Director - Program Management and Business Operations

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital•Memphis, TN

About The Position

The Director of Program Management and Business Operations is responsible for elevating business acumen across the Administrative Services domain and strengthening how our work gets done, in part by improving business operations, increasing process efficiency, and enhancing cross-functional coordination. In partnership with departments across the domain, the Director also helps set strategic direction by facilitating planning workshops and structured discussions that align priorities and enable effective organizational change management. In equal measure, the Director drives cross-functional initiatives that support enterprise business planning, organizational readiness, strategic planning cycles, and administrative program execution. This role requires a highly independent, analytical, and versatile leader who can create clarity from ambiguity, influence across diverse administrative functions, and balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution while collaborating closely with stakeholders across the Administrative Services Domain including Campus Operations, Critical Event Planning and Response, Human Resources, Information Services, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, and Security Operations. Success in this role is demonstrated by developing and driving a portfolio of programs that span the Administrative Services domain and deliver institution-wide impact—bringing structure, clear milestones, and sustained follow-through from planning through execution. As a catalyst for organizational change within the programs they lead, the Director proactively identifies change impacts and drives adoption through robust readiness planning, effective communications, and comprehensive training. Recognized as a trusted partner, the Director is known for empowering others to succeed by enhancing business acumen and providing clarity and momentum amid ambiguity and rapid change.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Business, Healthcare, or related field
10+ years’ experience in a business facing Program Management role, with substantial consulting leadership & program implementation experience required.
Demonstrated experience managing/ overseeing/ leading multiple/large/complex program(s) keeping the impact on/ needs of customer in mind.
Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, prioritizing programs and defining approaches for implementation.
Significant experience in risk management, issue resolution, resource management, and financial tracking across multiple programs.
Significant experience in operational management, and budget planning & management through multiple diverse program teams.
Experience building systems/tools/processes to leverage program synergies and drive continuous improvement in quality and consistency of programs.
Advanced synthesis and storytelling skills—able to translate complex inputs into clear, executive-ready narratives supported by data.
Advanced PowerPoint skills, including building compelling decks, creating effective visuals/infographics, and presenting information in a strong graphical format (“tell the story with data”).
Strong critical thinking and structured problem‑solving.
Exceptional communication skills.
Ability to influence without authority and manage multiple priorities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business, Healthcare, or related field preferred.
10+ years of experience leading complex, cross-functional programs/initiatives, preferably within large, matrixed organizations.
Experience in professional consulting, strategy, or advisory roles—synthesizing inputs, shaping recommendations, and influencing decisions with senior leaders.
Demonstrated experience partnering across Administrative Services functions (e.g., Campus Operations, Human Resources, Information Security, Security) to drive outcomes and manage dependencies.
Experience in academic medical centers, research institutions, or similarly regulated environments, including governance, policy, and change adoption considerations.
Experience supporting enterprise planning cycles, business reviews, and executive-ready communications, with a track record of driving organizational readiness and adoption.

Responsibilities

Define vision and strategy for a large-scale program with institutional impact.
Define overall objectives, scope, plans, resource planning and budgeting, metrics for tracking progress while ensuring alignment with customer needs.
Provide strategic insights to senior leadership around program roadmap from a program management lens in relation to overall departmental/ institutional objectives.
Collaborate with key leaders in internal functions and partner/vendor organizations to optimize organizational outcomes.
Provide input into overall budget and variance management for department wide programs.
Build systemic approaches around Executive Sponsor engagement and governance across programs.
Direct and approve establishment of frameworks/guidelines for the use of contractors and professional service providers and determines their use across programs.
Drive scalable process improvement initiatives that bring significant benefit to program teams at department level.
Direct and approve the establishment of frameworks/guidelines for the use of contractors and professional service providers and determine their use across programs.
Actively drive processes for team management in terms of goalsetting, performance, development, and engagement.
Coach and develop individuals and ensure they have rich career experiences and rotational opportunities.
Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
Maintains regular and predictable attendance.