Director of Ambulatory Services

University of Missouri Health Care • Columbia, MO

5d • $133,945 - $218,511 • Onsite

About The Position

MU Health Care is seeking an accomplished Director of Ambulatory Services to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Department of Family & Community Medicine, one of the largest and most comprehensive primary care networks in the region. This leader will oversee operations across 11 clinic locations, approximately 271 FTEs, and more than 230,000 annual patient visits while partnering closely with physician leadership, faculty, residents, fellows, and health system stakeholders to advance access, quality, patient experience, and financial performance. As an integral leader within Missouri's premier academic health system, this role will help shape the future of primary care delivery while supporting the clinical, educational, and research missions of the University of Missouri School of Medicine.
Top candidates will bring proven ambulatory operations leadership experience within an academic health system or academic medical center environment. Experience outside an academic healthcare setting is unlikely to provide the breadth of exposure necessary for success in this role. Successful candidates will demonstrate a track record of leading large, multi-site ambulatory networks; partnering effectively with faculty physicians, clinical leaders, and executive stakeholders; and navigating the unique complexities of faculty practice operations, graduate medical education, and academic healthcare. The ideal candidate is a visible, relationship-driven leader with strong financial and operational acumen who has successfully improved access, patient experience, workforce engagement, and practice performance while leading organizations through growth, change, and increasing complexity. This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven academic ambulatory leader to influence the future of primary care delivery across a growing and highly respected academic health system.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related area. Master's degree in a related area or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities can be acquired.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Three (3) years of experience in ambulatory operations or healthcare administration.

Nice To Haves

• Significant experience working in ambulatory operations in an academic health system.

Responsibilities

• Oversees daily business operations of ambulatory clinics, including scheduling, registration, billing, and front-end processes to ensure efficient and effective workflows.
• Leads financial planning and management activities for clinic operations, including budgeting, expense control, and revenue optimization.
• Implements process improvement initiatives to enhance patient access, reduce wait times, and streamline administrative functions.
• Collaborates with clinic managers, medical leadership, and support departments to ensure alignment between operational activities and patient care objectives.
• Develops and monitors key performance indicators to evaluate operational efficiency, staff productivity, and service quality.
• Ensures compliance with MU Health Care policies, regulatory requirements, and payer guidelines across all administrative functions.
• Leads space utilization planning and coordinates facility-related needs in collaboration with facilities and planning departments.
• Supports change management initiatives related to technology adoption, new services, or workflow redesign.
• Coordinates the implementation of systems and technology that support operational excellence and patient satisfaction.
• Provides guidance and development opportunities to managers and supervisors, promoting a culture of accountability and high performance.
• Collaborates with Centralized Timekeeping and Scheduling to ensure accurate staff scheduling and alignment with operational needs.
• Utilizes UKG WFM to monitor employee attendance via the attendance tab, verify attendance-related occurrences requiring disciplinary action, and review departmental staffing reports to assess efficiency, policy adherence, and appropriate meal break usage.
• Reviews and approves late timecard and schedule edit requests submitted through AskHR. Address patterns of late submissions that may require corrective action.
• Leads a culture of safety through proactive risk mitigation and continuous quality improvement, taking measures to evaluate regulatory readiness routinely. Monitors and analyzes safety and performance metrics to identify trends and implement corrective actions for staff and/or patients as appropriate.
• Oversees the development, coordination, and maintenance of daily staffing schedules to ensure the appropriate level of coverage and continuity of care across units.
• Directs the implementation and oversight of MU Health Care time and attendance policies and practices.
• Progressive advancement in leadership roles and scope, showcasing competency and mastery of the field.
• Applies broad clinical and administrative knowledge to align departmental strategy with health system goals and patient outcomes.
• Leads managers and supervisors to foster accountability, develop talent, and ensure high performance across service areas.
• Drives operational efficiency through advanced planning, budgeting, and stakeholder engagement across internal and external initiatives.
• Expertise in ambulatory clinic business operations, including scheduling systems, revenue cycle processes, and patient access strategies.
• Utilizes data analytics and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement in service delivery, financial performance, and operational workflows.

Benefits

• Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
• Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
• Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
• Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
• Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director