Heart Transplant Program Lead | RN Operations & Growth

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 196,000 - 227,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health is seeking a highly experienced Transplant Program Manager for the Heart Transplant Program. The role provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across the transplant patient journey, from referral to post‑transplant care, optimizing outcomes and program growth.

The ideal candidate will have nursing leadership, healthcare operations expertise, and strong regulatory knowledge to ensure compliance and quality care across all transplant services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
• Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the State of California.
• Current UCSD BART certification, or BLS certification at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six months of hire date.
• Seven (7+) or more years of progressive clinical experience, including three (3+) or more years of RN experience within a complex transplant and/or ICU environment.
• Four (4+) or more years of formal leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to lead teams, drive accountability, and navigate difficult conversations.
• Proven leadership capability in healthcare operations, including strategic planning, clinical operations management, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute transplant program growth and service expansion.
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain compliance with UNOS, CMS, HRSA, and other regulatory entities.
• Clinical Operations: Direct daily transplant operations across the entire care continuum.
• Team Leadership: Build and develop high-performing interdisciplinary teams; manage recruitment and performance.
• Quality & Outcomes: Monitor UNOS metrics, patient outcomes, readmissions, and quality indicators.
• Financial Management: Develop and manage program budgets and monitor payer mix.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Healthcare operations

Regulatory compliance

Staff development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nursing

Job description

UC San Diego Health is seeking a highly experienced Transplant Program Manager for the Heart Transplant Program. The role provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership across the transplant patient journey, from referral to post‑transplant care, optimizing outcomes and program growth.

The ideal candidate will have nursing leadership, healthcare operations expertise, and strong regulatory knowledge to ensure compliance and quality care across all transplant services.