AVP, Health Sciences System Strategy Leader & Chief of Staff to CAO & Vice CAO

Overview

JOB DESCRIPTION

Assistant Vice President - Health Sciences System Strategy/Operations Leader & Chief of Staff to the Chief Academic Officer and to the Executive Vice CAO/Health Science System Chief Operating Officer

The Health Sciences System Strategy & Operations Leader & Chief of Staff will serve as a trusted advisor and partner to both the Advocate Health Chief Academic Officer, as well as the Executive Vice Chief Academic Officer & Chief Operating Officer. This role will enable strategic planning for the aligned collective academic enterprise, and execute on the CAOs vision for academics through the Health Sciences System. This role will also partner with the COO to serve as the senior Administration & Operations leader for the non-Wake Forest University School of Medicine divisions within the Health Sciences System, working to facilitate and energize the academic agenda, focusing on targeted growth, development, and the success of operations within HSS. This individual will assist with the daily operations of the CAO & COOs office, collaborating with executive team members to determine and prioritize business strategies; provide consultation to improve operations and teamwork; plan, coordinate, and manage information from high-level meetings; provide tactical support to implement ideas; respond to inquiries on behalf of the CAO & COO; identify and help solve core problems or opportunities within business processes; identify and provide recommendations on improvements across the Health Sciences System; manage sensitive communications between business units. This individual will also be responsible for directing strategic initiatives across the Health Sciences System, resulting in improved quality and operating performance.

The Health Sciences System Strategy & Operations Leader & Chief of Staff will be a forward thinking, strategic, and flexible leader capable of guiding teams in defining and meeting the emerging academic opportunities of the future. This individual will work within a large and complex organizational structure that requires developing and nurturing collegial, collaborative, and productive relationships and will play a key role in setting institutional priorities and allocating resources to support the HSS mission, strategic goals, and initiatives. In partnership with appropriate Vice Chief Academic Officers, they will connect into HSS financial leadership to help enable and ensure optimal financial stewardship.

Specific duties include:

Strategy

• Collaborates with CAO and Vice CAO leadership, along with other Advocate Health partners, to:
  • Enhance and facilitate the HSS strategic planning process
  • Lead HSS strategic initiatives and projects
  • Build HSS Continuous Quality Improvement methodology
  • Advance Advocate Health academic integration and growth efforts
• Guides the organizational design of HSS administrative leadership and support functions in order to optimally position the HSS to achieve its strategic goals. 
• Facilitates the design and implementation of operational and measurement best practices and systems to ensure that the HSS is demonstrating its contribution to the success of Advocate Health’s academic mission, vision, and strategic goals. 

HSS Administration & Operations

• Partners with HSS financial leadership to help enable and ensure optimal financial stewardship. 
• Create and foster an organizational culture and infrastructure that supports operational excellence, optimal efficiency, and the stewardship of resources through development of measurable standards and continuous quality improvement. (Operational Excellence).
• Collaborates with clinical and academic leaders to prioritize goals and initiatives, address barriers, identify solutions, and escalate concerns where appropriate on behalf of the Health Sciences System leadership team.
• In direct partnership with identified leaders, plays an essential role in creating and cultivating local, regional, and national collaborations that enhance the Health Sciences System’s ability to maximize resources and achieve objectives of mutual interest. This includes working with enterprise leadership, faculty, governing boards of the two colleges of health sciences, and key partners in enterprise and local philanthropy, grant writing and submissions, and innovation offices to identify, establish, and maintain connections with external stakeholders supporting academic activities. (External Funding Relationships).

Chief of Staff

• Anticipate the needs of the CAO & COO and advise on operational and tactical requirements to execute on objectives
• Establish priorities and action needed from the CAO & COO agenda and meetings and plan appropriate next steps and follow up
• Develop processes and appropriate metrics to ensure monitoring and follow up on assigned projects 
• Conduct research and prepare briefs, materials, and talking points for the CAO & COO on an array of topics and for a breadth of constituents
• Set goals, establish priorities, manage resources, and review project progress and results
• Manage special projects, programs, and other initiatives as assigned 
• Gather input from multiple stakeholders and integrate diverse perspectives into CAO & COO priorities
• Oversee the planning of events and special projects, perform ad hoc project analysis, and review and summarize data to report on results and findings
• Compile data and other information to develop materials for meetings and presentations
• Intake and resolve requests  to determine appropriate response from the CAO & COO and escalate issues needing prioritization
• Develop presentations for the CAO & COO for both internal and external audiences
• Prepare correspondence, reports, and other complex documents as requested
• Prepare agendas and collect, prepare, and distribute briefing materials for CAO & COO meetings
• Participate in public relations, donor and fundraising activities as needed
• Monitor current events, legislation, and other issues of interest to the CAO or COO
• Serve on boards, councils, committees, or task forces to represent the CAO or COO as needed

Experience & Education Requirements

• 8+ years of professional experience to include support of executive leadership
• Minimum of five years of management experience, preferably in a highly complex organization such as a university or health care environment
• Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field. Advanced degree (Master's degree in Business, Finance or Healthcare Administration, etc.) preferred.
• Six Sigma exposure and/or Project Management Professional (PMP), or other related professional certification preferred

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership experience in matrixed organization, serving multiple stakeholders
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrated experience managing projects and strategic planning
• Excellent planning, organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to establish and execute business vision 
• Proficiency at developing appropriate management reports and feedback processes 
• Ability to function in a complex, high-demand environment 
• Ability to set and achieve goals and to manage multiple priorities simultaneously 
• Positive attitude, proactive mindset, and a leadership style characterized by highly ethical practices and an appreciation for collaboration 
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to engage with all levels of staff and leadership effectively 
• Effective organizational and strategic planning skills 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications - Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio

Enterprise Leadership Imperatives:

Thinks Critically and Strategically

• Engages in rigorous problem-solving definition, data collection, and analysis, then makes good decisions in the face of uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Recognizes important patterns in complex environments, distills the essence, and communicates through “powerful simplification.”
• Sees the big picture and has a long-term perspective, while balancing it against short-term realities.

Envisions and Enacts the Future

• Creates and communicates compelling visions of exciting, achievable futures.
• Mobilizes people and transforms organizations to realize the vision.
• Catalyzes innovation and builds supporting capabilities.
• Is a committed steward of the Advocate Health culture.

Connects and Collaborates Across Advocate Health

• Recognizes the critical importance of integration and collaboration in achieving high performance.
• Convenes and nurtures cross-system teams and works effectively in the “white spaces.”
• Seeks win-win outcomes and puts the well-being of the patient and the overall organization first.
• Leads effectively across cultures.

Builds and Leads Inclusive, High-performing Leadership Teams

• Understands the value of diversity in teams and gets the best out of all people.
• Establishes trust and creates a culture of psychological safety to enable candid debate.
• Builds consensus; decides when necessary.
• Delivers outstanding results through others.

Understands and Shapes the External Environment

• Is deeply knowledgeable about the Advocate Health business model and the consumer, competitive, political and social environments in which the organization operates.
• Understands the importance of actively engaging with and shaping these environments.
• Identifies, assesses and builds relationships with key stakeholders.
• Mobilizes and directs supporting capabilities in public affairs, communications and government relations to achieve desired outcomes.

Builds Talent for and Across the System

• Demonstrated personal accountability for developing future generations of Advocate Health leaders who reflect the diversity of communities we serve.
• Engages actively with colleagues in assessing and developing executive talent, focusing on competencies and character.
• Invests time in coaching and mentoring high potentials for success.
• Is a role model, embodying the best of Advocate Health’s culture.