AVP, R&D Commercial Growth Initiatives

Vizient•Chicago, IL

6d•$156,500 - $290,100

About The Position

The Commercial Growth Initiatives (CGI) team sits within Vizient's Research & Development group and leads upstream innovation and product strategy: identifying, shaping, and de-risking new growth opportunities that help healthcare organizations solve complex, high-impact problems. We connect unmet healthcare needs with Vizient's distinctive assets, shaping credible solution concepts and determining which opportunities are strong enough for R&D to pursue. We're looking for an AVP, R&D Commercial Growth Initiatives to lead opportunity formation across defined strategic growth areas. As a senior individual contributor, you will identify promising areas for exploration, shape credible product and business theses, and own the evidence and recommendations that help Vizient R&D decide where to invest further. You will assess whether an emerging problem is important enough to solve, whether customers have the incentive and resources to adopt a solution, and whether Vizient has a credible path to differentiated, durable growth. Reporting to the VP of Commercial Growth Initiatives, you will serve as a strategic partner in setting discovery priorities, evaluating competing opportunities, and shaping the early-stage growth pipeline. You will lead complex, ambiguous work from initial market signal through an executive decision case, bringing independent judgment, commercial discipline, and the ability to challenge assumptions constructively. This is an upstream innovation and product strategy role, not a product management, implementation, or program delivery role.

Requirements

Relevant degree preferred. MBA or equivalent graduate business training is a plus.
10 or more years of experience required.
Background in health tech (preferred), management consulting, venture analysis, health system operations, or product and growth strategy.
Strong healthcare fluency from healthcare consulting, provider operations, health technology, payer/provider strategy, or healthcare analytics.
Experience independently leading complex strategic work across multiple opportunities.
Demonstrated experience originating and evaluating new business opportunities.
Demonstrated commercial judgment.
Comfort moving between market research, customer discovery, economic logic, operational reality, and executive synthesis.
Customer-centered mindset and strong communication skills.
Ability to develop and defend clear investment recommendations.
Self-direction, initiative, and sound judgment.
Practical judgment, intellectual honesty, low ego, and ability to collaborate through ambiguity.
Willingness to travel.

Nice To Haves

MBA or equivalent graduate business training is a plus.
Background in health tech (preferred)

Responsibilities

Define and lead opportunity formation within assigned strategic growth areas, identifying important healthcare problems and shaping potential solutions around Vizient's assets, relationships, data, and market position.
Originate and prioritize new growth opportunities by connecting unmet customer needs, emerging market conditions, and gaps in existing offerings.
Shape and pressure-test product and business theses, integrating customer pain, buyer priorities, funding sources, operational realities, economic value, competitive alternatives, and Vizient's ability to succeed.
Lead customer discovery and strategic assessment, determining which questions matter most, what evidence is needed, and how to resolve the uncertainties that could change an investment recommendation.
Own recommendations to advance, redirect, or stop opportunities, making the rationale, critical assumptions, remaining risks, and next investment required explicit.
Advise senior R&D leaders on priorities across opportunities, weighing strategic fit, customer value, commercial potential, timing, and resource requirements.
Lead substantive discussions with health system executives, internal business leaders, and external market participants, testing assumptions, navigating competing perspectives, and building support for evidence-based decisions.
Represent Vizient externally through speaking engagements, panel discussions, and participation in industry events, sharing perspective on healthcare innovation and building relationships that inform future growth opportunities.
Develop and defend executive decision cases.
Maintain a rigorous, reviewable decision record.
Strengthen CGI's evaluation methods and standards and coach colleagues through complex strategy work.
Support CGI recruiting by identifying and engaging prospective talent, participating in interviews, and helping assess candidates' expertise, strategic judgment, and ability to work through ambiguity.