Associate Director of Strategy & Operations - University of Pennsylvania

University Overview


The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.




Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.




The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.








Posted Job Title

Associate Director of Strategy & Operations





Job Profile Title

Associate Director E, Research, Clinical





Job Description Summary

The Penn Medicine Nudge Unit (NU) at the Center for Health Care Transformation and Innovation (CHTI) is seeking an Associate Director of Strategy & Operations to provide high level oversight and management of research projects & initiatives executed across the Penn Medicine and partnering project sites. This role will directly report to the Director of Strategy and Operations and support the strategic development of NU’s portfolio by planning and overseeing projects to develop, test, and scale new nudges to improve clinical care and patient outcomes. Working collaboratively with NU, CHTI, Principal Investigators, internal leadership, and external stakeholders, this role manages a portfolio of complex projects and is accountable for both long-term management and day-to-day oversight. The Associate Director will directly oversee junior level staff and interns working on research projects, helping to support high-quality team outputs, growth, and culture. In addition, this individual provides important subject matter expertise to the NU community regarding strategic planning, executive communication, process improvement, team growth, etc.


Position is contingent upon continued funding.





Job Description


Job Responsibilities

+ The Penn Medicine Nudge Unit (https://chti.upenn.edu/nudge-unit) (NU) at the Center for Health Care Transformation and Innovation (CHTI) is seeking an Associate Director of Strategy & Operations to provide high level oversight and management of research projects & initiatives executed across the Penn Medicine and partnering project sites. This role will directly report to the Director of Strategy and Operations and support the strategic development of NU’s portfolio by planning and overseeing projects to develop, test, and scale new nudges to improve clinical care and patient outcomes. Working collaboratively with NU, CHTI, Principal Investigators, internal leadership, and external stakeholders, this role manages a portfolio of complex projects and is accountable for both long-term management and day-to-day oversight. The Associate Director will directly oversee junior level staff and interns working on research projects, helping to support high-quality team outputs, growth, and culture. In addition, this individual provides important subject matter expertise to the NU community regarding strategic planning, executive communication, process improvement, team growth, etc.




The Associate Design Strategist must have the ability to work with diverse stakeholders, be comfortable coding and synthesizing data, and have excellent communication skills.




DUTIES: (Description should be brief and only include principle duties.)




STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Oversee and manage a portfolio of complex clinical/research projects.



+ Supports clinical leads and PIs on project strategy and prioritization based on team capacity and milestones, and management of all clinical research activity, to include the oversight and development of training initiatives, performance management, and standard operating procedures.


+ Manage complex research projects and stakeholder engagement, with assigned project manager on projects as necessary.


+ Directs the development of clinical/research operations quality systems, including SOPs, best practices, methods, techniques, document management, clinical/research personnel training, and quality control processes; remains actively engaged in organizational goals especially those directly related to all research/clinical projects.


+ Increase adherence to quality standards and improve overall workflow. Provide strong in-house strategic and operational guidance for clinical/research projects and process improvement projects.







OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT: Serve as point person on key processes related to the Nudge Unit’s operations including project management best practices, SOPs, team culture, methods, communication, and skill development, etc.


Create project related process workflows, timelines and milestones associated with the conduct of clinical/research projects to ensure compliance with the protocol, Institutional policies, and all applicable regulations. Collaborate with the Director of Strategy & Operations and other CHTI managers in development of unit specific standards, including creation of standard operating procedures, guidance documents, and education/training in accordance with meeting key objectives and milestones and in compliance with institutional policies and all applicable regulations. Co-lead team culture pathways such as team retreats, team pulse survey, Nudge Unit events (i.e. Symposium), CHTI-wide culture initiatives/research collaborative management. Co-lead and manage team meetings such as weekly operations meeting, hot topics, staff meetings, and CHTI monthly meeting, and support setting associated agendas. Support strategic communications and related programs such as the newsletter and intake management.




STAFF MANAGEMENT: Directly manage junior staff members and interns on project-specific teams.


Directs and manages clinical/research junior level staff and interns, including hiring, training, coaching, performance reviews, and termination.



+ Develop measurable performance related goals/objectives in alignment with departmental and program objectives to ensure clear understanding of expectations of direct reports and their responsibilities.


+ Direct NU staff in problem and conflict resolution and create/Implement processes to enhance workflow and systems.


+ Manage staff coverage for active projects in the setting of staff vacations, sick calls and urgent situations or provide Interim coverage as necessary.


+ Allocate staffing and other essential resources for study conduct.



- Facilitate team meetings to ensure proper execution of study related responsibilities of direct reports and deliverables to meet key milestones.


- Supervise the education and training for direct reports, including department specific on-boarding. - - Manage internship program and related responsibilities associated with onboarding, training, project development, offboarding, termination etc.




Qualifications



+ Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 7 to 10 years of experience or Masters of Science, Masters of Arts, and 5 to 7 or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.


+ Demonstrated experience bringing operational excellence to an organization. Takes on new opportunities and challenges with a sense of urgency, providing direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to drive results.


+ Outstanding people management skills, including matrix management and managing up – as well as experience directly supervising, coaching, and mentoring staff.


+ Exceptional writing, analysis, and presentation skills.



Preferred



+ Experience developing and managing multi-stakeholder initiatives in a university-based setting.


+ Experience working with IRB and human research protection regulations.


+ Background in healthcare management or innovation.







Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine





Pay Range

$74,476.00 - $113,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.










Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.