Associate Director, Lurie Cancer Center

Department: MED-Cancer Center
Salary/Grade: EXS/14

Job Summary:

The Associate Director serves as the head of business operations and administration for the cancer programs (research, education, and clinical) of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. As administrative leader of the Lurie Cancer Center, the Associate Director is responsible for the effective, compliant and efficient daily management of the cancer programs, including operations, support services, cancer registry, business and finance, research administration, marketing, and development, and serves as the principal administrative liaison for these functions to Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM), Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC), and Northwestern University (NU). This individual effectively functions as a chief operations officer, ensuring that all aspects of cancer center administration support the programmatic, financial, strategic, and management needs of the center. Working with the Director of the Lurie Cancer Center, the Associate Director provides strategic direction to the cancer service group across Northwestern Medicine.

The Associate Director leads, monitors, coordinates, organizes, and evaluates all administrative operations and activities of the Lurie Cancer Center; a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. The position is responsible for the efficient and effective conduct of all financial management, grants and contracts administration, planning and evaluation, governance, human resources, education, facilities maintenance, safety and security, shared resource core facilities, and development (fundraising) activities of the Lurie Cancer Center in support of its research, education, patient care, and community outreach missions. The position is also responsible for maintaining and supporting effective working relationships with other departments/centers/institutes and schools of the University, affiliated hospitals and physician practice plans as well as external agencies and organizations critical to the Lurie Cancer Center's mission. In accordance with the expectations of NCI designation, the Associate Director functions as a full member of the senior leadership team of the Lurie Cancer Center with reporting and accountability directly to the Director.

The Associate Director manages an operating budget of approximately $73 million. The position is responsible for fund management, oversight of various oncology committees and current specialty designations, and recommends and implements changes and improvements to facilitate attainment of mission. Activities include, but are not limited to: determining and implementing organizational structures to aid with efficiency and effectiveness of the units, operationalizing goals and objectives, partnering in strategic planning, developing and implementing policies and procedures; liaising with NU, FSM and NMHC to ensure effective operation and compliance with applicable regulations and procedures.

The position's management responsibility includes the following positions and domains: Associate Director for Research Administration, Senior Administrative Director of the Clinical Trials Office, finance, education, development, professional affairs, facilities, and general administrative support.

Specific Responsibilities:

Financial Management, Growth, and Grants Administration

• Directs financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting for annual operating and all funds budget
• Monitors budget performance with direct reports
• Oversees grants and contracts administration, including pre-award and post-award activities
• Manages philanthropic funds for oncology
• Determines appropriate application of institutional and philanthropic funds to initiatives/programs
• Functions as senior administrator of the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant, providing overall coordination and implementation
• Negotiates and develops inter-departmental financial agreements for Lurie Cancer Center initiated multi-investigator/multi-department grants
• Advises on research policy and procedures
• Provides optimal support for research staff through efficient processing of grants and meeting compliance guidelines
• Activities include but are not limited to: oversight of the research administration processes, establishment of performance metrics for faculty and staff, monitoring and oversight of payroll for research appointments, etc.

Governance/Planning and Evaluation/Membership

• Coordinates monthly meetings of the Executive Council comprised of senior leadership and serving as the primary policy-making governance entity of the Cancer Center and NMH Oncology
• Coordinates quarterly meetings of the Leadership Group comprised of the Executive Committee, Program Leaders/Co-Leaders, and Shared Resource Core Facility Directors/Managers and serving as the key governance entity that provides broad input for review of scientific productivity and priority setting
• Coordinates semi-annual meetings of the Internal Advisory Board comprised of the Executive Committee and key senior leaders of FSM, NMHC, and the NU VP for Research and serving to provide school and university input into continuing development of the Cancer Center
• Coordinates annual meetings of the External Advisory Board comprised of 10-12 nationally recognized leaders in cancer research, education and patient care and serving to provide critique of Cancer Center programs and activities, with primary emphasis on NCI designation requirements
• Directs and develops the Lurie Cancer Center strategic plan in three- to five-year cycles, coordinating input from all constituencies and periodically updating progress on all objectives
• Directs and manages Lurie Cancer Center membership of over 270 faculty Develops annual report information of Lurie Cancer Center activities and performance

Community Education and Outreach

• Oversees community outreach initiatives with voluntary health agencies, schools, community and healthcare organizations, and governmental agencies (eg. Illinois Department of Public Health, American Cancer Society), in coordination with School and Health System initiatives, where appropriate
• Oversees intramural education programs including Cancer Biology seminar series, grand rounds, scientific poster session, travel grant program, and invitational speakers
• Oversees continuing education programs including multiple regional/national conferences/symposia
• Oversees patient education, advocacy and survivorship programs
• Oversees communications activities including all print and electronic communications and website development/maintenance, by working closely with FSM/NM Office(s) of Communication
• Oversees government relations activities relevant to the cancer community, as well as international initiatives, in conjunction with the appropriate NU and NMHC offices
• Oversees public relations/marketing activities in conjunction with appropriate FSM/NM and affiliated hospital departments

Human Resources Management

• Oversees all payroll and routine human resources and training functions
• Reviews and approves all proposed new positions
• Hires, supervises and monitors performance of all direct reports
• Participates in recruitment and hiring of key management and staff positions
• Directs annual performance review and merit increase process within NU, FSM, and NMHC parameters
• Actively participates in all human resource actions that involve exceptional circumstances including all disciplinary actions that may potentially lead to termination

Facilities Management/Shared Resource Core Facilities

• Directs the planning for development and maintenance of all Cancer Center administrative and research facilities
• Oversees space allocation, occupancy and rent recovery for Cancer Center facilities totaling approximately 98,000 nsf of space on Chicago campus
• Oversees facilities maintenance and upgrading
• Oversees administrative and laboratory common equipment procurement and maintenance
• Oversees faculty and staff moves into and out of Cancer Center facilities
• Oversees development and compliance with departmental safety and security plans
• Directs and coordinates planning for development of new shared resource core facilities and new service lines/expansion of established facilities in conjunction with the Director
• Oversees and monitors performance of established shared resource core facilities
• Oversees functions and sets priorities for the Administrative Director of the Clinical Research Office
• Oversees and coordinates annual budget planning for shared resource core facilities operations

Development/Fundraising

• Works actively with the FSM/NM Office(s) of Development on cultivation, proposal development and stewardship reports/events for all major donors, foundations and corporations, and fund-raising organizations
• Directs establishment of appropriate account structures to ensure adequate management of all gifts
• Coordinates and oversees implementation of donor approved and funded projects

External Organization Relationships

• Establishes and maintains a productive working relationship with the Cancer Centers Branch of the NCI to ensure compliance with all expectations of NCI designation and funding
• Coordinates submission of documentation required for ongoing NCI comprehensive designation
• Participates actively in relevant individual membership professional associations-eg. Cancer Center Administrators Forum, Society for Research Administration, etc.
• Maintains institutional memberships on behalf of the Cancer Center with relevant cancer focused professional associations-eg. Association of American Cancer Institutes, American Association for Cancer Education, Friends of Cancer Research, etc.
• Serves as principal administrative contact for Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium
• Serves as representative on the NCCN Board

Clinical Partnership

• Strengthens NM Oncology programs by working directly with the NMH leadership, clinical chairs, NMG Physicians, Private Physicians and NMHC Senior Vice President of Strategy to define the Lurie Cancer Center affiliation strategy to strengthen clinical and research linkages
• Provides leadership in strategic and capital planning, including the creation of capital budgets designed to advance growth, clinical quality, and safety initiatives
• Provides leadership oversight on behalf of NMH and the Lurie Cancer Center for community programs
• Coordinates with NMHC Planning and Marketing departments, the Communications and Media Relations department; the FSM's Office of Communication, to promote the Lurie Cancer Center and Oncology Program externally to the public, patients, and referring physicians
• Coordinates with FSM/NMHC Legislative and Governmental Affairs staff, as needed, to advocate for and influence policy and/or funding affecting the Lurie Cancer Center
• Assists with physician recruitment activities for the oncology services
• Collaborates with physicians to develop and foster positive working relationships.
• Represents the facilities by membership in related professional and community associations.Supports community projects and agencies.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in business administration, public health or equivalent required
• 10-12 years of relevant experience including management or administration, and demonstrating progressive responsibility
• Demonstrated ability for independent functioning
• Demonstrated experience with program planning, development and implementation
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated outstanding collaboration with physicians, nurses, clinical and administrative support services, and academic faculty practices
• Strong leadership, organization, planning and time management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Administrative background in oncology
• Experience with federal grant funding
• Experience in academic, research or cancer center management/administration
• Knowledge, skills and ability to effectively support fund-raising activities
• Knowledge, skills and ability to manage/administer research and education programs and projects

Target hiring range for this position will be between $138,311 to $194,500 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

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Benefits:
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