Director of Clinical Operations Multi-Site Primary Care

Southwest Care Center employees can answer yes to these 3 questions: 

1. Do you want to make a difference? 
2. Do you believe everyone is entitled to quality healthcare? 
3. Do you desire to serve the underserved in your community? 

For over 25 years, Southwest Care Center has been providing exceptional healthcare to the communities of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM. We are a non-profit, FQHC-LAL providing medical, behavioral health, case management, community outreach, diabetes education, and pharmacy services. We are proud to offer gender equity medicine, syringe exchange, and HIV/Hep C treatment, testing and other services within our communities. 

Southwest Care Center is currently seeking an experienced full-time Director of Clinical Operations. This position supports all SCC locations in Santa Fe and Albuquerque; therefore, candidate must reside in the local market area of Albuquerque or Santa Fe, New Mexico and able to travel between the two cities as needed. 

Position Details: 

Reporting to the Vice President of Quality Assurance and Operations (VP of QAO), the Director of Clinical Operations develops and oversees operational strategies for clinical programs and services at Southwest Care Center. This role provides oversight of all internal operations related to clinical services, clinic management, and social services programs.  

The Director of Clinical Operations will assist the VP of QAO with strategic planning and implementation of clinical procedures and processes, budget development and adherence, analysis of opportunities for expanding lines of business, and collaboration with other department leadership to ensure quality patient care and regulatory compliance. This position involves supervising and coordinating all areas of patient care, as well as their respective administrative support services and associated department leadership. This position models professionalism and demonstrates the values of the organization at all times. 

Position responsibilities include but not limited to: 

• Responsible for the management of all clinical and administrative support services. Directs and coordinates activities of department or division for which responsibility is delegated to further attainment of goals and objectives. 

• Participates in process improvement and development in the organization. 

• Sets the direction and leads the infrastructure to ensure that clinical department functions are managed within budget and defined goals. 

• Assists the VP of Quality Assurance and Operations in the development of appropriate clinical/quality programs and monitors quality control for all operational functions. 

• Analyzes activities, costs, operations, and forecast data to determine department progress toward stated goals and objectives. 

• Monitors patient care services, ensuring they meet organizational guidelines, and patient needs and develops and implements remediation plans as needed. 

• Provides oversight and direction for assigned projects related to clinical products and services. 

• Identifies work related problems with workable solutions and implements appropriate solutions. Further identifies processes, determines areas for improvement, and sets measurement in place for same. 

• Team member management including hiring, training, management, development, coaching, and corrective action. 

• Responsible for annual performance evaluations of direct reporting staff. 

• Participates in formulating and administering clinic policies and workflows. Continuous monitoring for sustainability and identification of areas of concern. 

• Assists in the planning and developing programs and proposals to support current or innovative programs. 

• Identifies space requirements and provides guidance in the design of operationally functional facilities that support the delivery of quality patient care and support services. 

• In collaboration with the VP of QAO, develops departmental strategic operational planning including staffing and fiscal management. 

• Annual fiscal planning by analyzing and organizing office operations and procedures to 

• ensure all departmental needs are met. 

• Perform ongoing assessment and monitoring of clinical operations. 

• Identify needed improvements in clinical operations and direct Clinic Managers to improve areas of concern. 

• Set standards of excellence for clinical cleanliness and monitor performance according to these standards through routine inspections and evaluations. 

• Function as the resident expert of organizational policies and procedures as they impact the operations of the clinic. 

• Interpret policies when there is question or concern related to the applicability of certain policies. 

• Develop and revise policies to ensure care is provided according to governmental regulations and in a clean, safe, patient friendly environment. 

• Responsible for all clinical operations’ regulatory compliance with responsibility for development, implementation, and on-going survey readiness. 

• Oversee and collaborate with social services programs managers to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies, grants management, and delivery of services as required under these agencies and grants. Programs include Ryan White, HOPWA, and other Outreach services.  

• Acts as liaison between Executive Leadership and departmental supervisors and staff. 

• Provides feedback to Executive Leadership concerning impacts on patient flow of decisions made at the Executive level. 

• Works closely with the VP of Quality Assurance and Operations in the development of sound Medical Management policies and procedures. Develops tools to evaluate adherence to Medical Management protocols. 

• Participates as a key member of the Quality Improvement committee. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Candidate Highlights:  

• Minimum (5) years’ experience in primary care clinical operations management serving as the senior leader/decision maker in the aforementioned areas above. 

• Prefer at least (3) years’ experience in a similar role at a Federally Qualified Health Center or FQHC Look-Alike.  

• Athena experience highly desired.  

• Proven regulatory compliance and grants management.  

• Quality Improvement and Clinical Informatics experience complementary to this role. 

• Grants Management and Ryan White Program experience also highly desired. 

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in healthcare, business administration, or other related field. Master’s degree preferred. 

• Valid NM driver’s license and BLS required.  

• Clinical license such as RN license complementary to this role. 

Employment Highlights: 

• Monday - Friday typical schedule. 

• Competitive salary with quarterly bonus structure. 

• Great work/life balance with generous time off plans. 

• Full benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, 401k with substantial employer contribution, paid time off, holiday pay, professional development programs, and 340B prescription access. 

• In-clinic with some remote work available.