Associate Director of Projects -Clinical Affairs

About the role

The Office for Clinical Affairs at the University of South Carolina is seeking to hire an Associate Director of Projects to join our team. The Associate Director serves as a strategic advisor, enterprise project leader, and operational integrator within the Office for Clinical Affairs. Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President (AVP ) for Hospital Planning and Integration, this highly visible role drives the execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives that advance the University’s clinical, academic, research, and healthcare transformation priorities.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a strategic advisor, enterprise project leader, and operational integrator within the Office for Clinical Affairs.
• Drives the execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives that advance the University’s clinical, academic, research, and healthcare transformation priorities.
• Functions as a senior-level coordination and implementation partner for executive leadership, ensuring alignment across major institutional initiatives, capital projects, and strategic partnerships.
• Establishes disciplined project governance, operational readiness, stakeholder alignment, and enterprise-wide coordination across a dynamic portfolio of initiatives, including the development and activation of the University of South Carolina Neurological Hospital, the Brain Health Network, and future clinical innovation programs.
• Operates within highly matrixed environments involving healthcare executives, academic leadership, physicians, operational teams, architects, contractors, research leaders, and external partners.
• Requires exceptional executive presence, strategic thinking, organizational agility, and the ability to lead through influence while managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Project Management, Construction Management, Public Health, or related field preferred
• 8–10 years of experience in healthcare systems leadership, enterprise project management, hospital operations, or strategic program development preferred
• Experience supporting hospital construction, activation, operational readiness, or major capital projects preferred
• Experience within academic medical centers, neurological/neuroscience programs, rehabilitation hospitals, or specialty care environments preferred
• Experience supporting executive leadership and enterprise-level strategic initiatives preferred
• Experience working within highly matrixed organizations involving academic, clinical, operational, and public-sector stakeholders preferred
• Experience facilitating executive discussions, leading organizational change, and presenting to senior leadership or governing boards preferred

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications (Classified and Unclassified positions): Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Project Management, Construction Management, Public Health, or related field preferred
• 8–10 years of experience in healthcare systems leadership, enterprise project management, hospital operations, or strategic program development preferred
• Experience supporting hospital construction, activation, operational readiness, or major capital projects preferred
• Experience within academic medical centers, neurological/neuroscience programs, rehabilitation hospitals, or specialty care environments preferred
• Experience supporting executive leadership and enterprise-level strategic initiatives preferred
• Experience working within highly matrixed organizations involving academic, clinical, operational, and public-sector stakeholders preferred
• Experience facilitating executive discussions, leading organizational change, and presenting to senior leadership or governing boards preferred
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Exceptional project leadership, organizational, and execution capabilities; Strong strategic thinking and operational problem-solving skills; Ability to manage complex initiatives across multiple workstreams and stakeholder groups simultaneously; Ability to influence alignment and drive progress without direct reporting authority; Executive-level written, verbal, and presentation communication skills; Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into concise executive summaries and recommendations; Proficiency in project management software, dashboards, reporting tools, and operational tracking systems; Ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion in highly sensitive environments; High degree of initiative, adaptability, and accountability in fast-paced, evolving organizational settings; Strong facilitation, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills; Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and support transformational organizational initiatives

Skills

• Exceptional project leadership, organizational, and execution capabilities
• Strong strategic thinking and operational problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage complex initiatives across multiple workstreams and stakeholder groups simultaneously
• Ability to influence alignment and drive progress without direct reporting authority
• Executive-level written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into concise executive summaries and recommendations
• Proficiency in project management software, dashboards, reporting tools, and operational tracking systems

Benefits

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities