Ambulatory Operations Director (AOD) - DPC

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

 

About Duke Primary Care

 

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Primary Care, which offers family, adolescent, and internal medicine services as well as urgent, general pediatric, and virtual care at nearly 50 clinic locations across central North Carolina.

Duke Health seeks to hire a Ambulatory Operations Director – DPC, who will embrace our mission of Advancing Health Together!

 

Occ Summary

The Ambulatory Operations Director (AOD) provides executive-level operational leadership for all ambulatory clinics within a designated service, encompassing multiple sites, clinical specialties, and high- volume patient care environments. This role is responsible for driving services performance across clinical quality, patient experience, financial stewardship, and operational efficiency. The AOD ensures strategic alignment with DUHS goals, leads large-scale change initiatives, and fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the services. The AOD partners closely with physician and advanced practice provider leadership, Practice Administrators, Nurse Managers, and Clinic Managers to ensure the delivery of safe, efficient, patient-centered care while meeting regulatory and compliance requirements.

Work Performed

• Provide overall strategic and operational leadership for assigned ambulatoryclinics within the assigned services, ensuring alignment with DUHS mission, values, and goals.
• Informs and executes services strategic plans, including growth initiatives, access expansion, and service optimization.
• Oversee the recruitment, development, and evaluation of multi-tier clinic leadership, including Practice Administrators, Nurse Managers, and Clinic Managers.
• Manage the services' operational and capital budgets, ensuring financial performance targets are met and resources are allocated effectively.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, safety, and infection prevention requirements across the services.
• Lead large-scale performance improvement initiatives to enhance patient access, clinical quality, operational efficiency, and staff engagement.
• Analyze operational and financial data to identify trends, forecast needs, and inform decision-making at the services and system level.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison to physician and APP leadership, fostering strong partnerships to advance patient care delivery.
• Represent the services in system-level committees, councils, and strategic planning forums, advocate for operational needs and resources.
• Oversee the implementation and standardization of best practices, workflows, and policies across all assigned clinics.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proven track record of leading complex, multi-site healthcare operations.
• knowledge of ambulatory care management, financial stewardship, and strategic planning.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to engage and inspire multi- disciplinary teams.
• Expertise in performance improvement methodologies and change management. Exceptional analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Level Characteristics

• Proven track record of leading complex, multi-site healthcare operations.
• Deep knowledge of ambulatory care management, financial stewardship, and strategic planning.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to engage and inspire multi- disciplinary teams.
• Expertise in performance improvement methodologies and change management. Exceptional analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, business, or related field required.
• Master's degree in healthcare administration, nursing, business, or related field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in ambulatory or hospital operations, with at least three years in a leadership role managing multiple clinics or departmental locations.
• Experience in ambulatory or outpatient clinic oper