Senior Director of Operational Transformation

Department

BSD ADM - Administration

About the Department

As part of the University of Chicago, the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) pursues globally impactful solutions to seemingly unsolvable challenges. Through our rigorous research, innovative education, and comprehensive care and healing, we collaborate on life-changing advancements that create meaningful results for our community and the world, including a greater, more equitable future for all.

Established in 1930, the BSD is UChicago’s largest academic division, comprising 10 basic science and 14 clinical departments. Today, we constitute one of the most unique communities within an academic environment: a single division that delivers undergraduate, graduate, medical, and postgraduate biological sciences education together with outstanding patient care and world-renowned research.

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Operational Transformation, is a key member of the BSD’s leadership team, directs and oversees the strategic initiatives to ensure programs and projects meet BSD’s goals and requirements. Oversee key projects and streamline internal processes to improve efficiency and productivity. Develop and implement project management processes and policies, directs project management staff, and works with other department leaders to define, prioritize, and develop projects and programs.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning & Execution - define and execute strategic priorities, translating organizational goals into actionable plans.

• Transformation Roadmap - Develop and maintain a formal project management strategic plan that includes mission and vision, values and priorities, structural components, communication plan, development priorities, resource plan and key measurements.

• Project Management - Lead and manage cross-functional projects, ensuring timely completion and alignment with organizational goals.

• Relationship Management - Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and representative of the executive team.

• Oversight - Establish the Project Management operating model by setting standards for project management capabilities, success measurement criteria, methodologies, and tools to be used.

• Communication & Collaboration:  Liaise between different departments, fostering communication and collaboration across the organization. Lead collaboration with senior management and business leaders using their influence to align and integrate with business needs.

• Interface with executives to define project priorities and implementation opportunities and challenges and keep them up-to-date with project risks and opportunities. Provide executive leaders with the information needed to assess which proposals have the highest potential value, impact and strategic alignment.

• Decision-Making Support - Identifies and addresses core issues within business processes, offering solutions and facilitating decision-making. Prepare materials for executive meetings, conduct research, and analyze data to inform decision-making.

• Establish the Project Management Office organization structure, oversee the delegation of work and the delivery of projects/programs on time, within scope and on budget.

• Industry Best Practice - Identify and adopt the most appropriate industry best practice, methods, tools, technology and standards to accelerate capabilities.

• Policies & Procedures - Develop and maintain project management policies and procedures that are clear and simple to adopt and operate at appropriate levels of the BSD.

• Teamwork & Leadership– Lead strategic project management team members, consisting of direct reports and indirect reports. Must be able to accomplish results working through multiple indirect relationships.

• Implements University objectives, as well as long-term strategic plans respective to the department's focus.

• Identifies new external partners to advance strategic priorities. Ensures the communication and collaboration with internal and external community members and leadership to achieve strategic priorities.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Key Requirements:

• Vision & Thought Leadership resulting in a clear Strat