(RN) Heart Transplant Program Manager - 141034

UC San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 306,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health seeks an Organ Transplant Program Manager to provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership from referral to post‑transplant care. You will partner with medical, surgical, and administrative leaders to drive program growth, ensure regulatory compliance with UNOS, CMS, HRSA, and oversee resources, staffing, and performance metrics.

The ideal candidate has healthcare operations leadership, strong analyticals, and a track record of improving quality and financial

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 with commitment to obtain BART within six months.
• Seven (7+) years of progressive clinical experience, incl. 3+ years RN in transplant/ICU.
• Four (4+) years of formal leadership experience leading teams and managing change.
• Experience in healthcare operations, strategic planning, quality and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading teams through change and fostering a growth mindset.
• Strong knowledge of CMS Conditions of Participation and UNOS/OPTN requirements.
• Experience partnering with physicians, administrators, and frontline staff.
• Workforce management knowledge including performance management in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily transplant operations across the care continuum.
• Oversee staffing, workflows, and resources to ensure efficiency and quality.
• Lead program growth, strategic expansion, and partnerships.
• Maintain compliance with UNOS, CMS, HRSA and accrediting bodies.
• Collaborate with leaders to optimize patient care coordination.

Skills

Program leadership

Regulatory compliance

Clinical operations

Staff development

Quality metrics

Budget management

Education

RN license (California)

Bachelor's degree in nursing

Tools

Epic

Phoenix

Job description

Reassignment Applicants

Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

DESCRIPTION

UC San Diego Health is proud to be a four-time Magnet-designated organization and has now earned Magnet with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet is the gold standard for nursing excellence, achieved by only about 10% of hospitals worldwide. Magnet with Distinction is awarded to the highest-performing Magnet organizations, with only a select few earning this prestigious honor. This recognition reflects our commitment to transformational leadership, professional nursing excellence, innovation, exceptional patient outcomes, and an empowering practice environment where nurses thrive.

Under the direction of the Transplant Administrative Directors and in close collaboration with Medical and Surgical Directors, the Organ Transplant Program Manager provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for the transplant program, optimizing patient outcomes to drive program growth. This role participates in developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans for program expansion while ensuring full regulatory compliance with UNOS, CMS, HRSA, and other governing bodies. The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of transplant operations from initial patient referral through post-transplant care, managing resources, workflows, interdisciplinary teams, and external partnerships. The Transplant Manager will consult and collaborate with healthcare professionals to optimize patient care coordination, serving as a resource to staff and physicians while ensuring sustainable program growth through effective resource utilization and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate will bring proven expertise in healthcare operations management, regulatory compliance, and staff development to foster a collaborative, growth-oriented culture. This position demands strong analytical skills to monitor quality metrics, implement performance improvement plans, and manage financial performance.

This position provides operational oversight to UC San Diego Health's Heart Transplant Program.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute transplant program growth and service expansion
• Partner with medical, surgical, and administrative leaders to align program goals with organizational priorities

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with UNOS, CMS, HRSA, and other regulatory entities
• Support accreditation processes and participate in inspections and surveys
• Collaborate with Quality leadership on transplant-specific policies and procedures

Clinical Operations

• Direct daily transplant operations across the entire care continuum
• Optimize workflows, staffing, and resources to ensure efficiency and clinical quality
• Oversee patient flow, transplant personnel, and external partnerships
• Lead operational improvement initiatives

Team Leadership

• Build and develop high-performing interdisciplinary teams
• Provide performance management, professional development, and succession planning
• Manage recruitment, evaluation, and corrective action processes
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on quality care and staff engagement

Quality & Outcomes

• Monitor UNOS metrics, patient outcomes, readmissions, and other quality indicators
• Participate in adverse event reviews and implement corrective actions
• Track clinical, operational, and financial performance against benchmarks

Financial Management

• Develop and manage program budgets
• Monitor payer mix, reimbursement trends, and cost structures
• Support vendor contract discussions and business development

Productivity & Performance Management

• Monitor and optimize staff productivity
• Track and improve program productivity metrics
• Monitor case costs, revenue and overall financial performance

MINIMUM 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.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams through change, fostering a growth mindset, and supporting culture transformation in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong working knowledge of CMS Conditions of Participation and OPTN/UNOS regulatory requirements.
• Experience partnering with multidisciplinary stakeholders, including physicians, administrators, and frontline staff.
• Knowledge of workforce management principles, including performance management and accountability in a unionized or highly regulated environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Nursing or relevant area.
• Current experience working within an organ transplant program or transplant-related clinical operations.
• Prior transplant leadership or management experience.
• Experience working in an academic medical center or teaching hospital environment.
• Knowledge of labor relations and experience working within a unionized workforce.
• CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) certification.
• Epic and Phoenix experience.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $154,200 - $306,600 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $73.85 - $146.84

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).