Director of Operations
Reports To: Chief Operations Officer
Position Summary
The Director of Operations is responsible for driving operational performance, consistency, and growth across a group of dental practices. This role provides strategic leadership and operational oversight while partnering closely with Practice Administrators, doctors, and clinical teams to achieve organizational goals and deliver an exceptional patient experience.
The Director of Operations will monitor business and operational performance, identify opportunities for improvement, establish and implement standardized processes, and provide coaching and accountability to practice leadership. This position requires a strong balance of strategic thinking, financial acumen, leadership, and hands-on execution, with a focus on operational excellence, team development, and sustainable growth.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Provide strategic and day-to-day operational oversight across assigned practice locations, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, standards, and initiatives
- Partner with Practice Administrators and doctors to drive practice performance, accountability, and operational excellence
- Monitor and analyze key performance indicators, including production, collections, new patients, patient retention, schedule efficiency, staffing, and profitability
- Identify operational challenges and develop scalable solutions to improve workflows, productivity, patient experience, and financial performance
- Conduct regular business reviews with practice leadership to assess performance, establish priorities, and drive accountability
- Develop and execute action plans to address performance gaps and achieve established goals
- Support practice growth initiatives, including new services, expansion opportunities, and operational integration of new locations
- Partner with executive leadership to establish and execute annual and long-term operational strategies
Financial & Performance Management
- Partner with leadership and practice administrators on budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance
- Review practice-level financial results and identify trends, opportunities, and areas requiring intervention
- Develop strategies to improve revenue, collections, profitability, and overall practice performance
- Establish performance expectations and ensure practice leadership understands and effectively manages key business metrics
- Use data and reporting to inform operational decisions and drive continuous improvement
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop Practice Administrators and other practice leadership team members
- Provide guidance and mentorship to practice leaders to strengthen leadership capabilities and operational decision-making
- Support staffing strategy, workforce planning, onboarding, and team development across assigned locations
- Partner with HR and other shared services teams to address employee relations, performance management, retention, and organizational needs
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance
- Identify leadership development opportunities and succession planning needs within the assigned practices
Standardization & Process Improvement
- Drive consistency across locations by implementing standardized workflows, processes, and operational best practices
- Partner with executive leadership and shared services teams to develop, refine, and implement policies, procedures, and systems
- Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend scalable solutions to improve productivity, quality, and patient experience
- Lead and support implementation of company-wide operational initiatives and strategic projects
- Evaluate existing processes and systems to identify opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness
- Ensure successful adoption and sustained execution of new processes across assigned locations
Patient Experience & Quality
- Promote a high level of patient satisfaction and ensure practices consistently deliver an exceptional patient experience
- Monitor patient experience metrics and identify opportunities for improvement
- Partner with practice leadership to address operational barriers impacting patient care and satisfaction
- Support clinical and operational teams in maintaining high standards of quality and service
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure adherence to company policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements
- Support operational audits, reviews, and compliance initiatives across assigned locations
- Identify operational risks and partner with leadership to develop and implement appropriate solutions
- Promote a culture of compliance, accountability, and operational excellence
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Serve as a key liaison between practice operations and shared services departments, including Finance, HR, Recruiting, IT, Marketing, and Revenue Cycle Management
- Communicate organizational priorities and ensure effective execution at the practice level
- Provide leadership with insights and recommendations based on practice performance and operational trends
- Collaborate on company-wide initiatives that impact practice operations and provider teams
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered
- 5+ years of multi-site operations or leadership experience, preferably in healthcare, dental, or a service-based environment
- Proven experience leading and developing teams across multiple locations
- Strong understanding of operational KPIs, financial performance, and performance management
- Demonstrated success in process improvement, change management, and organizational growth
- Experience partnering with senior leadership to develop and execute operational strategies
- Ability to travel to practice locations as needed
Skills & Competencies
- Strong leadership, coaching, and relationship-building skills
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organizational goals into actionable plans
- Strong financial and analytical acumen
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail and follow-through
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Ability to influence and drive accountability across multiple levels of an organization
- Adaptable and comfortable leading teams through change
- Demonstrated commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement
