Description Bring your expertise in AI, automation, and process transformation to UCLA Health and help build smarter, more effective healthcare operations. UCLA Health is seeking an innovative and strategic leader to serve as Assistant/Associate Director of Intelligent Automation. In this role, you will lead the design, implementation, governance, and expansion of AI-enabled automation solutions that improve operational efficiency, quality, employee experience, and organizational performance.
As part of Performance Strategy & Analytics, you will partner with clinical, operational, technology, compliance, privacy, data governance, and analytics leaders to translate complex business needs into secure, scalable, and responsible solutions. You will also lead cross-functional delivery, establish automation priorities, measure outcomes, and build organizational capability for continuous improvement. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute an intelligent automation roadmap aligned with organizational priorities and high-value operational needs.
Lead the assessment, design, testing, implementation, and optimization of AI-enabled automation and redesigned workflows. Establish governance standards addressing human oversight, validation, data protection, performance monitoring, and escalation. Advise leaders on automation strategy, solution design, change management, adoption, and benefits realization.
Define and monitor measures such as return on investment, quality, productivity, cycle time, and customer experience. Recruit, coach, and develop a high-performing team while promoting accountability, collaboration, innovation, and service excellence. This flexible hybrid role allows for a blend of remote and on-site work, requiring presence on-site as needed based on operational requirements.
Please note, travel to the “home office” location is not reimbursed. Each employee will complete a FlexWork Agreement with their manager to outline expectations and ensure mutual understanding. These arrangements are periodically reviewed and may be adjusted or terminated as necessary.
Salary offers are based on a variety of factors including qualifications, experience, and internal equity. The full salary range for this position is $132,300 - $307,100 annually. The University anticipates offering a salary between the minimum and midpoint of this range.
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
Qualifications Knowledge, Skills and Abilities KSAs Required / Preferred Demonstrated strategic leadership in automation portfolio planning, prioritization, and benefits realization. Required Working knowledge of AI, generative AI, machine learning, workflow orchestration, and enterprise automation concepts. Required Ability to analyze complex workflows, identify root causes, redesign processes, and implement sustainable improvements.
Required Ability to translate business needs into clear requirements, solution designs, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes. Required Knowledge of healthcare privacy, security, compliance, HIPAA, data governance, and responsible use of sensitive information. Required Understanding of responsible AI practices, including validation, human oversight, monitoring, transparency, bias awareness, and escalation pathways.
Required Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills with clinical, operational, technical, and executive audiences. Required Strong project and program management skills, including scope, timeline, risk, issue, resource, and dependency management. Required Change management skills, including communication, training, adoption planning, and sustainment of new workflows.
Required Ability to define and monitor performance metrics, ROI, quality indicators, cycle time, productivity, and customer experience outcomes. Required Advanced skill in Python, AI/ML tools, Tableau/PowerPoint, SQL, R, PowerPoint, and Excel ; Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and executive presentation skills. Required Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold staff accountable in a collaborative environment.
Required Commitment to service excellence, continuous improvement, innovation, equity, inclusion, and UCLA Health standards of conduct. Required Amount of Experience Type of Experience Required/ Preferred 8 + years Progressively responsible experience in healthcare operations, data analytics, and process improvement . Required 5 + years Healthcare leadership or management experience supervising IT staff and/or leading matrixed, cross-functional teams.
Required 2 + years Demonstrated experience leading AI /ML , intelligent automation, workflow redesign, or digital transformation initiatives with measurable operational outcomes in healthcare industry. Required 3 + years Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, operational excellence, or comparable process improvement methodologies to complex workflows. Required 5 + years Experience in an academic medical center, integrated health system, clinical operations, quality reporting, healthcare analytics, or regulated healthcare environment.
Preferred 5 + years Experience with platforms such as Microsoft Azure AI Services, Databricks, Tableau, Epic, or similar enterprise technologies. Preferred Licenses and Certifications Needed at (hire, within x time) Required / Preferred Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent process improvement certification Upon hire or within 12 months Preferred Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile/Scrum certification, or equivalent project/program management credential Upon hire or within 12 months Preferred Responsible AI, AI governance, automation platform, cloud, analytics, or related technology certification Upon hire or within 12 months Preferred