Director, Project Management & Process Improvement

Position Summary

The Director of Project Management & Process Improvement plays a pivotal leadership role within oncology services, driving operational excellence through strategic management of complex projects and continual enhancement processes. This position encompasses the development and execution of cross-functional initiatives aimed at advancing organizational growth, patient access, quality standards, financial health, and operational efficiency.

Core Responsibilities

• Oversee the oncology project management and process improvement portfolio, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, growth targets, operational objectives, deadlines, budget constraints, and measurable results.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to foster communication, accountability, and decision-making among executives, physicians, clinical staff, operational units, finance, IT, and external partners.
• Identify risks related to projects, operations, workflows, and change management; formulate mitigation strategies, resolve obstacles, escalate critical matters, and preserve continuous progress with minimal disruption.
• Maintain robust project governance systems including tools, dashboards, status reports, milestone tracking, risk logs, and performance metrics to ensure transparency, effective prioritization, and executive visibility.
• Guarantee adherence to healthcare regulations, accreditation criteria, organizational policies, and privacy regulations such as HIPAA to secure data integrity and patient confidentiality.
• Lead process improvement efforts using methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, workflow and value stream mapping, root cause analysis, standard work practices, and change management techniques aimed at improving quality, efficiency, patient throughput, and team engagement.
• Function as an internal consultant and leadership collaborator to assess current operations, detect inconsistencies or gaps, redesign workflows, implement standardized best practices, and monitor sustained improvements.
• Develop and execute implementation strategies and performance indicators for strategic initiatives including service line expansion, program introductions, technology deployments, facility growth, and operational redesign.
• Cultivate organizational capability in project management and process improvement by creating tools, templates, methodologies, meeting structures, and coaching frameworks to ensure consistent and accountable execution.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to project management staff including managers, analysts, and coordinators involved in strategic and operational initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Public Health, Nursing, Industrial Engineering, or related disciplines preferred.
• A minimum of seven years progressively responsible experience in healthcare operations, project and process improvement, performance enhancement, consulting, or operational excellence, preferably within oncology or academic healthcare settings.
• At least three years of leadership or managerial experience overseeing teams, strategic projects, cross-functional initiatives, or operational improvement programs is desired.
• Proven track record successfully managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects and implementing sustainable organizational change.

Certifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent is mandatory.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification required; Black Belt certification is advantageous.

Skills and Abilities

• Expertise in project management, process improvement, operational excellence, and change management frameworks including budgeting, resource allocation, workflow documentation, performance monitoring, and outcome evaluation.
• Comprehensive understanding of healthcare operations, oncology service line management, regulatory compliance, accreditation standards, and privacy requirements.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills suited for executive-level collaboration across diverse teams and leadership echelons.
• Advanced problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making capabilities with aptitude for translating strategic visions into actionable plans.
• Strong leadership presence with ability to influence across organizational boundaries, inspire accountability, and foster enduring operational improvements.
• Proficient in project management software, Microsoft Office suite, and data visualization/reporting tools.
• Capacity to juggle multiple complex tasks in a dynamic environment while ensuring focus on quality, deadlines, alignment, and measurable outcomes.
• Meticulous attention to detail, maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, and professionalism consistently.
• Compassionate, service-focused approach motivated to enhance patient, provider, and team experiences through process improvements.
• Ability to build trust, coach teams through change adoption, support new workflow integration, and uphold accountability for continuous enhancement.
• Experience in developing dashboards, KPIs, executive summaries, project charters, implementation plans, and financial or ROI analyses is preferred.