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Executive Director, Clinical Operations

Administration Irvine Irvine, California Job ID: 2025-3624
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When you join our faculty at West Coast University, you’ll become part of a team that always puts students first. And that means you’ll have the tools, technologies, resources and support you need to make a real difference in their lives, empowering new generations of healthcare leaders. Get ready to learn and grow in an energized environment with year-round curricula, collaborating with talented colleagues and reimagining healthcare education as we know it.

  • Full-Time
  • Minimal Travel (if any)

Success Profile

What makes a successful member of the Faculty team at West Coast University? Check out the traits we’re looking for and see if you have the right mix.

  • Facilitator
  • Personable
  • Socially Conscious
  • Strategic
  • Team-Player
  • Technologically Savvy

“If you are looking to work at a university that takes care of its students, faculty, and staff and allows you to live a prosperous, fulfilling, and healthy life, this is the place for you.”

Paul P. Instructor ii, Gen Ed Non-sci, orange county
associate since 2013

Benefits

We offer a generous benefits package with a wide range of the plans, programs and support you need to thrive.

  • Healthcare

  • 401(k) Retirement
    Plans
    and
    Employer Matching

  • Professional
    Development

  • Day of Service
    PTO Day

  • Collaboration

  • Management

  • Awards &
    Recognition

Our Mission & Culture

At WCU, the work you do empowers our future nurses, therapists, dental hygienists and more — propelling them into our communities where they can do the most good. As part of our dynamic, energized culture, you’ll contribute to our unique mission that always puts students first. You’ll collaborate with incredible people, grow in your profession, and transform healthcare education. Discover what it means to truly believe in the work that you do.

Responsibilities

The Executive Director, Clinical Operations provides leadership oversight for the execution of clinical
operations, partner engagement, and faculty support across the university. This role ensures the
execution of functional strategy and operational direction for all clinical programs across the .
The ED, Clinical Operations executes clinical operational initiatives with program teams and partners,
ensuring alignment with institutional growth objectives, compliance standards and evolving workforce
needs, in the marketplace.
The ED, Clinical Operations works closely with the Campus Support Services Clinical Team, campus
teams, and external healthcare partners to coordinate clinical relationship management, operational
efficiencies, faculty development, and site management. Additionally, the ED, Clinical Operations
collaborates on implementation of clinical site acquisition, expansion into new markets, and B2B
partnerships to support institutional growth.
Leadership Oversight & Execution
• Provide hands-on leadership to ensure the successful execution of clinical operations, faculty
support initiatives, and partnership engagement strategies.
• Oversee the implementation of standardized workflows and operational processes to improve
efficiency and consistency across clinical sites.
• Establishes operational plans and performance metrics for clinical operations across all programs
to impact short and mid-term institutional goals.
• Facilitates the execution of initiatives that includes multiple teams across campuses and functions
related to clinical operations and clinical education.
• Drives the adoption of technology solutions (e.g., Salesforce) to enhance clinical placement
tracking and partner engagement, engaging with cross-functional departments across the
institution to develop optimized solutions that benefit clinical relations.
• Provides input and analysis to senior leaders on complex issues and follows through on
facilitating execution of solutions.
• Coaches and develops clinical leaders on UA Clinical team, and campus clinical teams to
enhance functional and leadership skills and expertise.
• Works to align diverse stakeholders to ensure shared priorities and successful execution of goals.
• Provides leadership and guidance to UA Clinical Team leaders and Campus Clinical Leaders to
support professional growth and skill enhancement.
• Clinical Partnerships & Growth Support
Provides innovation insight and solutions related to the management, retention, and acquisition of
clinical sites to ensure a strong network of placement opportunities.
• Actively engages with current and potential clinical partners to expand our portfolio and deepen
relationships with clinical sites.
• Leads efforts to enhance partner engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with industry
workforce needs and student educational goals.
• Drives growth in clinical partnerships for new markets.
• Leads B2B engagement efforts with healthcare organizations, ensuring strong employer
relationships for clinical placements and workforce development initiatives.
• Campus & Faculty Support
• Drives execution of large initiatives related to faculty and clinical instructor development, ensuring
site educators receive the necessary training and resources.
• Collaborate with campus & academic leadership to ensure alignment between clinical education
and program outcomes.
• Responsible to ensure execution of initiatives by providing guidance and leadership oversite for
initiatives related to enhancing clinical education and experience students receive.
• Influences campus clinical faculty and managers to adopt and sustain new practices, in
collaboration with the College of Nursing leadership team.
• Leads and facilitates student engagement programs at the UA and campus levels related to
clinical SSI scores.
• Drives significant process improvements to enhance job performance in clinical operations and
clinical education.
Minimum & Preferred Qualifications: 
Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business, or a related field required
• 9+ years of experience in clinical operations, healthcare education, or clinical partnership
management, including significant management experience in leading leaders is required.
• Additional skills required:
• Proven experience managing multiple teams and/or large-scale projects in a complex healthcare
or academic environment.
• Experience influencing business decisions, managing large-scale resources and executing
operational strategies.
• Familiarity with regulatory, accreditation, and compliance requirements for clinical education.
• Experience in relationship management with healthcare organizations and clinical partners.
• Proficiency in process improvement, workflow optimization, and technology adoption (e.g.,
Salesforce, clinical tracking tools).
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with senior leadership, faculty,
and external partners.
• Master’s degree in Nursing is preferred over a Master's degree in Healthcare, Business or related
field.
Execution-Focused Leadership: Ability to oversee and manage multi-functional clinical operations
Created By: Grace Castersen April 01, 2025 Version: 1
teams, ensuring strategies translate into measurable outcomes.
• Complex Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Experience analyzing operational challenges,
designing solutions, and implementing process improvements.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: Skilled in negotiating with healthcare partners, engaging
executive leadership, and securing buy-in on strategic initiatives.
• Process Optimization & Innovation: Proven ability to standardize workflows, adopt technology
solutions, and improve operational efficiencies across teams.
• Change Management & Leadership Development: Ability to mentor, train, and develop staff,
ensuring the sustainability of operational enhancements.
• Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with healthcare education accreditation
requirements, clinical site regulations, and placement compliance standards.
• Execution-Focused Leadership: Ability to oversee and manage multi-functional clinical operations
teams, ensuring strategies translate into measurable outcomes.
• Complex Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Experience analyzing operational challenges,
designing solutions, and implementing process improvements.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: Skilled in negotiating with healthcare partners, engaging
executive leadership, and securing buy-in on strategic initiatives.
• Process Optimization & Innovation: Proven ability to standardize workflows, adopt technology
solutions, and improve operational efficiencies across teams.
• Change Management & Leadership Development: Ability to mentor, train, and develop staff,
ensuring the sustainability of operational enhancements.
• Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge: Familiarity with healthcare education accreditation
requirements, clinical site regulations, and placement compliance standards.
• Additional essential skills:
• Ability to manage and work effectively in a highly ethnic and culturally diverse student and
associate community.
• Ability to use effective communication skills, both oral and written, including presentations and
effective listening skills.
• Ability to speak before public groups, committees and meetings.
• Ability to effectively use interpersonal skills, follow through with duties, provide attention to detail,
and demonstrate the ability to motivate others.
• Ability to use creative facilitation and conflict resolution skills to resolve difficult and sensitive
issues.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to self-direct, self-pace, multi-task and function well under pressure of deadlines and
conflicting priorities. Ability to partner with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to exercise good judgment. Ability to interpret rules, regulations, policies and procedures
and assure compliance.
• Knowledge of applicable databases and computer application systems to supply the most
accurate information, reports and projections.
• Experience with MS Office.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service skills and maintain cooperative and effective
working relationships with others.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally at least 50% of the time and on an as-needed basis.
• This is not a remote position and on-site presence is required.

Do you want a career that allows you to make a difference in other people’s lives? Discover what it means to truly believe in the work that you do at West Coast University.

At West Coast University, we have the privilege of educating students seeking careers in healthcare and guide them through their transformational journey from student to caregiver. Our associates are united behind that purpose and share a deep commitment to our values of teamwork, collegiality, transparency, and a student-centric approach to all we do. This focus creates an aligned, nimble, and consensus-driven culture that is solution-oriented and supports our associates’ professional growth.

West Coast University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all associates.

Primary Location: Irvine, California Campus: Administration Irvine Function: Faculty
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