Unit Director, Birth Center

UCSF Health; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF Health in San Francisco is seeking an experienced Unit Director to provide operational leadership for Labor & Delivery and perinatal services within a high-acuity academic medical center. You will oversee clinical outcomes, safety, regulatory compliance, and patient experience, collaborating with Obstetrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, and anesthesia to advance high-risk obstetric care.

This role emphasizes evidence-based practice, alignment with national benchmarks, staff

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing is required.
• California RN license is required.
• BLS certification is required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee outcomes, safety, regulatory compliance, patient experience, and financial performance of the service line.
• Lead initiatives to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity with evidence-based practices.
• Manage staffing, capacity, throughput, and productivity in a 24/7 Labor & Delivery environment.
• Coordinate with Obstetrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine to advance programs.
• Support teaching and nursing research in perinatal care and foster a culture of shared governance.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Labor & Delivery

Regulatory compliance

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Healthcare informatics

Staff development

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

California RN license

BLS certification

Tools

Electronic Health Records

Job description

Job Overview

The Unit Director provides operational leadership for Labor & Delivery and associated perinatal services (e.g., antepartum, L&D, postpartum, triage, and OBED care) within a high‑acuity academic medical center. Oversees care delivery through subordinate managers, ensuring safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care across the maternal–newborn continuum.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for clinical outcomes, patient safety, regulatory compliance, patient experience, and financial performance of the service line.
• Leads initiatives to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, with a strong focus on evidence-based practice, health equity, and standardization of care in alignment with national perinatal quality benchmarks.
• Executes established strategic direction and operational goals for the department, including volume growth, capacity management, throughput, workforce optimization, labor productivity and OT optimization in a 24/7 environment.
• Ensures appropriate staffing models, skill mix, and labor productivity while maintaining readiness for high-risk, high-volume obstetric care, including emergent situations.
• Partners closely with Obstetrics, Maternal‑Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, Anesthesia, and Emergency Medicine leaders to coordinate interdisciplinary care and advance clinical programs, including high-risk pregnancy management and neonatal services.
• Supports academic priorities through collaboration with faculty, integration of teaching into clinical workflows, and advancement of nursing research and quality improvement initiatives in perinatal care.
• Leads a professional practice environment grounded in shared governance, fostering staff engagement, clinical competency, and leadership development.
• Implements systems to proactively identify and mitigate clinical and operational risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards (e.g., perinatal core measures, fetal monitoring standards, obstetric emergency readiness).

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing.
• Registered Nurse in the State of California.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Labor & Delivery Experience: Direct clinical and/or leadership experience in Labor & Delivery required, with a strong understanding of high-risk obstetric care, perinatal safety practices, and interdisciplinary care models.
• Clinical and Operational Expertise: Demonstrated progressive leadership experience in hospital-based patient care services, with deep knowledge of Labor & Delivery and the perinatal continuum. Comprehensive understanding of hospital and clinic operations within a complex academic medical center environment, including application of professional nursing standards and evidence-based practice.
• Leadership & Communication: Exceptional communication, relationship management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence across multiple levels of the organization. Proven ability to foster a culture of collaboration, shared governance, and interdisciplinary decision-making across diverse teams and service lines.
• Healthcare Systems & Informatics: Strong knowledge of healthcare information systems, clinical informatics, and patient care workflows. Demonstrated ability to leverage technology to improve care delivery, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.
• Leadership Experience: Prior experience in a supervisory or management role within Labor & Delivery required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Nursing or a relevant area preferred.
• RN-BC or other relevant certification.
• Regulatory & Compliance Acumen: In-depth knowledge of regulatory, accreditation, and compliance requirements, including those relevant to perinatal services (e.g., The Joint Commission, CMS, state licensing). Experience ensuring readiness and sustained compliance within a highly regulated environment.
• Director-level or multi-unit leadership experience strongly preferred, with demonstrated success leading through subordinate managers and managing complex teams in a 24/7 environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html