Business Operations Director, External Affairs

Overview

Oversees financial and operational activities, office operating rhythms, governance, and cross-functional projects for a multi-department division spanning community health, government affairs, and regulatory affairs. Shapes and executes strategic initiatives by translating complex information into actionable plans and executive-ready communications. Enables timely decision-making by tracking commitments, performance, and follow-up on priorities and issues requiring senior leadership attention, while providing data-driven recommendations and resolving operational gaps. Oversees budgets, systems, analytics, and reporting to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant advocacy and engagement operations across federal, state, and local jurisdictions. Partners with institutional leaders, Trustees, Legal/Compliance, Finance, and clinical/research stakeholders to advance institutional priorities, foster a positive and inclusive culture, and ensure adherence to 501(c)(3) and lobbying requirements.

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.

• Work with leadership team to develop, maintain, and communicate the Institute strategy for the department. Manage annual processes relating to strategic priorities. Lead and manage key strategic projects that cut across groups, when needed
• Responsible for department goals, documents and artifacts. Ensure department-level goals have appropriate granularity, alignment across groups who need to coordinate, are SMART and high-impact, and have appropriate alignment to priorities and engagement results. Oversee midyear and end-of-year goals-review review process. Serve as interface for Institute Operating goals with strategic planning office. Track and manage departmental commitments
• Oversee financial operations of the department, including adherence to established departmental budgets. Manage department budget proposals and expense tracking. Interface with finance and position control teams and processes
• Work with leadership on organizational design, staffing models, overall resource management, and space planning activities. Maintains department organizational charts and job documentation, as needed
• Responsible for staffing activities, including onboarding new staff, management training. Ensure staff have appropriate orientation, training, and equipment. Train and coach departmental management about staffing policies, procedures, and practices
• In conjunction with leadership, design, co-facilitate, and manage meetings, team retreats, trainings, and other department events. Ensures materials, action items, minutes, and leadership decisions are prepared, tracked and disseminated, as needed. meeting format and schedule, set agenda, reminders, invitees/speakers as needed
• Responsible for all department content, including intranet/internet/teams' sites, internal and external communications, brand materials and templates, and distribution lists. Trains staff on appropriate communications, ensuring compliance with Institute guidelines. May author executive communication materials and reports
• Supervise business operations and/or administrative staff within the department, including recruitment, performance, and human resources activities
• Represent department at committee meetings, which may include developing business cases, developing budget proposals, and other activities
• Ensure staff adhere to departmental, Institute, and applicable compliance policies, requirements, and best practices. Liaise with finance, purchasing, facilities, and human resources teams for compliance purposes, as needed
• Perform other duties, as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Communication: Exceptional communication, writing, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with all levels of the organization, most notably with senior level executives. Expert at effectively influencing stakeholders, driving consensus decision-making, and building strong, collaborative relationships
• Computer Literacy: Expert in new applications and software, with proficiency in spreadsheets and visualization/communication software.
• Organization: Strong understanding of electronic document management, adept at prioritization, multitasking, and delegation with strong attention to detail
• Customer Service: Provides excellent service, with strong listening, inquiry, follow-up, and problem-solving skills.
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrated expertise in assessing complex situations and developing solutions
• Strategic Planning: Able to organize strategic planning initiatives. Strong knowledge of setting and managing SMART goals.
• Financial Expertise: Proficient in budgeting principles, projections, and managing complex funding sources
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to routinely create, cultivate, and leverage cross-group, cross-departmental, and cross-institutional relationships with a strategic, Institutional mindset. Cultivates relationships with faculty, research staff, and departments, fostering collaboration
• Institute Operations: Excellent navigator of Institutional policies. Directs staff, faculty, and researchers to appropriate resources, with expert knowledge of regulations and SOPs
• Project Management: Manages multiple workstreams and stakeholders, developing trust and influencing without authority. Exceptional planning, project management, facilitation, and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to drive multiple concurrent projects to completion in a complex, deadline-driven environment
• Inclusion, Diversity & Equity: Promotes an inclusive community, creating an environment that engages and retains talent. Possesses empathy, kindness, and a mindset of inclusive, diverse thinking and behaviors
• Leadership: Leads and influences departmental projects, troubleshoots complex issues, and communicates effectively, able to make decisions independently on behalf of division leadership

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

The position requires a bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred) and 10 years of relevant experience, including 5 years in supervisory or leadership roles, with at least 1 year of direct people management. Candidates must have experience writing communications for executive-level audiences and collaboratively facilitating the development of organizational strategy.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manages business operations and/or administrative staff.

PATIENT CONTACT: None

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).