Senior Director, AI Innovations

Overview

The Senior Director, AI Innovations serves as a strategic leader within Dana-Farber’s AI Innovation Center, responsible for advancing high-priority AI-related initiatives that support the Institute’s research, clinical, and operational priorities. Reporting to the AI Center Lead, this role develops and manages implementation of an integrated strategic plan for AI innovation and supports related business and operating plans across the Institute. The position works closely with executive leadership, faculty, and internal and external partners to assess opportunities, address risks, and align AI initiatives with institutional goals. This role requires strong strategic planning, program leadership, analytical, and stakeholder management capabilities in a complex academic healthcare and research environment.

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:

• Leads development and implementation of the Institute’s AI innovation strategic plan in partnership with the AI Center Lead and executive leadership, identifying strategic priorities, dependencies, resource needs, and implementation requirements across research, clinical, and operational domains.
• Conducts ongoing assessment of the AI, biomedical research, and healthcare landscape to identify emerging opportunities, institutional strengths, competitive risks, and market considerations relevant to Dana-Farber’s mission and long-term positioning.
• Conduct requisite analyses and develop business and operating plans for priority AI and data science initiatives in collaboration with multiple Dana-Farber offices.
• Provide project management assistance to ensure timely and successful execution of initiatives.
• Foster the establishment of appropriate AI governance and lifecycle management, including considerations of ongoing capability evaluation, risk analysis, and accountability
• Directs high-priority AI innovation initiatives from planning through execution, establishing project plans, governance structures, milestones, and accountability measures to support timely and effective delivery.
• Develops business cases, operating models, and implementation plans for priority AI initiatives in collaboration with finance, research, clinical, digital, and administrative stakeholders across the Institute.
• Establishes metrics, dashboards, and reporting processes to evaluate initiative progress, outcomes, and organizational impact, and provides regular updates, analyses, and recommendations to leadership.
• Partners with faculty, institutional leaders, and external collaborators to align AI innovation efforts with strategic priorities, operational capabilities, research objectives, and evolving organizational needs.
• Collaborates with AI Center leadership to guide and support interdisciplinary teams responsible for implementing AI innovation priorities across multiple workstreams.
• Establish and manage strategic partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government agencies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Expert knowledge of current and emerging AI technologies, trends, and applications relevant to biomedical research, healthcare delivery, and administrative operations.
• Strong knowledge of strategic planning, research administration, business planning, market analysis, and enterprise program implementation in complex organizations.
• Ability to translate emerging AI concepts into practical institutional strategies, operating models, and implementation plans.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a highly matrixed academic healthcare or research environment.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative information into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent project and program management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, dependencies, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Ability to develop metrics, reporting frameworks, and performance monitoring tools to evaluate initiative success and support decision-making.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, faculty, and partners at all levels.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across research, clinical, operational, and administrative functions.
• Strong judgment and adaptability in navigating ambiguity, organizational complexity, and evolving strategic priorities.
• Knowledge of governance, change management, and organizational adoption considerations associated with enterprise innovation initiatives.
• Commitment to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing work environment.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

Master’s degree in life sciences, biomedical sciences, public health, business administration, health administration, data science, informatics, or related field required; Ph.D. preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, research administration, innovation program leadership, or related management roles within a healthcare, academic medical center, research, or biomedical environment.
• Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional initiatives and translating strategy into operational execution required.
• Experience in oncology, biomedical research, digital health, artificial intelligence, or data science-enabled transformation preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

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).