Director, Data Abstraction and Operations

Summary

Join Natera as the leader of Data Abstraction and Operations, a key strategic role overseeing clinical data abstraction processes. You will ensure high-quality clinical data is accurately captured for applications like billing optimization and product innovation. Collaborate with commercial operations, revenue cycle, and product development teams to improve abstraction workflows and integrate AI solutions. The ideal candidate possesses an advanced clinical background, operational leadership experience, and a passion for using data and technology in healthcare. Lead the clinical data abstraction team, setting goals and strategic direction, while also ensuring compliance with regulations. Translate abstracted clinical insights into scalable datasets supporting real-world evidence and product differentiation.

Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 10 years of relevant healthcare experience, with at least 5 years in data abstraction, clinical/commercial operations, or health informatics. At least 5 years in a leadership role
• Education: Advanced clinical degree (e.g., MD, PhD, PA, MSN, NP, etc…) required; additional degrees in Health Informatics, Data Science, or related fields strongly preferred
• AI & Technology: Experience with AI/ML applications in clinical workflows, including natural language processing (NLP) and clinical decision support systems. Familiarity with coding languages (SQL / python / data programming languages)
• Leadership: Proven success leading high-performing teams and managing complex and cross functional operational programs
• Deep understanding of clinical documentation, medical terminology, and coding systems (ICD, CPT, SNOMED)
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with ability to connect clinical workflows to business goals
• Excellent communication, leadership, and change management skills
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, drive innovation, and scale operations in a fast-paced environment
• Remote or hybrid work environment, with occasional travel to internal sites and partner institutions
• Standard business hours with flexibility to meet team and operational needs across time zones

Responsibilities

• Lead the clinical data abstraction team, setting clear goals, performance metrics, and strategic direction
• Develop and implement scalable abstraction workflows aligned with clinical quality standards, billing accuracy, and product development needs
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Clinical, Revenue Cycle, Data Science, Engineering, and Product teams to align abstraction strategies with organizational objectives
• Partner with data science and engineering teams to evaluate and implement AI-assisted abstraction tools, leveraging large language models and workflow automation tools
• Ensure AI models align with clinical logic, billing integrity, and data reliability
• Maintain continuous feedback loops with our AI/ML engineering teams to improve AI performance, reduce manual abstraction burden, and make product UI improvements. Leverage a growth mindset to continue improving the workflows to reduce time/case and cost/case, while incorporating data into new product opportunities
• Oversee daily operations related to data abstraction, quality assurance (potentially leveraging AI to support), and team KPI performance
• Design and refine SOPs, protocols, and escalation pathways to ensure consistency and operational excellence, incorporating guidelines and best practices such as the FDA guidance for use of RWE
• Monitor productivity, turnaround times (TAT), and abstraction accuracy across multiple products with varying goals
• Collaborate with revenue cycle teams to ensure abstracted clinical data supports accurate coding, billing, and claims submissions. Ensure headcount and demand planning is aligned with timelines required by payors
• Incorporate the data needs of other teams into the teams deliverables to reduce redundancy and ensure data usability across the organization
• Provide high-quality, abstracted data to inform the development and improvement of clinical and digital health products
• Partner with product managers and clinical strategy teams to ensure data abstractions support evidence generation, feature design, and customer outcomes
• Translate abstracted clinical insights into scalable datasets that support real-world evidence and product differentiation
• Ensure all abstraction processes comply with HIPAA, CAP, CLIA, CMS, AJCC staging guidelines, and payer-specific guidelines
• Lead quality control programs and audits to maintain the highest standards of data accuracy and regulatory alignment
• Oversee onboarding and continuous training of abstraction staff with a focus on clinical depth, documentation accuracy, and billing awareness

Benefits

• Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents
• Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits
• Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more
• We also offer a generous employee referral program!