Ambulatory Strategic Initiatives Lead

Job SummaryThe Strategic Initiatives Lead plays a critical role in advancing enterprise-wide improvements across ambulatory and outpatient care settings. This position independently leads high-impact strategic initiatives that span clinical, operational, and administrative domains, with a particular focus on enhancing patient access, operational efficiency, service coordination, and care quality.Leveraging deep expertise in organizational development, strategic planning, and process improvement, the Strategic Initiatives Lead partners with cross-functional stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate solutions that align with enterprise goals and drive measurable outcomes. This role serves as a trusted advisor and project lead, guiding senior leadership through complex change efforts and promoting adoption across departments and disciplines.The current priority initiative involves designing and implementing a capacity management system and centralized contact center aimed at improving access to care and enhancing the patient experience. This initiative will provide a consistent, seamless patient experience through a multi-modal communication center that integrates referrals, scheduling, registration, benefit eligibility, prior authorization, administrative inquiries, and clinical service coordination across ambulatory sites.Core responsibilities:Lead strategic initiatives across ambulatory and outpatient operations, from planning through implementation, to improve access, care quality, and operational efficiency.Provide expert consultation to clinical and operational leaders on initiative design, implementation, and change adoption aligned with enterprise goals.Develop and manage detailed project plans, timelines, and resources; proactively address risks and barriers to ensure successful execution.Engage diverse stakeholders to build alignment, secure buy-in, and drive coordinated action across departments and leadership levels.Facilitate design sessions, process mapping, and collaborative problem-solving to inform operational and workflow decisions.Coach leaders to adhere to implementation standards and validate decisions align with system-wide priorities and principles.Assess current-state operations across domains to identify value gaps, analyze impacts, and recommend integrated solutions.Lead change management and communication planning, ensuring adoption and sustainability of new processes.Provide tools and guidance that enable teams to navigate change, resolve issues, and drive adoption.Monitor outcomes using performance metrics and KPIs; apply data to inform continuous improvement efforts.Apply improvement methodologies (such as Lean) to optimize workflows and enhance service delivery.Escalate high-priority issues with recommended mitigations; track resolution and maintain accountability.Champion a culture of adaptability, collaboration, and continuous learning.Operate independently as a subject matter expert, delivering innovative, data-informed solutions to complex challenges.The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.The salary range for this position is $138,100 - $207,200 (Annual Rate).To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: Department DescriptionUCSF Health is a part of UC San Francisco, one of the top universities in the nation for health sciences research and higher education. By bringing together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health, UCSF Health can drive advancements in treatment and technology that benefit patients everywhere.UCSF Health is divided into four business units: Adult services, Children's services, Ambulatory services, and the UCSF-affiliated network. The Ambulatory BU has expanded to include all sites of care in San Francisco, focused on adult or pediatric care, including clinics, infusion care, outpatient pharmacy operations, and ambulatory surgical centers.Of the four business units at UCSF Health, Ambulatory Services is the fastest growing and represents a major strategic priority for the organization moving forward. The annual revenue of Ambulatory services is >2.9 billion. Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.6 to 8 years of relevant experiencePrevious healthcare management experience in hospital or ambulatory settingsKnowledge of the consulting process to effectively lead highly significant engagements from inception to conclusion.Expert knowledge of the organizational development and effectiveness field, theories, models to assess, design, and implement customized organizational interventions.Demonstrates superior analytical, problem-solving, project planning and implementation skills.Knowledge of the organizational environment of higher education and large research universities to understand client priorities, issues, motivations and constraints.Have superior written, verbal and presentation skills for influencing and facilitating sustained change.Possesses superior consulting, relationship-building, and strategic thinking skills.Demonstrates superior strategic thinking and consulting skills in guiding the organization toward workable strategies and solutions.Ability to facilitate and influence people at all levels. Ability to persuade through both logic and appeal to positive motivations. Ability to handle multiple constituencies, agendas, engagements, and tasks, and to deal productively with ambiguity and conflict.Demonstrates ability to learn quickly, reason, synthesize, and generalize based on information obtained; sound judgment; ability to draw unbiased conclusions.Ability to focus on priorities, strategies, and vision.Incorporates excellent skills in change management programs on a regular basis.Highly skilled in navigating organizational complexity.Preferred QualificationsAdvanced degree preferred.Lean expertise in healthcare or other relevant setting highly preferredAbout UCSFAt UCSF Health, our mission of innovative patient care, advanced technology and pioneering research is redefining what's possible for the patients we serve – a promise we share with the professionals who make up our team. Consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals nationwide by U.S. News & World Report – UCSF Health is committed to providing the most rewarding work experience while delivering the best care available anywhere. In an environment that allows for continuous learning and opportunities for professional growth, UCSF Health offers the ideal atmosphere in which to best use your skills and talents.Pride ValuesUCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values. In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.Equal Employment OpportunityThe University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.OrganizationHealthJob Code and Payroll Title000562 ORGANIZATIONAL CNSLT 4 Job CategoryProfessional (Non-Clinical) Bargaining Unit99 - Policy-Covered (No Bargaining Unit) Employee ClassCareerPercentage100%LocationSan Francisco, CA CampusParnassus Heights (SF) Work StyleFlexibleShiftDaysShift Length8 Hours Additional Shift DetailsMonday - FridayDepartment Name: Faculty Practice Admin (FPO)Position Type: Full TimeReq Number: 85981BR