Director - SCI Strategic Communications and Program Development (Hybrid)

Stanford, CA (Hybrid)

$193K/yr – $220K/yrDirector/ExecutiveFull time

Posted 3 weeks ago

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Job Summary

Own and govern high level communications for a major cancer institute, aligning strategy, budget and staffing with the goal of raising global visibility for cancer research and care.

  • Lead cross‑functional communications plans with measurable goals, budgets, and data needs to position the SCI as a global leader in cancer research and education.
  • Build and mentor a unified communications team and establish consistent processes across the SCI, School of Medicine, and health systems to drive coherent external messaging.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Formulate and execute strategic plans for external and internal communications that includes strategic goals and corresponding success metrics, budget, staffing plan, and data needs. Position the SCI as a national and international leader in cancer prevention, detection, treatment and education. Increase visibility of discoveries and innovations of SCI members in basic science, translational and clinical research.
  • Establish consulting services to help new SCI faculty build programs that cross the research, educational and clinical missions of the SCI. Partner with SCI, School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care (SHC) and Stanford Children’s Health (SCH) to develop program plans that have sufficient and sustainable resources.
  • Lead strategic direction for both direct reporting and indirect reporting staff performing communications functions for the SCI. Ensure the staff are engaged in the broad strategic vision for increasing national and international visibility for the SCI. Provide mentoring and guidance to ensure each staff member understands how her/his work is essential to the broader strategic goals of the SCI.
  • Build consistent systems of work to reduce variation and improve consistency. Apply system thinking and continuous process improvement to ensure coordination and collaboration between SCI, School of Medicine, University and SHC/SCH.
  • Develop and manage the SCI budget for communications and social media. Execute advanced approval processes for communications and social media expenditures across the SCI. Explore, recommend, and implement efficiencies in operations. Establish targets to meet objectives while stewarding resources.
  • Foster relationships with basic scientists, clinicians, and leadership of the SCI/School of Medicine/University/SHC/SCH, to maintain an in-depth knowledge of the programs of cancer research, prevention, treatment, education and outreach of the SCI and its members to ensure consistency in messaging across the enterprise and appropriate representation in publications and communications.
  • This position is open to a hybrid work schedule (work from a Stanford location and non-Stanford location, such as home), based on mutual agreement.
  • Other duties may also be assigned.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree and ten years of relevant experience; or a combination of education and relevant experience.
  • Extensive professional experience in Oncology and in Academic Medical Centers.
  • Ability to manage internal and external relationships; preparing, justifying and presenting strategic plans, business cases and budgets; and measuring the impact of different strategies and programs.
  • Ability to effectively develop strong cross-functional partnerships, evidenced by a track record of teamwork and collegiality leading cross-functional teams and building relationships outside and beyond the role.
  • Demonstrated success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff and non-reporting teams to achieve and sustain excellence. The individual must have strong interpersonal skills to develop alliances with internal and external groups. S/he must be comfortable dealing effectively, diplomatically, honestly, and sensitively with all levels of leadership and staff.
  • Demonstrated history of proactively seeking out new and creative ways to advance an organization’s strategic objectives; ability to think progressively and innovatively, and challenge status quo thinking.
  • Ability to see patterns or connections between situations that are not obviously related.
  • Ability to manage multiple strategic projects simultaneously and prioritize the allocation of staff and resources accordingly; ability to identify critical success factors in different business situations and projects.
  • Strong enterprise-wide vision, seeing the big picture, recognizing critical details and dealing with ambiguity.
  • Demonstrated history of personal integrity, accountability and follow through.
  • Excellent computer skills and expert knowledge of PowerPoint and web content management systems is preferred.
  • Current or past Stanford experience desired.
  • Education & Experience (required)
  • Proven ability to achieve an organization's vision, values and programs through communications and marketing initiatives.
  • Demonstrated experience leveraging integrated marketing strategies to achieve goals.
  • Strong marketing management skills and the ability to persuade and influence decision-makers across all levels of an organization.
  • Exceptional strategic thinking and leadership skills.
  • Proven people manager, with the ability to motivate, grow and train staff across functions.
  • Prior experience in planning and managing department budget.
  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills to senior managers.

Preferred

  • MBA, MPH or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
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Stanford is a place of discovery, creativity and innovation located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Dedicated to our founding mission—benefitting society through research and education—we are working toward a sustainable future, accelerating the impact of research with external partners, catalyzing discoveries about ourselves and our world, and educating students as global citizens. Our main campus, which welcomed its first class in 1891, is now home to 650+ student organizations, 36 varsity athletic teams, 20 libraries, 21 living Nobel laureates, 18 interdisciplinary research institutes, seven schools, and a vibrant arts scene. More than 9,000 graduate students and 7,000 undergraduates pursue studies at Stanford each year. Our financial aid program, one of the most generous in the nation, makes it possible for any admitted undergraduate to attend without taking on student debt.

Founded in 1994
Stanford, California, USA
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1%
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Headcount Trend

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Marketing Team

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