UC San Diego Health

(RN) Lung Transplant Program Manager

Hiring Pay Scale: $196,000 - $227,000 / Year

UC San Diego Health is a Magnet designated organization, which is a prestigious recognition that applies to only 10% of all U.S. hospitals. Magnet is the “gold standard” for nursing excellence and is based on strengths in five key areas, which include transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovation and improvements and empirical outcomes. UC San Diego Health has held its Magnet status since 2011.

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 Lung 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

While not required, a cover letter is highly recommended when applying to this position.

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.

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

Apply Online:

http://50.73.55.13/counter.php?id=325798

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.