Associate Director, Account Management - Clinical & Genomic Research Data

The Research Informatics Operations (RIO) Associate Director, Account Services for Clinical & Genomic Research Data will work closely with Dana-Farber Clinical Research faculty and administrative leadership and functional leaders within I&A to identify, prioritize, and address the clinical research and genomic data informatics needs of DFCI.

The incumbent will lead a multifunctional team of direct and indirect reports comprised of all I&A functional capabilities to provide service delivery for clinical research Institute-wide programs. The candidate will oversee and coordinate the design and solution delivery of research technology platforms and services, build, and maintain collaborative relationships with clinical research faculty, and lead strategic initiatives to enhance the functionality and accessibility of DFCI computational resources, data, and information technology platforms.  The role requires a deep understanding of advanced technical and software solutions and the application of such solutions in the biomedical research domain. The role also requires an elevated level of communication, interpersonal and team-building skills as the incumbent will be expected to independently create and lead projects involving many distinct functions and teams. 

The Associate Director of Account Services will manage a budget portfolio of $0.5-5M per year, manage employees both indirectly and directly, and successfully direct multiple concurrent, cross-institutional projects.

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.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Oversees all aspects of I&A partnership and support for clinical research faculty, SVP, VP, and leaders of cross-functional research programs and centers to provide high-quality needs assessment, prioritization, and solutions delivery management.
  • Key customers include the Chief Clinical Research Officer, the Chief Scientific Officer, the SVP of Research Operations, Chief of Population Sciences, Data Science Chair, and various faculty leaders of the following research areas: Cancer Genetics, Data Science, Population Science, Preventative Cancer Therapies, Hematologic Neoplasia, Computational Oncology, and Pediatric Hematology.  
• Assembles appropriate governance bodies to support prioritization, strategic directions, and tactical decisions.
• Collaborates with internal and external Informatics and IS departmental teams, such as BWH and MGB, to ensure alignment of work streams in accordance with Institute goals.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Develops strategic relationships with current partners and potential customers. Explores and prioritizes needs with partners and develops recommended data, information, workflow automation, and technology solutions based on the suite of products and services provided by I&A and available commercially.
• Develops a multi-year strategic roadmap of products and services for the clinical research and genomic data domain, in partnership with research and RIO leadership.
• Effectively creates and manages goal setting and prioritization discussions across portfolio, focusing on DFCI-level priorities.
• Independently manages and delivers a portfolio of projects, leveraging direct and indirect resources.
• Consistently drives measurable business value and measures ROI of portfolio projects.
• Identifies operational risk and anticipates and plans for strategic change, functioning as change agent.
• Stays abreast of advances in technical solutions that could improve clinical research and genomic data operations.

IDE&E/Social Responsibilities

• Utilizes Dana-Farber Cancer Institute values to govern decisions, actions, and behaviors.
• Demonstrates, strengthens, and embeds inclusive behaviors, and holds team and leaders accountable for the same.
• Invests in understanding diverse stakeholder cultures, motivations, and practices to enable consensus-based solutions.
• [https://dfcionline.org/departments/diversity/]

Human Resources Management Responsibilities

• Manages a team comprising multiple functions, including program management, project management, strategic business requirements gathering and analysis, and business processes design and optimization.
• Oversees other I&A resources by matrix as needed to effectively deliver solutions, including software engineering, product management, research computing, bioinformatics, data analytics, data management and visualization, etc.
• Identifies and nurtures promising future management talent.
• Teaches/coaches management and leadership skills to developing people managers within the team.

Financial Responsibilities

• Acts as a responsible steward of DFCI and I&A financial resources. Consistently complies with DFCI and I&A spending and accounting policies.
• Develops and manages a budget portfolio of $0.5-5M per year, including capital, operating and charge back funding; ensures the efficient and effective use of team and departmental resources.
• Incorporates budgetary needs of clinical research and genomic data solutions dependent I&A resources, such as business analytics, software engineering, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and research computing.

Functional Expertise

• Establishes and manages a portfolio of high-profile (and often complex) clinical research and genomic data projects.
• Promotes I&A product and service awareness to address client need and usage of existing DFCI/I&A solutions whenever possible. Develops and maintains knowledge of all I&A product and service offerings.
• Consistent, high-quality deliverables, data assets, and documentation in alignment with group operating model and I&A principles (e.g., FAIR)
• Develops and maintains contracts and negotiations for charge-back agreements.

Communications/Interpersonal Responsibilities

• Ensures regular project communication updates through various means: progress reports, status updates at steering committee meetings, departmental updates, etc.
• Establishes and communicates best practices and operating policies to support a broad range of research activities.
• Communicates consistently and proactively with senior leadership.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages 5-10 FTE or budget equivalent.
• May supervise up to 10-20 additional FTE via matrix or vendor partnerships, including outsourced and offshore resources.
• Assumes client and administrative responsibilities for VP of RIO, as needed.

• Minimum Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required, ideally in a STEM, Business or Finance field. Advanced degree preferred. A directly relevant advanced degree may substitute for professional experience.
  • 10+ years of relevant experience, with 5+ in a biomedical or healthcare setting preferred.
  • 5+ years of direct or indirect people management. Direct people management experience preferred.
  • 5+ years information systems experience is required. Experience may be within an academic or industry setting.  Oncology-specific experience preferred but not required.
  • 5+ years of professional experience in a client-facing role

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

  • • Ability to independently drive solutions with agility and resourcefulness.
    • Excellent communication skills - both oral and written. Ability to communicate, negotiate, and work effectively with all levels of executives, administrators, researchers, and technical staff.
    • Ability to learn new tools and utilities rapidly.
    • Proven leadership, strategic, and execution abilities.
    • Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills, with demonstrated ability to be effective within a complex organizational structure.
    • Experience with change management.
    • Knowledge of IT systems and software with the ability to manage across the full spectrum of information and technology solutions in the context of a biomedical research organization.
    • Experience with implementation of IT integration and workflow design in a research-focused environment.
    • Ability to manage multiple projects using a combination of matrixed and dedicated resources.
    • Ability to articulate ideas to technical, scientific, and administrative audiences.
    • Self-motivated and directed.
    • Keen attention to detail.
    • Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities.
    • Exceptional service orientation.
    • Ability to motivate and inspire others in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
    • Ability to establish credibility among peers, respected for intelligence and technical expertise.
    • Solves complex problems and takes a new perspective on existing solutions; exercises judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information.

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 equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff.  Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse 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.

EEOC Poster