(RN) Lung Transplant Program Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute transplant program growth and service expansion
• Partner with medical, surgical, and administrative leaders to align program goals with organizational priorities
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Develop and manage program budgets
• Monitor payer mix, reimbursement trends, and cost structures
• Support vendor contract discussions and business development
• Monitor and optimize staff productivity
• Track and improve program productivity metrics
• Monitor case costs, revenue, and overall financial performance

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution
• Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the State of California
• Current UCSD ART certification, or BLS and ACLS certifications at time of hire with commitment to get ART 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 inpatient 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

Prior Experience

• 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