System Director, Admissions and ED Registration

About the Role

UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. As the System Director, Admissions & ED Registration, you will provide enterprise-level oversight for all admissions and emergency registration functions across UCI Health. The role is accountable for strategic planning, day-to-day operational management, budgetary oversight, and regulatory compliance of admissions and emergency registration units systemwide. You will maintain financial accountability for performance outcomes across all operational locations and collaborate with site leaders to identify and lead improvement initiatives that optimize patient access, throughput, and the overall registration experience.

The System Director serves as the accountable executive for end-user information systems supporting these functions, including strategic planning and execution of system enhancements, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance to ensure operational continuity and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise-level oversight for admissions and emergency registration functions.
• Lead strategic planning, operational management, and budgetary oversight for admissions and emergency registration units.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, including Consents, EMTALA, MOON, and HINN Letter requirements.
• Maintain financial accountability for performance outcomes across all operational locations.
• Collaborate with site leaders to optimize patient access, throughput, and registration experience.
• Oversee end-user information systems, including strategic planning and execution of enhancements and upgrades.
• Develop and lead process improvement initiatives using data-driven insights.
• Manage payor authorization and scheduling processes.
• Produce reports and executive summaries for senior leadership using tools like Excel, Access, and Word.
• Lead change management toward strategic business objectives.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships across the health system.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of admissions, registration, and regulatory requirements (e.g., EMTALA, MOON, HINN Letter).
• Experience with payor authorization and scheduling processes.
• Resourcefulness in identifying and synthesizing information to form recommendations.
• Customer service skills appropriate to the role.
• Minimum 10 years of directly related experience.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive management responsibility.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in an executive leadership role (Director or higher) in a related setting.
• Knowledge of healthcare registration processes and insurance programs covering all payor types.
• Highly developed analytic skills and ability to synthesize large datasets for reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills for engaging with physicians, managers, administrative staff, and support teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of complex training curriculums and Managed Care requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in producing reports using Excel, Access, Word, and general report writers.
• Ability to write succinct and accurate executive summaries for senior-level audiences.
• Strategic thinking and planning abilities.
• Ability to summarize information for varied audiences.
• Capacity to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload.
• Experience developing and leading teams in process improvement.
• Ability to lead change toward strategic business objectives.
• Ability to act independently to solve problems and develop recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Lean Sigma process improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with University and medical center organizations, policies, procedures, and forms.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and directly related professional experience.

Benefits

We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding, including:

• Medical insurance.
• Sick and vacation time.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Access to a number of discounts and perks.

For more details, visit our compensation practices and benefits page.