Unit Director, Birth Center

The Unit Director provides operational leadership for Labor & Delivery and associated perinatal services (e.g., antepartum, L&D, postpartum, triage, and OBED care) within a high-acuity academic medical center. Oversees care delivery through subordinate managers, ensuring safe, high-quality, and patient-centered care across the maternal–newborn continuum.

Accountable for clinical outcomes, patient safety, regulatory compliance, patient experience, and financial performance of the service line. Leads initiatives to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, with a strong focus on evidence-based practice, health equity, and standardization of care in alignment with national perinatal quality benchmarks.

Executes established strategic direction and operational goals for the department, including volume growth, capacity management, throughput, workforce optimization, and labor productivity and OT optimization in a 24/7 environment. Ensures appropriate staffing models, skill mix, and labor productivity while maintaining readiness for high-risk, high-volume obstetric care, including emergent situations.

Partners closely with Obstetrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, Anesthesia, and Emergency Medicine leaders to coordinate interdisciplinary care and advance clinical programs, including high-risk pregnancy management and neonatal services. Supports academic priorities through collaboration with faculty, integration of teaching into clinical workflows, and advancement of nursing research and quality improvement initiatives in perinatal care.

Leads a professional practice environment grounded in shared governance, fostering staff engagement, clinical competency, and leadership development. Serves as a mentor and resource to nurses, advanced practice providers, residents, and students, promoting a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and excellence in women’s and infant health.

Implements systems to proactively identify and mitigate clinical and operational risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards (e.g., perinatal core measures, fetal monitoring standards, obstetric emergency readiness). Drives programs and strategies with service line and organizational impact, including quality, safety, patient experience, and workforce sustainability.

 

Department Overview – Labor & Delivery / Birth Center

At UCSF Health, we are nationally recognized leaders in women’s health and proud to be part of an academic health system with a longstanding designation as a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health. As a Magnet-recognized organization, we uphold the highest standards of nursing excellence, professional practice, and patient-centered care. Our mission is to improve the lives and health of all women through innovation and leadership in clinical care, scientific discovery, education, advocacy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The UCSF Betty Irene Moore Women’s Hospital is purpose-built to deliver advanced, compassionate care in a healing environment that supports the whole person. The Birth Center reflects this model, offering highly specialized, family-centered care, including labor tubs and integrated infant care in every room to promote mother–baby bonding and enhance the patient experience.

The Birth Center is a secure, high-acuity unit located on the third floor and includes a comprehensive continuum of perinatal services: a 9-bed OB Triage/OB Emergency Department, 9 labor rooms, 12 antepartum beds, 3 operating rooms, 24 postpartum beds, 6 nursery observation beds, and PACU capability within triage. The department is staffed by approximately 178 FTEs and supported by three Nurse Managers.

This service operates within both Adult Services and Women’s Health Services and reports through the Adult Business Unit. As a tertiary and quaternary referral center within a leading academic medical center, the Birth Center provides advanced, high-risk obstetric care and serves as a critical regional resource across the San Francisco Bay Area. The program is distinguished by its close integration with Maternal-Fetal Medicine, genetics, and subspecialty services, as well as its active role in clinical research, education, and training of the next generation of healthcare professionals. It frequently serves as the provider of last resort for the most complex maternal and neonatal cases.

Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. - Registered Nurse in the State of California. - Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. - Labor & Delivery Experience: Direct clinical and/or leadership experience in Labor & Delivery required, with a strong understanding of high-risk obstetric care, perinatal safety practices, and interdisciplinary care models. - Clinical and Operational Expertise: Demonstrated progressive leadership experience in hospital-based patient care services, with deep knowledge of Labor & Delivery and the perinatal continuum. Comprehensive understanding of hospital and clinic operations within a complex academic medical center environment, including application of professional nursing standards and evidence-based practice. - Leadership & Communication: Exceptional communication, relationship management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence across multiple levels of the organization. Proven ability to foster a culture of collaboration, shared governance, and interdisciplinary decision-making across diverse teams and service lines. - Healthcare Systems & Informatics: Strong knowledge of healthcare information systems, clinical informatics, and patient care workflows. Demonstrated ability to leverage technology to improve care delivery, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making. - Leadership Experience: Prior experience in a supervisory or management role within Labor & Delivery required. Preferred Qualifications: - Master's Degree in Nursing or a relevant area preferred. - RN-BC or other relevant certification - Regulatory & Compliance Acumen: - In-depth knowledge of regulatory, accreditation, and compliance requirements, including those relevant to perinatal services (e.g., The Joint Commission, CMS, state licensing). Experience ensuring readiness and sustained compliance within a highly regulated environment. - Leadership Experience: Director-level or multi-unit leadership experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated success leading through subordinate managers and managing complex teams in a 24/7 environment. Demonstrated success in stabilizing the workforce and achieving high performance from the staff.

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values . In addition to , UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available https://diversity.ucsf.edu/ . Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.