Dana-Farber Cancer Institute seeks a Chief Communications & Marketing Officer (CCMO) to join the executive leadership team and serve as the institution’s leader responsible for shaping how the organization communicates, presents, and grows in a rapidly evolving environment. Reporting to the President and CEO, this role represents a critical leadership position that will help shape the Institute’s future during a defining period of growth and change.
Dana-Farber is entering a period of meaningful transformation - including the development of a new standalone cancer hospital, a realignment of longstanding clinical partnerships, and a sustained period of organizational and revenue growth. At the same time, the external environment has become significantly more complex, with regional and national peers making significant investments in brand visibility, media, and market presence. Within this context, communications and marketing are expected to evolve from a primarily reactive, service-oriented function into a proactive, strategic driver of institutional positioning, reputation, and organizational growth.
The CCMO will be responsible for establishing a clear, cohesive narrative for Dana-Farber that reflects the full breadth of its clinical, research, and patient care excellence. This includes elevating the Institute’s visibility and influence across key stakeholders - patients, referring physicians, policymakers, donors, and the broader public - while strengthening its regional, national and global profile. A central priority will be to shift the organization toward a more proactive, disciplined approach to media, storytelling, and brand activation, ensuring that Dana-Farber consistently shapes the narrative rather than reacting to it.
In parallel, the role carries a clear mandate to define and implement an integrated communications and marketing strategy that aligns the institution, sets priorities, and guides execution across a broad set of audiences and channels. This includes strengthening internal communications and engagement, improving coordination across stakeholders (e.g., philanthropy, external affairs), and building a modern marketing & communications operating model with greater clarity around scope, accountability, and resource allocation.
The CCMO will also be tasked with assessing and evolving the organization’s capabilities and talent, including strengthening leadership depth, enhancing media and external affairs expertise, and building a cohesive, high-performing function. Success will require balancing a sophisticated and strategically focused marketing approach with Dana-Farber’s deeply mission-driven culture, ensuring that growth and visibility are achieved in a way that reinforces trust, integrity, and the Institute’s longstanding reputation for excellence.
This is a rare opportunity to shape how one of the world’s leading cancer centers tells its story, amplifies its impact, and elevates its voice on a global stage – advancing a mission that is transforming the future of cancer care, research, and patient outcomes.
Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Ehanced Storytelling, Narrative & Strategy
- Define and execute a comprehensive communications and marketing roadmap aligned to Dana-Farber’s strategic priorities
- Translate complex scientific, clinical, and organizational developments into clear, compelling, and differentiated institutional narrative
- Establish a consistent, disciplined voice across internal and external audiences
Proactive Media & External Positioning
- Build and lead a proactive media strategy that elevates Dana-Farber’s visibility across regional, national, and global platforms.
- Strengthen relationships with key outlets and influencers to shape coverage and broaden reach
- Amplify major scientific, clinical, and patient-impact stories through coordinated campaigns
Integrated Marketing & Brand Leadership
- Advance a modern, integrated marketing approach spanning brand, content, digital, and audience segmentation
- Enhance awareness and consideration among patients, referring physicians, and broader stakeholders
- Expand Dana-Farber’s presence beyond New England to reflect its national and global impact
Organizational Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, develop, and evolve a high-performing communications and marketing organization
- Bring clarity to scope, prioritization, and operating model to support effective execution
- Strengthen key capabilities, including media relations, storytelling, and integrated marketing
Executive Partnership & Institutional Alignment
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to the president and CEO as well as executive leadership team
- Partner closely with external affairs, philanthropy, clinical and research leadership to ensure aligned messaging
- Navigate a highly complex and collaborative academic environment while driving clarity and forward momentum
- Issues Management & Strategic Communications
- Guide high-impact communications initiatives in a dynamic environment
- Ensure preparedness and alignment in complex, high-visibility situations
- Lead communications around major institutional milestones, including hospital development and clinical partnerships
DESIRED OUTCOMES
- Establish a clear, compelling narrative of Dana-Farber’s transformation and future vision
- Achieve consistent, aligned messaging across the institution and its stakeholders
- Elevate Dana-Farber’s media presence and influence across key audiences
- Strengthen awareness of the Institute’s differentiated patient experience and scientific leadership
- Build a modern, integrated communications and marketing organization with strong leadership and capability depth
- Foster greater alignment, engagement, and trust across faculty, staff, and leadership
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrated leadership across scaled & respected communications & marketing functions
- Experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder organizations, such as healthcare, academia, research, government, or similarly dynamic environments
- Proven ability to develop and lead proactive communications and integrated marketing strategies
- Track record of elevating institutional brand, reputation, and media presence at scale
- Expertise across media relations, internal communications, digital strategy, and storytelling
- Experience building and leading high-performing teams and evolving organizational structures
- Background working in high-visibility, fast-moving environments, including those requiring strong judgement, reputation and stakeholder management
- Bachelor’s degree required
CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES
Acting Strategically
- Shapes a clear and compelling vision for communications and marketing
- Anticipates shifts in the external landscape and positions the organization accordingly
- Aligns narrative, brand, and strategy to institutional priorities
- Collaborating and Influencing
- Builds trust and alignment across a broad range of stakeholders
- Navigates complexity with diplomacy while maintaining clarity and direction
- Serves as a trusted advisor at the executive level
Leading People
- Develops and inspires a high-performing, mission-driven team
- Establishes focus, prioritization, and accountability
- Strengthens leadership depth and organizational capability over time
At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.
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Pay Transparency Statement
The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.
For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
$340,600.00 - $390,800.00
