This position's work location is fully remote with the ocassional time onsite as needed. The selected candidate may only work remotely from a New England state (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI).
The Associate Director, Business Strategy advances institute-wide priorities by leading strategic and business activities across clinical, research, education and operational domains. Reporting to the VP, Business Strategy, the role partners with senior leaders to translate organizational goals into actionable strategies, evaluate opportunities, and drive outcomes through robust analytics and disciplined planning. Operating in a highly matrixed environment, the position coordinates complex, cross-functional projects, ensures effective governance and decision-making, and aligns stakeholders around timelines, resources, and metrics. The Associate Director ensures rigorous evaluation of strategic options to balance growth, quality, access, and financial sustainability in support of Dana-Farber’s mission.
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.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead the development of business strategies and long-range planning for strategic initiatives across departments, service lines, disease centers, and business units.
- Develop long-term strategic plans, including scenario analysis, initiative planning, implementation planning and stakeholder engagement.
- Guide the strategic planning process at various levels of the organization to ensure plans are data-driven and tied to organizational goals.
- Support leaders in crafting business plans and business/funding cases that promote sustainable growth, operational excellence and the advancement of research or clinical initiatives aligned with leadership priorities and highest impact science and care. As needed, build rigorous business cases for new programs, partnerships, capacity expansions, and technology investments.
- Transition ownership of strategic initiatives to implementation leads, maintaining collaboration, oversight, and progress/outcomes monitoring.
- Coordinate input/leadership across clinical operations, disease centers, research, finance, and external partners. Establish initiative charters, KPIs, and dashboards; manage governance forums and decision checkpoints; ensure timely follow-up and accountability.
- Develop change strategies and communications plans; create clear presentations and materials tailored to executive and operational audiences.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to synthesize complex information, frame options, and recommend actionable strategies; Strong judgment and decision-making.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel-based modeling (volume forecasts, pro formas, sensitivity/scenario analyses); ability to interpret financial statements and operational data; familiarity with cost accounting.
- Ability to design and track performance improvement initiatives and KPIs.
- Extensive financial literacy in healthcare and/or research.
- Ability to plan and execute change strategies; navigate ambiguity, resistance, and competing priorities while sustaining progress and adoption.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication; skill in presenting complex analyses clearly to executives; strong facilitation and stakeholder management; consensus-building across matrixed teams.
- Demonstrated success partnering with clinical, research, education, operational, and administrative stakeholders; ability to broker agreements and maintain productive relationships internally and externally.
- Strong time management, attention to detail, and follow-through; ability to manage confidential information with discretion and integrity.
- General understanding of healthcare regulatory and payer requirements (e.g., CMS policies) and their strategic/operational implications.
Minimum Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Healthcare, or related field required. Master’s degree (MHA, MBA, MPH, or related) preferred.
- At least 7 years of related work experience required in healthcare strategy or management consulting or investment banking, or administrative functions in an academic medical center or cancer center setting, required.
- Experience working with large datasets required.
- Experience working across multiple, complex initiatives required.
- Experience working in a cancer sector/ academic medicine preferred.
- Experience with research departments/institutions preferred.
- Experience working with clinical leaders as partners and advisers preferred.
- Experience in optimizing clinical operations and improving patient care outcomes preferred.
License/Certification/Registration Required: None
Supervisory Responsibilities: No
Patient Contact: No
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).
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