Director of Clinical Practice
The University of Chicago

Department
CSL SHS: Medical Providers

About the Department
The University of Chicago is one of the nation's leading institutions of higher education and research. Student Wellness (SW) is part of the division of Campus and Student Life and serves the student body by providing primary care, wellness, counseling, and psychiatric services in support of achieving holistic care of the student.

Job Summary
The Director of Clinical Practice provides strategic and operational leadership for clinical services within Student Wellness. Reporting to the Medical Director, this role is responsible for the oversight of clinical practice standards, staffing management, and the effective coordination of care delivery across medical and nursing teams. This position holds direct supervisory responsibility for designated clinical staff, including oversight of hiring, onboarding, performance management, staffing models, scheduling workflows, and professional development. The Director collaborates closely with operational leadership to align workforce planning with patient access goals, demand trends, and service line growth. The Director of Clinical Practice plays a key role in fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and clinical excellence. Through strong leadership, systems thinking, and clear communication, this role ensures consistent practice standards, reliable care delivery, and an exceptional student experience across all clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Manages team with direct oversight of nursing operations and supervisors: Clinical Operations Manager and Quality Management Nurse Supervisor.
• Responsible and accountable for planning, organizing, and directing patient care activities.
• Responsible for guidance, oversight, and performance of clinical staff and care teams.
• Ensures effective staffing, coverage, and patient flow.
• Manages performance, coaching, and accountability of clinical staff and supervisors.
• Organizes and optimizes daily workflows for providers, nursing, and clinical support staff.
• Ensures clinical area is actively managed and patient care delivery is streamlined.
• Creates a work climate that encourages positive staff morale, upholds open communication, and fosters a team-based approach to care through collaboration and participation.
• Oversees the development and implementation of orientation, training, and competency assessment programs for nursing and clinical support staff.
• Evaluates staff performance on a formal (semi-annually) and informal basis.
• Adapts departmental plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges.
• Promotes the professional growth of nursing staff through coaching, mentoring, and support
• Develops and oversees the development of policies and procedures related to patient care by following established and applicable best practice guidelines.
• Works in concert with the medical director, the director of quality management, and other SW leaders to plan, organize, and direct patient care activities, with an emphasis on excellence in clinical care and quality, patient safety, staff education, and oversight of compliance requirements.
• Facilitates compliance with University of Chicago Medicine and University of Chicago policies and procedures, as well as professional and regulatory agencies, including AAAHC, and Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health.
• Implements evaluation programs regarding the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.
• Tracks operational data and prepares reports.
• Identifies operational risks and improvement opportunities through data translation.
• Maintains own clinical caseload (40%), providing direct patient care; functions in leadership capacity (60%), overseeing clinical operations, supervisory oversight, and other care-related administrative activities.
• Values and contributes to an inclusive working and learning environment, as well as serving students from different backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Develops policies and procedures related to patient care by following established applicable best practice guidelines.
• Develops and implements best practices relevant to integrated APP practice and developing at-risk metrics. Identification of system and service specific clinical performance goals.
• Performs other related work as needed

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) - State of Illinois
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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) program.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited program.
• Completion of an Advanced Practice Nurse fellowship or residency program.

Certifications:

• Current certification as a Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, or equivalent certifying body.
• Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP/NP) with a prescription-privileges license in Illinois.
• BLS CPR certification.
• Once licensed and as needed, willingness to apply for a mid-level practitioner-controlled substance license and a DEA number.
• Certification in healthcare leadership (nurse executive, Lean/Six Sigma, quality/safety).

Experience:

• 7 to 10 years of experience leading clinical and/or administrative operations.
• Oversight of clinical workflows, quality initiatives, or program implementation.
• Ambulatory care, student health, or emergency room clinical experience as an RN or NP.
• Experience collaborating with physicians, NPs, RNs, MAs, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with diverse student populations strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• Willingness to be privileged and credentialed through UCMC Medical Staffing Office prior to start date.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills and strong analytical skills.
• Proficiency in the use of computers.
• Demonstrated clinical competency, effective leadership, and teaching skills.
• Ability to conduct physical examinations and health assessments.
• Ability to interview and obtain medical information.
• Willingness to enter into a written collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician upon hire.
• Ability to provide culturally sensitive care to a diverse population.
• Patient education and social skills necessary for working with young adult population.

Working Conditions

• Direct patient contact or clinical care setting.
• Environment can be demanding.
• Exposure to human blood, human blood components, and/or products made from human blood.
• Occupational risk for exposure to infectious material and communicable diseases.
• Required annual TB control training and/or other health screenings.
• Expected to see patients approximately every 20 minutes, physical exams in 40 minutes, all by appointment.
• There are occasional over-booked appointments.
• Limited evening hours may be expected.
• Ability to work 8-10 hour days.
• Ability to use standard office equipment.

Application Documents

• Cover Letter (preferred)
• Resume (required)
• List of Three Professional References (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
Healthcare & Medical Services

Role Impact
People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours
40

Drug Test Required
Yes

Health Screen Required
Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$160,000.00 - $180,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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