Program Director, Operations BTI

Reporting to the Director and Chief of the Brain Tumor Institute and the Gilbert Family Neurofibromatosis Institute, the Program Director supports Children's National's overall brain tumor research and care and neurofibromatosis research and care initiatives and programs. The Program Director interacts with senior leadership of both Institutes and serves as the primary liaison between senior leadership and the Institute's Director and Chief. In addition to being a direct liaison to the internal leadership of both Institutes, the Program Director interacts with external executive leadership of the Brain Tumor and Neurofibromatosis Institutes. In collaboration with internal leadership, external funders and their leadership teams and associated advisors, the Program Director works with the Director and Chief of the Institute to implement, direct and evaluate the activities of the Institute in accordance with institutional policies and procedures, and donor intent; as well as best practices to manage a world-class program.

The Program Director will also work with leadership of Centers within CNH crucial to the success of the Brain Tumor and Neurofibromatosis Institute, such as the Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and Children's National Research Institute Center to facilitate, help direct, implement, and dependent on the situation, lead strategic initiatives that support the growth of neuro-oncology and neurofibromatosis translational and clinical research programs. This includes the oversight of operational integration of funds generated by the Institute for clinical care into the existing hospital framework.

The Program Director's expertise, including financial expertise and knowledge of the grants and contracts mechanisms at Children's National, will serve as a core attribute alongside budget and program management experience, to drive the overall projects, such as ongoing and new initiatives, as well as success of this position.

The incumbent partners closely with leadership to advance ideas, partnerships and business opportunities that advance the sustainability of the Institute. As such, it is imperative that the incumbent possess project, program, budgetary and portfolio management competencies including but not limited to (1) defining projects, programs, portfolios, (2) prioritizing strategic objectives, and (3) establishing performance measures.  The incumbent works closely with internal and external stakeholders and senior leaders to accomplish these goals. This includes project management of an External Advisory Board of researchers engaged to provide counsel and insights to the Children's National team on a bi-annual basis (efforts include coordinating meetings, preparing materials, note-taking and conducting specific analysis as requested). Superior communication skills are of the utmost importance and will require experience with matrix reporting and ongoing communications with external stakeholders including funders and their scientific advisors. 

The Program Director supports leadership in operating the institute according to a structured tracking and evaluation plan to meet specific milestones, and performance goals measured in business-driven metrics. The incumbent establishes a results-oriented environment that will measure success in terms of researcher satisfaction, increased collaboration and teamwork and increased financial success and business growth. Leveraging information technology, the program director develops and implements all necessary tools to increase productivity and achieve results. The Program Director participates in strategic planning for the institute and is responsible for many critical high-profile projects often requiring adherence to tight deadlines. The incumbent will work closely with the investigators and with counterparts in Finance, Human Resources, business development, research operations, regulatory affairs and the Foundation. The Program Director has administrative accountability for the institute's budget and human resources associated with its research and administrative operations. The Program Director is instrumental in acting as the liaison and overseer to the Children's Hospital Foundation and the PR & Marketing unit with respect to external funder reporting and promotion of the institute. The Program Director will demonstrate exceptional dedication and willingness to contribute as needed to meet a deadline, accomplish a goal or achieve excellence.

Leads due diligence efforts for various medical and scientific projects in the brain tumor research and care initiative.

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Provides input and executes the mission-driven, strategic planning and evaluation efforts for the institute, with priority placed on implementing best practices and building supportive infrastructure which will assist the institute to develop effective internal and external partnerships.

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Evaluates business development activities including assessing profitability and operational feasibility of new institute initiatives aligned with the institute’s mission.

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Manage internal and external committees for new and existing initiatives, including coordinating meetings, preparing materials, note-taking, conducting specific analysis as requested, etc.

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Liaises with other administrative leaders to accomplish institute goals, including the Foundation, HR, Legal, Finance, Grants & Contracts, Research Administration and others.

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Develops, implements and maintains a plan for efficient administrative integration and oversight between the institute, CNRI research centers and clinical divisions.

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Provides monitoring and oversight of recruitment packages/business plans involving use of Institutes philanthropic and/or institutional operating funds in collaboration with the assigned business managers.

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Assists center faculty leadership with federal grants and most critically with multi-programmatic grants.

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Works to ensure collaboration with the other Children’s National research centers and clinical divisions and their respective research and clinical operations.

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Deepens and refines all aspects of communications, from web presence to external relations, with the goal of creating a stronger infrastructure.

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Collaborates with CNRI communications staff to ensure that institute’s content is updated on the Research & Innovation website.

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Participates in CNRI committees and activities and advises institute leadership on trends and policies affecting operations.

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Ensures effective systems to track progress and impact and regularly evaluates program components, so as to measure successes that can be effectively communicated to leadership.

Project Management

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Manages shared resources across all projects.

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Identifies and develops project management methodology, best practices, and standards.

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Coaches, mentors, and trains staff.

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Monitors compliance with project management standards, policies, procedures, and templates via project audits.

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Develops and manages project policies, procedures, templates, and other shared documentation (organizational process assets).

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Coordinates communication across projects.

Management of Human Capital and Partnerships

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Acts as the liaison to Institute members and other external collaborators (industry, biotech, clinical research organizations, patient advocacy groups) with respect to institute initiatives.

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Leads and coordinates management functions across the portfolio of the institute to ensure resources, services and support are designed to meet the needs of faculty and staff.

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Assesses and monitors organizational staffing requirements to effectively and efficiently meet organizational needs.

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Defines, sets and utilizes appropriate performance and quality measures for the institute and for individual staff members.

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Sees oneself as a leader of others, from forming a top team that possesses balanced capabilities to setting the mission, values and norms, as well as holding the team members accountable individually and as a group for results.

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Establishes, builds and sustains professional contacts for the purpose of building networks of people with similar goals that support similar interests.

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Demonstrates ethics and professional practices, as well as stimulating social accountability and community stewardship.

Budget and Financial Management

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Oversees budget management in partnership with finance leadership and principal investigators.

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Develops and monitors the institute’s operating and special purpose fund budgets.

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Monitors institute performance reports, evaluates budget variances and recommends course corrections.

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Ensures clinical study team’s compliance with clinical research billing policies and procedures if applicable

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Develops recommendations to facilitate meeting budget requirements in collaboration with the business manager and foundation staff.

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Consistently utilizes cost effective resources and meets budget and staffing requirements.

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Incorporates budget considerations into all planning and decision-making.

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Develops and monitors key performance indicators to measure the success of the institute’s research programs.

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Ensures billing accuracy and compliance for both technical (facility) and professional (faculty) billing systems for assigned areas

Management of Information Technology

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Sees the potential in and understands the use of administrative and clinical and translational research information technology and decision support tools in process and performance improvement.

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Actively sponsors the utilization and continuous upgrading of information management capabilities.

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Ensures the availability and quality of data to support senior leadership decision-making.

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Manages projects through all phases (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring/controlling, closing).