseeing administrative and educational operations that support the departments mission and priorities. In partnership with the Department Chair, the Director provides leadership for operational planning, resource management, workforce planning, academic administration, and continuous process improvement. The role is responsible for optimizing operational effectiveness, leading complex projects and initiatives, and ensuring the successful execution of departmental goals. As a key liaison among faculty, staff, school leadership, Kaiser Permanente partners, and external stakeholders, the Director fosters collaboration, supports informed decision-making, and advances organizational effectiveness across the department.

Essential Responsibilities

• Directs faculty lifecycle operations by leading the strategy, design, and implementation of faculty orientation and onboarding programs through partnering with academic and administrative stakeholders. Develops faculty recruitment infrastructure, departmental workforce planning tools, and operational workflows to strengthen efficiency, consistency, and faculty experience.
• Leads departmental functions related to performance management, onboarding, staff development, and workforce planning while ensuring compliance with organizational policies, and employment regulations,
• Develops department workforce strategy and succession planning approaches to address current and future operational talent needs and manage recruitment and selection processes for administrative and operational staff.
• Oversees the evaluation of administrative programs, functions, policies, and procedures; develops solutions to address operational issues; and leads changes to programs, policies, and procedures
• Directs departmental compliance, governance, and risk management functions by establishing oversight mechanisms, monitoring regulatory and accreditation requirements, mitigating operational risk, and ensuring adherence to institutional policies and applicable legal and regulatory standards. Leads audit readiness efforts and promotes a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement across departmental operations and programs.
• Oversees departmental operational infrastructure and administrative systems that support educational programs, leadership development, wellness, and other strategic initiatives.
• Develops executive-level reports, briefings, recommendations, and decision-support materials for departmental and school leadership to guide strategic decision‑making, resource planning, risk management, and operational accountability.
• Serves as a key representative of the department, fostering collaboration and advancing strategic priorities by leading and cultivating partnerships across the school, including leadership, faculty, staff, students, internal and external partners, vendors, and consultants. Strengthens institutional relationships, aligns stakeholders around shared objectives, and ensures the successful execution of departmental initiatives, programs, and operational goals.
• Leads departmental financial strategy and stewardship by directing budget planning, forecasting, financial analysis, and resource allocation activities. Evaluates financial performance and emerging trends, develops executive-level budget recommendations, and advises departmental leadership on funding priorities that support fiscal sustainability, operational effectiveness, program growth, and alignment with schools objectives.
• Leads complex departmental, cross‑functional, and school‑wide projects and oversees the departments project portfolio by defining scope, timelines, milestones, deliverables, success metrics, communication plans, governance structures, accountability frameworks, stakeholder engagement, executive-level status updates, and escalation pathways to ensure strategic alignment and sustained operational impact.
• Advises the Department Chair and senior leaders on operational strategy, business priorities, resource needs, risks, and opportunities.
• Leads the planning, implementation, and ongoing enhancement of departmental policies, procedures, programs, and operational standards. Oversee projects, collaborate with key stakeholders, evaluate administrative and educational operations, and drive corrective actions and process improvements to address operational challenges and improve performance.

Basic Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, academic healthcare, medical education, program management, or related settings, with a demonstrated track record of leading complex organizational initiatives involving multiple functions, stakeholders, and operational priorities.
• Minimum of five (5) years of management and/or leadership experience, including staff.

Education

• Bachelors degree in Business, Project Management, Finance, Management, Organizational Development, Health Sciences or related fields.

License, Certification, Registration

Additional Requirements

• Experience overseeing departmental or organizational budgets, financial planning, resource allocation, executive‑level financial reporting, and data‑informed decision‑making.
• Experience working in medical education, higher education, academic health care, or clinical operations, including building strategic partnerships and alignment across faculty, staff, senior administrators, institutional leaders, health system partners, community partners, vendors, consultants, and external stakeholders.
• Experience overseeing compliance, governance, accreditation, audit readiness, policy implementation, regulatory processes, risk management principles, and administrative controls in an academic, health care, medical education, or similarly regulated institutional environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree or higher in a relevant field
• Formal training or certification related to: Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Manager (CM), Lean Six Sigma PMP)
• Experience in financial forecasting and variance analysis.