Director of Partnerships

Surgical Data Science Collective • Washington, DC

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Surgical Data Science Collective (SDSC) is a nonprofit building the global infrastructure to change this. By combining surgical expertise with advancements in Physical AI, Computer Vision, and Robotics, we are unlocking insights to accelerate research and clinical innovation. Our network currently spans 61 countries and includes the world’s largest de-identified surgical video repository. We are seeking a Director of Partnerships to serve as the primary architect for our institutional expansion. This is a role for a proactive strategist who can navigate the complexities of US healthcare systems and academic medical centers to build a global network of surgical data. This position is unique: it requires the persistence and professional polish of a high-level executive, but it is focused on establishing enduring research and data collaborations. You will be the primary point of contact for Department Chairs, Chiefs of Surgery, and Hospital Executives, guiding them from initial discovery to the execution of complex Data Use Agreements (DUAs).

Requirements

• 8–12+ Years in Healthcare Strategic Growth: A proven track record of opening doors and establishing high-value relationships within complex health systems or academic medical centers.
• Proactive Orientation: You are a self-starter who excels at mapping out a healthcare organization and reaching the right decision-makers.
• Complex Negotiation Experience: Deep familiarity with Data Use Agreements (DUAs), IRB processes, and HIPAA-regulated data environments.
• Technical & Clinical Literacy: Comfortable discussing the future of AI, robotics, and surgical data science with world-class surgeons and researchers.
• Mission-First Mindset: You value a compensation model that prioritizes institutional trust and long-term research impact over short-term transaction targets.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and engage new institutional partners. You will move beyond managing current accounts to strategically identifying and initiating conversations with senior-level decision-makers.
• Lead the full lifecycle of a partnership—from articulating our value proposition to navigating the legal and technical hurdles of research collaboration frameworks.
• Manage and mentor a team of five professionals. You will be responsible for fostering a culture of proactive growth, coaching the team to identify new opportunities for network expansion.
• Collaborate with leading healthcare organizations, leveraging deep technical literacy to establish immediate credibility with clinical stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Legal (on DUAs), Medical Affairs, and Product (on our AI and robotics initiatives) to ensure partnerships result in active data ingestion and tool adoption.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed