Director, Special Projects & Operational Excellence

Posting Date
09/24/2026

2000 16th St, Denver, Colorado, 80202-5117, United States of America

DaVita is seeking a dynamic, strategic leader and force multiplier to join our Operational Excellence (OpsEx) and Operations Innovation team as Director of Special Projects & Operational Excellence .

In this high-visibility leadership role, you will serve as an internal management consultant and strategic thought partner across DaVita’s core operational innovation lanes, including Runway, Forge, and Pioneer. You will lead and project-manage the Operations Excellence Action Team, direct critical strategic initiatives, facilitate executive-level decision-making, and drive alignment across cross-functional departments to advance enterprise priorities. This role requires high executive maturity, exceptional problem-solving agility, discretion with sensitive initiatives, and the proven ability to lead and execute through influence across all levels of the Village.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Operational Excellence Action Team Management (50%)

- Strategic Direction: Shape and steer the strategic roadmap of the OpsEx Action Team, ensuring rigorous alignment with enterprise-wide priorities, Village goals, and multi-year value creation.
- Executive Stakeholder Influence: Engage, align, and influence senior leaders and field operators to drive adoption and seamless execution of multi-year Operational Excellence objectives.
- Transformational Initiatives: Direct high-impact, cross-functional programs that accelerate operational transformation, cultivate innovation, and deploy scalable solutions across DaVita’s ecosystem.

2. Strategic Scoping & Special Projects (12%–15%)

- End-to-End Project Leadership: Scope, structure, and execute complex, high-priority, and quick-turnaround strategic projects from ideation to implementation.
- Fact-Based Recommendations: Identify operational bottlenecks and emerging opportunities; conduct deep quantitative and qualitative analysis to develop alternative approaches and deliver executive-ready recommendations.
- Innovation Lane Alignment: Lead scoping initiatives across DaVita’s innovation workstreams (Runway, Forge, Pioneer), partnering closely with operational vice presidents and directors to shape long-term business strategy.
- Metrics & Execution Tracking: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs), governance cadences, and tracking mechanisms to monitor execution velocity and measure initiative impact.

3. Executive Support & Thought Partnership (10%)

- C-Suite & VP Collaboration: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives, providing strategic thought partnership on complex operational decisions.
- Executive Communications: Lead agenda design, synthesized analysis, narrative development, and executive presentations for leadership forums, operating reviews, and governance committees.

4. Operational Management & Continuous Process Improvement (10%)

- Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify systemic gaps and workflow friction, design standardized processes, change management frameworks, and communication strategies .
- Critical Path Portfolio Management: Build and maintain an inventory of critical path projects, proactively tracking variances, managing interdependencies, mitigating risk, and apprising leadership of milestone status and outcomes.

5. Other Duties (10%)

- Participate in ad-hoc executive initiatives, strategic deep-dives, and cross-lane Village projects as assigned.

Here is what you can expect when you join our Village:
• A "community first, company second" culture based on Core Values that really matter.
• Clinical outcomes consistently ranked above the national average.
• Award-winning education and training across multiple career paths to help you reach your potential.
• Performance-based rewards based on stellar individual and team contributions.
• A comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance your health, your financial well-being and your future.
• Dedication, above all, to caring for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure across the nation. Enter text here

Join us as we pursue our vision "To Build the Greatest Healthcare Community the World has Ever Seen."

Why wait? Explore a career with DaVita today. Go to http://careers.davita.com to learn more or apply.

What We’ll Provide:

More than just pay, our DaVita Rewards package connects teammates to what matters most. Teammates are eligible to begin receiving benefits on the first day of the month following or coinciding with one month of continuous employment. Below are some of our benefit offerings.

- Comprehensive benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, paid time off, PTO cash out
- Support for you and your family: Family resources, EAP counseling sessions, access Headspace®, backup child and elder care, maternity/paternity leave and more

- Professional development programs: DaVita offers a variety of programs to help strong performers grow within their career and also offers on-demand virtual leadership and development courses through DaVita’s online training platform StarLearning.

#LI-RF1

At DaVita, we strive to be a community first and a company second.  We want all teammates to experience DaVita as "a place where I belong."  Our goal is to embed belonging into everything we do in our Village, so that it becomes part of who we are. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and comply with state and federal affirmative action requirements. Individuals are recruited, hired, assigned and promoted without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

This position will be open for a minimum of three days.

The Salary Range for the role is $155,000.00 - $185,000.00 per year.

If a candidate is hired, they will be paid at least the minimum wage according to their geographical jurisdiction and the exemption status for the position.

New York Exempt: New York City and Long Island: $66,300.00/year, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties: $66,300.00/year, Remainder of New York state: $62,353.20/year New York Non-exempt: New York City and Long Island: $17.00/hour, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties: $17.00/hour, Remainder of New York state: $16.00/hour

Washington Exempt: $80,168.40/year Washington Non-exempt: Bellingham: $19.13/hour, Burien: $21.71/hour, Everette: $20.77/hour, Unincorporated King County: $20.82/hour, Renton: $21.57/hour, Seattle: $21.30/hour, Tukwila: $21.65/hour, Remainder of Washington state: $17.13/hour
For location-specific minimum wage details, see the following link: DaVita.jobs/WageRates

Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience. DaVita offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Learn more at https://careers.davita.com/benefits

Colorado Residents: Please do not respond to any questions in this initial application that may seek age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You may also redact this information from any materials you submit during the application process.  You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.