Director of Operations/Practice Administrator

California Dental Hygienists Assoc; Modesto (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off / holidays

Job summary

California Dental Hygienists Assoc in Modesto, CA is seeking a Director of Operations / Practice Administrator to lead the day-to-day business of our dental practice. This senior role oversees finances, HR, benefits, office operations, and overall practice management; clinical background not required.

You will manage budgets, payroll, vendor relations, and compliance (OSHA/HIPAA). You will supervise ~15+ staff, partner with ownership, and drive operational efficiency and growth through

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in practice management, business operations, or office administration leadership (medical, dental, or other professional services setting)
• Demonstrated experience managing finances, budgets, and financial reporting
• Experience with HR functions, including benefits administration and employee relations
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency with office/practice management software and standard business tools (e.g., QuickBooks, Microsoft Office/Excel)

Responsibilities

• Oversee all practice finances, including budgeting, cash flow, accounts payable/receivable, and financial reporting
• Manage relationships with accountants, bookkeepers, and financial institutions
• Monitor practice profitability and identify opportunities for operational efficiency and cost control
• Oversee payroll processing and compliance
• Monitor and oversee P&L statements, labor costs, budgets, vendor expenses, and operational KPIs
• Manage full-cycle HR functions: recruiting, hiring, onboarding, performance management, and offboarding
• Administer employee benefits programs, including the practice's 401(k) plan
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (CA-specific compliance a plus)
• Handle employee relations matters, conflict resolution, and disciplinary processes
• Develop and maintain employee policies, handbooks, and procedures
• Oversee daily office operations to ensure smooth, efficient patient flow and workplace functioning
• Manage staff scheduling and performance evaluations
• Manage vendor relationships, supply ordering, and facilities/equipment management
• Implement and improve operational systems, workflows, and practice management software
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, and other regulatory requirements
• Support scheduling, patient billing/insurance processes, and front-office oversight
• Assist the front office team when needed
• Serve as a direct liaison between practice ownership/doctors and staff
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of approximately 15+ employees
• Drive practice growth initiatives and strategic planning alongside ownership
• Develop department leaders
• Lead management meetings

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

HR management

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field

Tools

QuickBooks

Microsoft Office/Excel

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking a Director of Operations / Practice Administrator to lead the day-to-day business operations of our practice. This is a senior leadership role responsible for financial oversight, human resources, employee benefits administration, office operations, and overall practice management. The ideal candidate is a strong, experienced operations and people leader — a clinical or dental background is not required. We are looking first and foremost for proven management, financial, and HR leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Oversee all practice finances, including budgeting, cash flow, accounts payable/receivable, and financial reporting
• Manage relationships with accountants, bookkeepers, and financial institutions
• Monitor practice profitability and identify opportunities for operational efficiency and cost control
• Oversee payroll processing and compliance
• Monitor and oversee P&L statements, labor costs, budgets, vendor expenses, and operational KPIs

Human Resources & Benefits Administration

• Manage full-cycle HR functions: recruiting, hiring, onboarding, performance management, and offboarding — a great OMFS office requires a great team, and you'll establish clear expectations throughout the organization
• Administer employee benefits programs, including the practice's 401(k) plan
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (CA-specific compliance a plus)
• Handle employee relations matters, conflict resolution, and disciplinary processes
• Develop and maintain employee policies, handbooks, and procedures

Practice & Office Operations

• Oversee daily office operations to ensure smooth, efficient patient flow and workplace functioning
• Manage staff scheduling and performance evaluations
• Manage vendor relationships, supply ordering, and facilities/equipment management
• Implement and improve operational systems, workflows, and practice management software
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, and other regulatory requirements
• Support scheduling, patient billing/insurance processes, and front-office oversight
• Assist the front office team when needed

Leadership

• Serve as a direct liaison between practice ownership/doctors and staff
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of approximately 15+ employees
• Drive practice growth initiatives and strategic planning alongside ownership
• Develop department leaders
• Lead management meetings

We want a leader who is:

• Positive without being permissive
• Accountable without being punitive
• Professional without being corporate
• Fun without tolerating drama

Our employees should know what is expected of them, receive feedback about their performance, have opportunities to grow, and know that problems will be addressed fairly and consistently.

Working With Ownership

This position reports directly to the doctor-owners. We are clinically focused surgeons and entrepreneurs who care deeply about our patients, employees, referring doctors, and community. We move quickly, generate ideas, and continually look for ways to improve.

The right leader will complement us by bringing structure, organization, financial discipline, follow-through, and accountability to the organization. We do not want someone who simply agrees with us — we want someone whose judgment we trust.

Qualifications

Required

• 3+ years of experience in practice management, business operations, or office administration leadership (medical, dental, or other professional services setting)
• Demonstrated experience managing finances, budgets, and financial reporting
• Experience with HR functions, including benefits administration and employee relations
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Proficiency with office/practice management software and standard business tools (e.g., QuickBooks, Microsoft Office/Excel, typing, 10-key)

Preferred (Not Required)

• Experience in a dental, medical, or healthcare practice setting
• Bachelor's degree or better in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field, or equivalent in experience
• Knowledge of California employment law and healthcare compliance regulations (HIPAA, OSHA)
• Experience with dental/medical practice management or EHR software

Who We Are Looking For

• Practice Administrator
• Medical Group Administrator
• Director of Operations
• Chief Operating Officer
• Dental Group Administrator
• Healthcare Executive
• ASC Administrator
• Controller with significant operational leadership experience
• Law Firm Administrator
• Professional Services Administrator
• Senior HR/Operations Leader

You May Be a Great Fit If...

• You have successfully led a team of 15 or more employees
• You understand a profit-and-loss statement and enjoy figuring out why the numbers changed
• You have managed payroll, budgets, HR, and employee performance
• You are comfortable having difficult conversations
• You believe employees deserve both support and accountability
• You don't tolerate workplace gossip, bullying, cliques, or chronic negativity — but you also don't create a culture where employees are afraid to speak
• You can resolve conflict without becoming part of it
• You can identify talented people and help them become leaders
• You are comfortable telling an owner when you believe something should be done differently
• You don't need to be micromanaged
• When you discover a problem, your instinct is to investigate it and bring forward a solution
• You enjoy building systems that make an organization run better
• You would be excited to help build an exceptional organization rather than simply maintain one

What Success Looks Like

Within your first year, we want you to know the organization well enough to operate independently. That means building strong leaders, creating accountability, improving financial visibility, strengthening HR systems, reducing unnecessary workplace conflict, improving operational efficiency, and helping us develop the infrastructure necessary for continued growth.

If you are an experienced leader who loves people, understands business, and wants the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a successful physician-owned organization, we would like to meet you.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: Competitive Salary, commensurate with experience, demonstrated leadership ability, and qualifications
• Eligible for the practice performance bonus
• 401(k) with match
• Health insurance
• Paid time off / holidays — 3 weeks
• Professional development and executive-education opportunities supported
• Relocation assistance may be available for an exceptional candidate

Job Details

• Location: Modesto, CA (on-site)
• Job Type: Full-time (Salary)
• Reports To: Practice Owners/Surgeons