Director, Special Projects (Chief of Staff)
DaVita Kidney Care
Summary
The Director, Special Projects will serve as a strategic partner to senior leaders, driving high-priority initiatives that support DaVita's integrated kidney care and procurement strategy, operational performance, clinical outcomes, and enterprise decision-making. This teammate will partner across functions and service lanes to structure ambiguous business challenges, lead complex cross-functional work, synthesize internal and external data, strengthen management processes, and develop executive-ready communications that enable senior leaders to make timely, informed decisions.
Job description
Location: Denver-based hybrid role. Travel required up to 25%.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Partner with senior operating and clinical leaders to shape, prioritize, and execute strategic initiatives across the business.
- Lead critical cross-functional projects across multiple service lanes, translating strategy into clear workstreams, milestones, owners, and outcomes.
- Organize and strengthen core operating rhythms, including leadership agendas, decision forums, follow-ups, and accountability mechanisms.
- Identify management process gaps and improvement opportunities, then design and implement practical solutions that improve execution.
- Develop executive-ready materials, leadership readouts, and business communications that clearly frame decisions, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations.
- Collaborate across teams to perform analyses, synthesize insights, monitor metrics, and prepare recommendations for senior leadership.
- Support internal and external communications by crafting and delivering key messages aligned to business priorities.
- Advance best-in-class capabilities by partnering across operational, clinical, innovation, and functional teams.
- Regularly apprise senior leadership of project status, risks, dependencies, and variations from scope, schedule, or expected impact.
- Contribute to the development and effectiveness of a high-performing leadership team by improving clarity, alignment, and execution discipline.
Strategy & Project Execution
- Manage and drive strategic and operational initiatives in collaboration with cross-functional partners.
- Structure ambiguous problems into clear workplans, decision points, and execution paths.
- Develop and communicate project scope, timelines, plans, resource needs, assumptions, risks, and dependencies.
- Create, implement, and drive adoption of processes and solutions that further clinical, operational, financial, and business outcomes.
- Manage against targets and goals, including scope, schedule, metrics, financial impact, and stakeholder commitments.
- Scope, plan, and execute multiple high-priority, often quick-turnaround projects with limited oversight.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or graduate degree preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in strategy, consulting, operations, project leadership, healthcare services, financial operations, or a similar role supporting enterprise-level initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with senior leadership visibility and measurable business impact.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams required.
- Prior experience in healthcare services and/or working with payors, physician networks, value-based care models, and/or integrated care models preferred.
- Strong ability to research, analyze, synthesize, and present internal and external data to support executive decision-making.
- Demonstrated track record of top performance and commitment to improving the healthcare system.
Additional Success Factors
- Highly organized, structured working style with strong project management and execution discipline.
- Strong judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
- Ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed organization and influence outcomes without direct authority.
- Executive presence, confidence, poise, tact, and diplomacy under pressure.
- Strong analytical, synthesis, storytelling, and presentation skills.
- Self-starter who can work effectively with limited oversight while proactively securing needed access, input, and alignment.
- Resourceful problem solver who can implement effective solutions despite time, information, or resource constraints.
- Exceptional follow-up, follow-through, and attention to detail.
- Comfort with frequent schedule changes, emerging priorities, ambiguity, and quick-turnaround work.
- Results-focused mindset with willingness to do what it takes to move critical work to successful completion.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree required
- MBA or graduate degree preferred
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in strategy, consulting, operations, project leadership, healthcare services, financial operations, or a similar role supporting enterprise-level initiatives
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives with senior leadership visibility and measurable business impact
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams required
- Prior experience in healthcare services and/or working with payors, physician networks, value-based care models, and/or integrated care models preferred
- Strong ability to research, analyze, synthesize, and present internal and external data to support executive decision-making
- Demonstrated track record of top performance and commitment to improving the healthcare system
- Highly organized, structured working style with strong project management and execution discipline
- Strong judgment, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive information
- Ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed organization and influence outcomes without direct authority
- Executive presence, confidence, poise, tact, and diplomacy under pressure
- Strong analytical, synthesis, storytelling, and presentation skills
- Self-starter who can work effectively with limited oversight while proactively securing needed access, input, and alignment
- Resourceful problem solver who can implement effective solutions despite time, information, or resource constraints
- Exceptional follow-up, follow-through, and attention to detail
- Comfort with frequent schedule changes, emerging priorities, ambiguity, and quick-turnaround work
- Results-focused mindset with willingness to do what it takes to move critical work to successful completion
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k) Matching
- Paid Time Off
- PTO Cash Out
- Family Resources
- EAP Counseling Sessions
- Headspace Access
- Backup Child & Elder Care
- Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Professional Development Programs
Company overview
DaVita Kidney Care is a leading American healthcare provider specializing in kidney dialysis services, operating as one of the largest dialysis companies in the United States. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, DaVita operates a vast network of 2,675 outpatient dialysis centers across the United States, serving approximately 200,800 patients, with an additional 367 centers in 11 other countries serving 49,400 patients. The company primarily treats end-stage renal disease (ESRD), providing life-sustaining dialysis treatments that patients typically require three times per week. DaVita holds approximately 37% market share in the U.S. dialysis market and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DVA. The company's name, derived from the Italian phrase "Dare Vita" meaning "to give life," reflects its mission to provide essential kidney care services. With approximately 76,000 employees, DaVita has established itself as a Fortune 500 company and a significant player in the healthcare industry, with Berkshire Hathaway owning a 41.2% stake in the organization.