Transplant Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Payroll Title:
TRANSPLANT MGR 1 Department:
Heart Transplant Hiring Pay Scale
$196,000 - $227,000 / Year Worksite:
La Jolla Appointment Type:
Career Appointment Percent:
100% Union:
Uncovered Total Openings:
1 Work Schedule:
Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday
#141034 (RN) Heart Transplant Program Manager
Filing Deadline: Fri 9/4/2026
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UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.
Reassignment Applicants : Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.
DESCRIPTION
UC San Diego Health is proud to be a four-time Magnet-designated organization and has now earned Magnet with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet is the gold standard for nursing excellence, achieved by only about 10% of hospitals worldwide. Magnet with Distinction is awarded to the highest-performing Magnet organizations, with only a select few earning this prestigious honor. This recognition reflects our commitment to transformational leadership, professional nursing excellence, innovation, exceptional patient outcomes, and an empowering practice environment where nurses thrive.
Under the direction of the Transplant Administrative Directors and in close collaboration with Medical and Surgical Directors, the Organ Transplant Program Manager provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for the transplant program, optimizing patient outcomes to drive program growth. This role participates in developing and executing comprehensive strategic plans for program expansion while ensuring full regulatory compliance with UNOS, CMS, HRSA, and other governing bodies. The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of transplant operations from initial patient referral through post-transplant care, managing resources, workflows, interdisciplinary teams, and external partnerships. The Transplant Manager will consult and collaborate with healthcare professionals to optimize patient care coordination, serving as a resource to staff and physicians while ensuring sustainable program growth through effective resource utilization and operational excellence.
The ideal candidate will bring proven expertise in healthcare operations management, regulatory compliance, and staff development to foster a collaborative, growth-oriented culture. This position demands strong analytical skills to monitor quality metrics, implement performance improvement plans, and manage financial performance.
This position provides operational oversight to UC San Diego Health's Heart Transplant Program.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute transplant program growth and service expansion
• Partner with medical, surgical, and administrative leaders to align program goals with organizational priorities

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with UNOS, CMS, HRSA, and other regulatory entities
• Support accreditation processes and participate in inspections and surveys
• Collaborate with Quality leadership on transplant-specific policies and procedures

Clinical Operations

• Direct daily transplant operations across the entire care continuum
• Optimize workflows, staffing, and resources to ensure efficiency and clinical quality
• Oversee patient flow, transplant personnel, and external partnerships
• Lead operational improvement initiatives

Team Leadership

• Build and develop high-performing interdisciplinary teams
• Provide performance management, professional development, and succession planning
• Manage recruitment, evaluation, and corrective action processes
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on quality care and staff engagement

Quality & Outcomes

• Monitor UNOS metrics, patient outcomes, readmissions, and other quality indicators
• Participate in adverse event reviews and implement corrective actions
• Track clinical, operational, and financial performance against benchmarks

Financial Management

• Develop and manage program budgets
• Monitor payer mix, reimbursement trends, and cost structures
• Support vendor contract discussions and business development

Productivity & Performance Management

• Monitor and optimize staff productivity
• Track and improve program productivity metrics
• Monitor case costs, revenue and overall financial performance

While not required, a cover letter is highly recommended when applying to this position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
• Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the State of California.
• Current UCSD BART certification, or BLS certification at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six months of hire date.
• Seven (7+) or more years of progressive clinical experience, including three (3+) or more years of RN experience within a complex transplant and/or ICU environment.
• Four (4+) or more years of formal leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to lead teams, drive accountability, and navigate difficult conversations.
• Proven leadership capability in healthcare operations, including strategic planning, clinical operations management, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams through change, fostering a growth mindset, and supporting culture transformation in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong working knowledge of CMS Conditions of Participation and OPTN/UNOS regulatory requirements.
• Experience partnering with multidisciplinary stakeholders, including physicians, administrators, and frontline staff.
• Knowledge of workforce management principles, including performance management and accountability in a unionized or highly regulated environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Nursing or relevant area.
• Current experience working within an organ transplant program or transplant-related clinical operations.
• Prior transplant leadership or management experience.
• Experience working in an academic medical center or teaching hospital environment.
• Knowledge of labor relations and experience working within a unionized workforce.
• CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality) certification.
• Epic and Phoenix experience.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

Pay Transparency Act
Annual Full Pay Range: $154,200 - $306,600 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)
Hourly Equivalent: $73.85 - $146.84
Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).
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If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.
UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!
Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.
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The 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.
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination
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UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace