Director Infection Control

Overview

The Director, Infection Prevention & Control will oversee the Infection Control Program within the Department of Quality and Patient Safety at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), reporting to the Senior Director, Clinical Safety and in collaboration with the Hospital Epidemiologist. This role is crucial in reducing the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients, staff, and visitors and is responsible for the day-to-day implementation, management, and oversight of all DFCI infection prevention functions. The scope of practice includes all adult and pediatric patients throughout all areas of the Institute, including ambulatory, inpatient, regional campuses, Longwood, the Jimmy Fund Clinic, Chestnut Hill, and all contracted services.

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

• Responsible for developing, implementing, and regularly updating infection control policies and procedures in the Infection Control Manual. Ensures strict adherence across DFCI by establishing and managing comprehensive monitoring systems focused on environmental control and regulatory compliance. Oversees continuous surveillance using CDC infection criteria, analyzing admission diagnoses, microbiology culture results, and other pertinent data to identify infectious disease clusters and nosocomial infections. Conducts regular rounds to ensure regulatory readiness according to infection control standards and assesses environmental controls through surveillance of water supply systems, air pressure relationships, and other high-risk areas. Identifies and mitigates hazards, guiding infection control improvement initiatives.
• Implements system infection prevention and control goals, plans, and standards consistent with Quality and Patient Safety goals, regulatory requirements, and objectives of DFCI and oncology care. Serves as a consultant and educator for staff, promoting continuous improvement in oncology care by overseeing the implementation of infection control education, including general orientation and specific training classes.
• Responsible for the annual review and maintenance of the Infection Control program. Maintains comprehensive documentation and delivers presentations to internal committees like the Medical Staff Executive Committee, Quality Improvement Committee, and Board of Trustees, while acting as a liaison to external organizations and regulatory bodies.
• Leads all infection control-related collaborations. Ensures that DFCI fulfills the contractual coverage requirements for all oncology beds at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Acts as the Infection Control leader, working alongside the Hospital Epidemiologist in planning the Future Cancer Hospital and collaborating with Beth Israel. Guarantees Infection Control staff participation in essential meetings and regulatory reviews, such as user groups, design meetings, policy and procedure development, and DPH reviews/Certificate of Occupancy, to support the new collaboration and hospital.
• Manages the Infection Control team. Allocates tasks to suitable staff members, ensuring accountability and conducting follow-ups to foster growth among direct reports. The position emphasizes nurturing teamwork among both direct and indirect reports, guiding their work while supporting career development and job satisfaction. Key duties involve managing time effectively, recruiting and training, and overseeing performance management and policy compliance. Setting goals, evaluating performance regularly, and providing coaching, feedback, and training are essential to meet individual and departmental objectives. Additionally, aligning infection prevention and control initiatives with the broader goals of the Quality & Patient Safety Department is crucial to achieving the department's overarching objectives. Promotes and fosters a healthy and productive work environment within the team and with groups across the Institute.
• Performs other duties, as required. Note that responsibilities may change over time to encourage professional growth and meet evolving business needs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong managerial skills to mentor, motivate, support, and develop staff.

• Effective delegation and empowerment skills to work successfully through the contributions of direct reports and collaborators.

• Ability to respond effectively to time-sensitive issues and make independent decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic, and deadline-driven environment.

• Ability to establish structured, proactive feedback loops to sponsors, stakeholders, and management on progress, challenges, and successes.

• Ability to engage, build trust, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

• Ability to build and maintain a network of external relationships to support internal priorities.

• Ability to synthesize complex data into meaningful reports and presentations for stakeholders.

• Experience integrating new technologies into workflows to improve efficiency and outcomes.

• A self-directed workstyle, taking initiative while thriving in a setting that requires collaboration and teamwork.

• A commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment.

• A strong command of Microsoft Office and other business applications.

• Knowledge of epidemiological principles and statistical methods.

• Proficiency in public speaking for presenting information at meetings and education programs.

• Excellent writing skills for preparing manuals, documents, and reports.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree, graduate of an approved school of nursing, medicine, medical technology, public health, or relevant field.
• 10 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years in an Infection Control position at an acute care hospital. Prior experience in a clinical role (e.g., RN, NP, PA, PharmD, MD) required, preferably within an oncology setting.
• 2 years of supervisory experience preferred.

License/Certification/Registration Required:

Current CIC certification

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Yes, direct supervision of Infection Preventionists.

Patient Contact:

Yes, adult and pediatric patients.

Special Working Conditions:

Rotating on call for the DFCI Inpatient Hospital, inpatient oncology populations at MAH and BIDMC, and DFCI ambulatory sites. Hybrid work (on site 2-3 days per week). Will wear PPE to go into a patient’s room and may have contact with infectious material while in a patient’s room.

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.

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).