Director of Operations (REMOTE)

Upward Health; Kansas City (KS); Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare firm in Kansas City is seeking a Director of Operations responsible for overseeing daily operations and optimizing workflows to enhance patient care. This leadership role requires strong skills in healthcare operations management, financial oversight, and data analysis. The ideal candidate will drive initiatives that improve patient access and satisfaction, ensuring compliance with healthcare standards. This position focuses on aligning operational practices with strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of workflows, staffing models, patient throughput, and cross-functional operations.
• Ability to analyze productivity, quality, and operational data to inform improvements.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily administrative and operational functions.
• Lead initiatives to improve patient access and satisfaction.
• Analyze operational data and metrics to inform strategic planning.

Skills

Healthcare Operations Management

Data Management

Financial Management

Technology & Data Systems

Leadership & Collaboration

Compliance & Risk Management

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Tools

Jira

Excel

project management software

Job description

Company Overview

Company Overview :

Upward Health is an in-home, multidisciplinary medical group providing 24 / 7 whole-person care. Our clinical team treats physical, behavioral, and social health needs when and where a patient needs help. Everyone on our team from our doctors, nurses, and Care Specialists to our HR, Technology, and Business Services staff are driven by a desire to improve the lives of our patients. We are able to treat a wide range of needs – everything from addressing poorly controlled blood sugar to combatting anxiety to accessing medically tailored meals – because we know that health requires care for the whole person. It’s no wonder 98% of patients report being fully satisfied with Upward Health!

Director of Operations

The Director of Operations is responsible for overseeing the daily administrative and operational functions of the business. This role primarily focuses on optimizing workflows, managing key operational implementations, supporting maximum productivity and aligning operations with the strategic company goals. This role serves as a critical resource to their clinical operational peers through the analysis of productivity, operational, quality, and financial outcomes data and sharing both insights and proposed solutions to improve overall clinical operational effectiveness and efficiencies.

Key responsibilities

• Lead initiatives to improve patient access, ongoing engagement, appointment scheduling, throughput, and satisfaction
• Collaborate with clinical leadership to ensure coordinated and effective care delivery – implementing standardized workflow & operating procedures (policy & procedure upkeep) including partnering with Clinical Solutions lead to monitor process adherence & systemic impact
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance tracking for all operational areas, includes creating client-specific ratios & assumptions documents as well as bi-annual or annual “true-up” (comparing assumptions to actuals for assumption changes)
• In partnership with field-based state / regional Directors, supports staff / FTE forecasting and timing for requisition submission
• Drives operational improvement initiatives, including EHR optimization, care team models, and revenue cycle enhancements
• Analyze operational data and metrics to inform strategic planning and performance improvements with key leaders (., outreach activities, provider visit trends,
• Leads new client implementation on behalf of the operational teams attending meetings, representing operations, updating Jira / spreadsheets
• Leads vendor evaluations and any operational testing; Serves as operational point of contact for portal management
• Represents clinical operations for Role-based Access (RBA) management & Business Continuity (tabletop exercises,
• Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and internal policies

Skills Required

• Healthcare Operations Management – Deep understanding of workflows, staffing models, patient throughput, and cross-functional operations
• Data Mananagement -Strong ability to analyze productivity, quality, and operational data and turn insights into actionable improvements set against operational KPIs
• Financial Mananagement - Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis including familiarity with healthcare-specific financial metrics and assumptions
• Technology & Data Systems – Knowledge of electronic health records (EHR) systems and optimization best practices with proficiency in tools like Jira, Excel, and project management software for tracking tasks, deliverables, and milestones
• Leadership & Collaboration – Ability to lead and influence clinical and administrative teams toward common operational goals
• Compliance & Risk Management – Strong understanding of healthcare compliance standards (., HIPAA, CMS, NCQA) and internal monitoring practices such as tabletop exercises, contingency planning, and such business auditing approaches
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills - Ability to clearly communicate insights and operational strategies to clinical leaders, executives, and external stakeholders for the betterment of the overall patient experience

Key Behaviors and Competencies

• Analytical Thinking – Deploys a data-driven approach to problem solving with the ability to interpret complex operational and financial data to make informed decisions
• Results Orientation – Takes ownership of outcomes, actively manages risks, and ensures follow-through on initiatives
• Collaboration & Influence – Fosters trust and partnership with clinical, financial, and technical teams through leveraging diverse viewpoints to inform decisions and drive consensus
• Change Leadership – Champions innovation and operational change initiatives while anticipating resistance or staff fatigue and develops thoughtful change management strategies
• Systems Thinking – Designs and improves workflows with awareness of downstream impacts through understanding how parts of the healthcare ecosystem interrelate, including clinical, operational, and financial dimensions
• Patient Focused – Consistently keeps the patient experience central to operational strategies
• Adaptability - Maintains effectiveness under pressure, during ambiguity, or in the face of setbacks adjusting strategies based on new insights, feedback, or shifting priorities