RN Lung Transplant Program Manager

Jacobs Medical Center
9300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, CA 92037, United States

Filing Deadline:
Tue 2/17/2026

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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.

UC San Diego Health is a Magnet designated organization, which is a prestigious recognition that applies to only 10% of all U.S. hospitals. Magnet is the "gold standard" for nursing excellence and is based on strengths in five key areas, which include transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovation and improvements and empirical outcomes. UC San Diego Health has held its Magnet status since 2011.

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 Lung Transplant Program
.

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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

• 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.

• Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
• Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the State of California.
• Current UCSD ART certification, or BLS and ACLS certifications at time of hire with commitment to get ART 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 inpatient 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,…