Manager, Operations

Job Description

The Department of Surgery has an outstanding opportunity for a Manager to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the General Surgery and Plastic Surgery Division Administrator, the Manager, General Surgery and Plastic Surgery (GSD and PSD) operations provides operational and administrative management for the Divisions of General Surgery and Plastic Surgery within the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine. This position is responsible for day-to-day divisional operations, divisional operating budgets and salary distributions, staff supervision, workflow standardization, and operational project support across two large and complex surgical divisions.

The position is based primarily at UWMC-Health Sciences and is eligible for a hybrid work schedule with two days remote per week, based on operational needs. The Manager supervises a team of operational and administrative support staff and works closely with the Division Administrator, division chiefs, faculty, staff, learners, and departmental partners to strengthen administrative infrastructure and support clinical, academic, and operational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations Management – 50%
  • Prepare data for annual budget iterations under the direction of the Division Administrator; review and monitor assigned divisional budgets; reconcile variances; recommend adjustments to align spending with operational plans; and support compliance with budget guidelines and policies.
  • Make salary distribution and costing allocation decisions within delegated authority; prepare timely allocation communications to payroll; monitor sources and uses of funds; and train support staff to review and maintain accurate faculty allotment budgets.
  • Manage divisional physical space and operational resources, ensuring staff and faculty have appropriate space and equipment, and support large-scale space reassignment or remodel planning as needed.
  • Ensure divisional operations comply with Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, UW Medicine, University, state, and federal rules, regulations, and policies; ensure staff are trained and compliant with applicable requirements.
  • Extract, review, and analyze operational and financial data from departmental, hospital, and University systems; identify trends, performance gaps, and opportunities for operational improvement; and help develop dashboards and routine reporting to support divisional decision-making.
  • Lead process improvement and workflow design for selected divisional operations, including faculty recruitment workflows, faculty onboarding workflows, credentialing coordination, and other faculty support processes.
  • Standardize and continuously improve administrative workflows across assigned surgical sections and fellowship programs; partner with other divisions and Integrated Resources where workflows intersect with central processes.
  • Manage routine divisional communications to faculty on operational matters, policy and procedure changes, and workflow updates; serve as an operational point of contact for divisional faculty; attend divisional meetings and support agenda development, materials preparation, and follow-up actions.
• Staff Hiring, Supervision and Team Leadership – 30%
  • Supervise a team of operational and administrative staff across both divisions, including responsibility for hiring, training coordination, work assignments, performance evaluation, corrective action, and day-to-day team leadership within departmental guidelines.
  • Draft job descriptions, coordinate onboarding and training, establish structured onboarding plans, checklists, milestones, and competency expectations, and ensure administrative teams provide appropriate support for faculty and programs across education, research, and clinical operations.
  • Set team priorities, develop cross-coverage plans, resolve operational and workflow issues, coach and mentor staff, identify professional development opportunities, and provide tools and resources to support staff growth and accountability.
  • Work with Department HR to achieve desired staffing and performance outcomes, understand escalation pathways, and coordinate performance management actions when needed.
• Strategic and Operational Project Support – 20%
  • Support special projects assigned by the Division Administrator, including development of business cases for new clinical programs, operational planning for new programs or sites, and recommendations related to staffing levels and administrative support needs.
  • Collaborate with the Division Administrator, divisional leaders, departmental partners, and communications teams on written materials, project planning, workflow development, and operational recommendations that advance divisional and departmental priorities.

This position manages 6 employees.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5 years of progressively responsible administrative or operational management experience in healthcare, academic medicine, or a related complex environment.
• Demonstrated experience directly supervising 2.0 FTE or more, including responsibility for hiring, performance evaluation, and corrective action.
• Demonstrated experience in budget operations, including assisting with creation of operating budgets, monitoring expenditures, reconciling variances, and ensuring guidelines and policies are followed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to handle confidential personnel, faculty, and operational matters with discretion, professionalism, and sound business judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, learners, and partners across a complex academic medical center.
• Working knowledge and application of process improvement techniques.
• Proficiency with software tools and programs for financial monitoring and reporting, including expert use of Microsoft Excel.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule with two days remote per week, based on operational needs.
• Must work on-site as operationally necessary to support divisional activities.
• Occasional early morning or evening meetings required.
• Work is performed in a complex academic medical center environment with frequent interaction across divisions, departments, faculty, staff, learners, and operational partners.

About the Team

The Department of Surgery is a large department within the School of Medicine, with surgeons practicing at all our locations and in eight surgical subspecialties. The UW Department of Surgery is guided by our mission of providing compassionate and high-quality patient care, training future generations of surgical leaders, and conducting research in a collegial environment that embraces diversity and promotes inclusiveness. 

The Divisions of General Surgery and Plastic Surgery are two large and complex surgical divisions within the Department of Surgery. Together, these divisions support clinical, academic, educational, research, and faculty administrative operations across multiple sites, sections, fellowship programs, and faculty support functions. General Surgery is the Department’s largest division, while Plastic Surgery operates across multiple clinical sites and supports a broad range of clinical and academic programs.

This position plays an important role in strengthening divisional infrastructure by improving workflow efficiency, administrative consistency, team accountability, and operational support.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$94,008.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$105,000.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.