Director of Ambulatory Operations
Career GuideKey Responsibilities
- Lead daily operations across outpatient clinics and service lines
- Improve patient access through scheduling, capacity planning, and clinic flow
- Set and track performance targets for quality, safety, patient experience, and cost
- Partner with clinical leaders to standardize workflows and reduce variation in care delivery
- Manage operating budgets, staffing plans, and productivity expectations
- Oversee hiring, training, coaching, and performance management for operations teams
- Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, internal policies, and accreditation standards
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and remove operational barriers
- Coordinate with billing, revenue cycle, and front desk teams to reduce denials and improve collections
Top Skills for Success
Operational Leadership
Clinic Workflow Optimization
Capacity Planning
Scheduling Strategy
Staffing Management
Budget Management
Quality Improvement
Patient Experience Management
Regulatory Compliance
Performance Metrics
Change Management
Stakeholder Communication
Career Progression
Can Lead To
Senior Director of Ambulatory Operations
Vice President of Ambulatory Services
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Administrative Officer
Transition Opportunities
Director of Clinical Operations
Director of Practice Management
Director of Access and Scheduling
Revenue Cycle Operations Director
Service Line Director
Common Skill Gaps
Often Missing Skills
Advanced Financial ForecastingContracting AwarenessRevenue Cycle FundamentalsCare Access AnalyticsStandard Work DesignProject Portfolio ManagementVendor ManagementService Recovery
Development SuggestionsBuild fluency in outpatient financial drivers, access metrics, and billing workflows. Lead a focused improvement project that targets one measurable outcome such as wait times, no show rates, room utilization, or patient complaints. Ask for ownership of a multi clinic initiative to strengthen change leadership and cross functional coordination.
Salary & Demand
Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 110,000 to 140,000
Mid LevelUSD 140,000 to 185,000
Senior LevelUSD 185,000 to 240,000
Growth Trend
Steady demand, driven by continued growth in outpatient care, cost control priorities, and the need to improve access and patient experience.Companies Hiring
Major Employers
Kaiser PermanenteHCA HealthcareCommonSpirit HealthProvidenceAscensionMayo ClinicCleveland ClinicNorthwell HealthSutter HealthTenet Healthcare
Industry Sectors
Health SystemsHospital Outpatient DepartmentsMulti Specialty Medical GroupsFederally Qualified Health CentersUrgent Care NetworksSpecialty Clinic NetworksAcademic Medical Centers
Recommended Next Steps
1
Create a one page operating dashboard for access, quality, patient experience, staffing, and cost2
Run a clinic flow assessment and implement one standardized improvement within 60 days3
Partner with revenue cycle leaders to map top denial causes and reduce preventable rework4
Develop a staffing model tied to visit volume and provider templates5
Document a repeatable playbook for daily management, huddles, escalation paths, and issue tracking6
Strengthen relationships with physician leaders through a regular operating review cadence