Associate Director Clinical Operations Jobs in South Carolina

Posting Number STA00430PO26

Job Family Operational Analysis

Job Function Project Management

USC Market Title Aso Dir of Projects, Clinical Affairs

Job Level P4 - Professional

Business Title (Internal Title) Associate Director of Projects - Clinical Affairs

Campus Columbia

Work County Richland

College/Division Neurological Critical Care Hospital

Department NCCH Neurological Hospital SCHHS

State Pay Range Unclassified

USC Market Range MRN - $120,769 $153,981 $187,192

Anticipated Hiring Range Salary commensurate with qualifications

Location of Vacancy

Part/Full Time Full Time

Hours per Week 37.5

Work Schedule

* Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
* Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis 12 months

Job Search Category Other Professional

About University of South Carolina

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Benefits for FTE Positions

The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal.

Advertised Job Summary

The Office for Clinical Affairs at the University of South Carolina is seeking to hire an Associate Director of Projects to join our team.

The Associate Director serves as a strategic advisor, enterprise project leader, and operational integrator within the Office for Clinical Affairs. Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Hospital Planning and Integration, this highly visible role drives the execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives that advance the University’s clinical, academic, research, and healthcare transformation priorities.

This position functions as a senior-level coordination and implementation partner for executive leadership, ensuring alignment across major institutional initiatives, capital projects, and strategic partnerships. The role is responsible for establishing disciplined project governance, operational readiness, stakeholder alignment, and enterprise-wide coordination across a dynamic portfolio of initiatives, including the development and activation of the University of South Carolina Neurological Hospital, the Brain Health Network, and future clinical innovation programs.

The Associate Director will operate within highly matrixed environments involving healthcare executives, academic leadership, physicians, operational teams, architects, contractors, research leaders, and external partners. Success in this role requires exceptional executive presence, strategic thinking, organizational agility, and the ability to lead through influence while managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent professional certification required

Preferred Qualifications

* Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Project Management, Construction Management, Public Health, or related field preferred
* 8–10 years of experience in healthcare systems leadership, enterprise project management, hospital operations, or strategic program development preferred
* Experience supporting hospital construction, activation, operational readiness, or major capital projects preferred
* Experience within academic medical centers, neurological/neuroscience programs, rehabilitation hospitals, or specialty care environments preferred
* Experience supporting executive leadership and enterprise-level strategic initiatives preferred
* Experience working within highly matrixed organizations involving academic, clinical, operational, and public-sector stakeholders preferred
* Experience facilitating executive discussions, leading organizational change, and presenting to senior leadership or governing boards preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

* Exceptional project leadership, organizational, and execution capabilities
* Strong strategic thinking and operational problem-solving skills
* Ability to manage complex initiatives across multiple workstreams and stakeholder groups simultaneously
* Ability to influence alignment and drive progress without direct reporting authority
* Executive-level written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
* Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information into concise executive summaries and recommendations
* Proficiency in project management software, dashboards, reporting tools, and operational tracking systems
* Ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion in highly sensitive environments
* High degree of initiative, adaptability, and accountability in fast-paced, evolving organizational settings
* Strong facilitation, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills
* Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and support transformational organizational initiatives

Job Duties

Strategic Hospital Development & Activation Leadership

Serve as a senior coordination lead supporting the planning, design, construction, operational readiness, and activation of the University of South Carolina Neurological Hospital and associated clinical programs.

Partner with executive leadership, facilities teams, architects, contractors, and operational stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment between construction activities, clinical operations, patient experience goals, and long-term institutional objectives.

Coordinate enterprise-wide planning efforts related to:
- Clinical and operational workflows
- Space planning and functional programming
- Operational readiness and transition planning
- Equipment planning and activation sequencing
- Regulatory and accreditation preparedness
- Staffing and departmental integration
- Technology and infrastructure implementation
- Risk identification and mitigation strategies

Monitor project milestones, interdependencies, timelines, and executive deliverables to support disciplined execution and successful hospital activation.

Enterprise Portfolio & Program Management

Lead coordination and oversight of a diverse portfolio of strategic initiatives across the Office for Clinical Affairs.

Develop and maintain enterprise-level project governance structures, dashboards, executive reporting tools, and initiative tracking systems to provide visibility into priorities, performance metrics, dependencies, risks, and resource alignment.

Support strategic initiatives could include, but not limited to:
- Brain Health Network development
- Clinical integration initiatives
- Specialty program development
- Clinical partnership initiatives
- Operational transformation efforts
- System integration and optimization projects

Ensure cross-functional alignment among leadership teams while advancing organizational priorities through structured project management methodologies and operational discipline.

Executive Strategy & Operational Support

Serve as a trusted operational and strategic support partner to the AVP for Clinical Affairs and executive leadership team.

Prepare executive-level presentations, strategic analyses, briefing materials, white papers, board updates, and decision-support documentation for senior leadership, institutional stakeholders, and governing bodies.

Coordinate executive meetings, strategic workgroups, and steering committees by:
- Establishing executive agendas and objectives
- Facilitating discussions and follow-up actions with c-suite
- Documenting decisions and action items
- Tracking accountability and deliverables
- Ensuring timely communication and execution

Translate strategic direction into actionable implementation plans while maintaining alignment across organizational priorities.

Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives

Lead high-priority strategic initiatives and special projects on behalf of Clinical Affairs leadership.

Manage complex, multidisciplinary initiatives involving operational integration, clinical program development, process redesign, organizational readiness, innovation planning, and performance improvement.

Apply structured project management methodologies to support:
- Organizational change management
- Operational optimization
- Strategic growth initiatives
- Clinical transformation efforts
- Research and innovation integration
- Cross-functional problem solving

Drive initiatives from concept development through implementation while ensuring stakeholder engagement, operational sustainability, and measurable outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Coordination

Facilitate collaboration and communication among internal and external stakeholders across clinical, operational, finance, facilities, IT, and administrative functions.

Build strong relationships across diverse stakeholder groups to ensure alignment, transparency, and coordinated execution of organizational priorities.

Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation, communication plans, dashboards, status reports, and executive summaries to support informed decision-making and organizational accountability.

Represent Clinical Affairs leadership in meetings, planning sessions, and collaborative initiatives with professionalism, diplomacy, and executive-level communication skills.

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.
Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive No

Hazardous weather category Non-Essential

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Job Open Date 06/10/2026

Job Close Date 07/09/2026

Open Until Filled No

Special Instructions to Applicant

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by July 9, 2026.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Retirement Programs
- Paid Tuition
- Dependent Scholarships
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Opportunities

EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.