ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
Solely funded by philanthropists Gary and Mary West, West Health includes the nonprofit and nonpartisan Gary and Mary West Health Institute and Gary and Mary West Foundation in San Diego, and the Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center in Washington, D.C. These organizations are working together toward a shared mission dedicated to enabling seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life and independence. Through a combination of medical research and policy initiatives, collaborations, education, and advocacy, West Health is committed to supporting and creating healthcare delivery models that improve care and access for our fast-growing, diverse population of seniors. Data/Data Science is an important engine that powers our work. For more information, visit westhealth.org and follow @westhealth.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Director, Health Care Transformation will lead high-profile collaborations with public and private sector partners, including health systems and primary care organizations, to implement and advance innovative models of brain health care, encompassing both mental health and cognitive health (including dementia and related conditions), to improve and scale clinical outcomes across the brain health continuum from prevention and early identification to treatment and long-term management. This role supports the creation and testing of new programs both in brain health and beyond and helps ensure that successful initiatives are operationally feasible, scalable, and sustainable across a variety of healthcare settings.
The Associate Director serves as a senior operator and strategic integrator, working across complex, multi-stakeholder environments to align West Health’s strategic priorities with partner operations. Beyond execution, the Associate Director contributes to portfolio strategy, shapes the design of new initiatives, and directs day-to-day work across partners, consultants, and internal teams. The role requires strong health systems operations experience, fluency in the implementation science and policy landscape surrounding brain health, and the ability to synthesize complex information and drive effective execution across collaborative initiatives while protecting West Health’s mission and long-term objectives. The role includes program and project management responsibilities such as managing timelines, dependencies, deliverables, and cross-workstream coordination across complex, multi-year initiatives.
This role will also serve as an operational extension of West Health leadership, acting as a trusted proxy on complex initiatives and representing West Health with external partners and in day-to-day execution when needed.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop, implement, and communicate goals, priorities, and strategies for partnered initiatives, including managing timelines, dependencies, and deliverables to ensure alignment with West Health’s strategic objectives and partner operating contexts.
Lead the design and implementation of primary care–based brain health and other initiatives, initially including workflows for cognitive and behavioral health screening, detection, diagnosis, and ongoing management (e.g., collaborative care and comprehensive dementia care models).
Direct internal and external project teams to ensure coordinated execution across multiple workstreams in complex healthcare environments, including oversight of consultants and vendor teams.
Create and implement best practices to address barriers to adoption, including challenges related to workflow design, EHR integration, stakeholder alignment, and operational readiness.
Lead project meetings with collaborators and manage project plans, risks, dependencies, and deliverables, synthesizing inputs into clear recommendations and escalation needs to support timely decision-making.
Identify key decisions, alignment opportunities, and execution risks where solutions intersect with health system operations and workflows.
Act as a bridge between senior executives and consulting partners, serving as a trusted representative of West Health and translating strategic intent into operationally sound execution.
Apply hands-on experience in patient flow, throughput, care transitions, command center–adjacent operations, or equivalent systemwide functions to guide practical implementation.
Coordinate and integrate work across multiple West Health initiatives to ensure consistency of approach, clarity of expectations, and sustained momentum.
Contribute to annual planning and strategy development for the primary care and brain health portfolio, including identifying new partnership and initiative opportunities.

General

Remain informed on issues related to Successful Aging, including healthcare delivery trends, technology applications, and policy developments relevant to West Health initiatives.
Identify and articulate critical assumptions, risks, and opportunities across initiatives.
Manage relationships with consultants, vendors, and senior leaders to maintain alignment, pace, and accountability.
Maintain the highest standards of professional integrity and confidentiality.
Support additional initiatives or special projects as assigned by West Health leadership.
Commitment to West Health's values and mission.
This role requires a regular in-office presence from Tuesday through Thursday to support collaboration and business needs during core hours of 9 AM to 5 PM. Mondays and Fridays may be worked remotely, provided availability aligns with standard working hours. The primary focus is on fulfilling responsibilities, delivering results, and collaborating effectively with others.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

Advanced degree in healthcare administration, public health organizational leadership, or other related discipline required.
8-10 years of experience in ambulatory and primary care, or hospital or health system operations, whether within a health system or in a consulting or advisory capacity serving health systems, with direct exposure to patient flow, throughput, care transitions, command center–adjacent operations, or equivalent systemwide functions.
8-10 years of experience managing complex, multi-year programs or portfolios, including responsibility for tracking milestones, dependencies, risks, and deliverables across multiple stakeholders.
Experience implementing integrated behavioral health or dementia care models in primary care settings (e.g., the Collaborative Care Model or comprehensive dementia care programs) is helpful, but not required.
Demonstrated experience influencing senior leaders and driving execution without direct authority in complex healthcare environments, including situations involving operational resistance or ambiguous governance.
Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills, with experience working directly with clinical leadership, operational executives, IT partners, and external consultants.
Experience mentoring staff, directing consultants, or leading cross-functional teams without formal reporting lines.
Ability to synthesize complex information and exercise sound judgment, translating ambiguity into clear insights, risks, and recommendations.
Must believe in public health and science

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The estimated salary range for this position is $180,000 - $200,000
We gladly offer:
- Up to 10% Annual Performance Bonus – rewarding your hard work and success.
- Hybrid Work Schedule - offering flexibility to balance your work and personal life.
- Comprehensive Benefits Package – including Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and a Flexible Spending Account to support your health and well-being.
  - 100% Premium Coverage for Employee Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance, plus 70% coverage for dependents for medical, dental and vision – ensuring both you and your family are well cared for.
- Generous 5% Retirement Plan Match – helping you build a secure financial future.
- Professional Development Reimbursements – investing in your growth and career advancement.
- 15 Days of Paid Time Off plus 16 Paid Holidays – promoting a healthy work-life balance and time to recharge

West Health Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, disability, or veteran's status.

West Health

Associate Director - Healthcare Transformation

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