Vice President, Implementation Science

At the American Cancer Society, we're leading the fight for a world without cancer. Our employees and 1.5 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds including communities of color, the LGBTQ community, veterans, and people with disabilities. The greater the diversity of our people, the better we can serve our communities.

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

This is a remote, home-based position. Candidates from all US geographies will be considered.

Implementation science translates research advancements into tangible benefits for patients and communities affected by cancer. By prioritizing implementation science, the Patient Support Pillar can ensure that evidence-based interventions, such as new treatments, screening programs, and supportive care services, are effectively implemented across diverse healthcare settings. This approach enables the Patient Support Pillar with advanced knowledge to maximize the impact of its resources, accelerate the adoption of best practices, and ultimately improve cancer outcomes nationwide. Implementation science also supports strengthened collaborations with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

The Patient Support Pillar of the American Cancer Society provides expert-level, patient-centric assistance to solve important problems across the cancer continuum for patients, caregivers, and families, health care professionals, and communities. The VP leader of Implementation Science sets the strategy for a team of teams that includes a broad portfolio of health systems interventions and quality improvement projects to improve cancer care across the continuum through systems change and population-level impact. This leader will have advanced knowledge and experience in implementation science in oncology in order to guide strategy for the team, Patient Support Pillar, and enterprise.

The position is accountable for achieving annual and multi-year goals as identified in the Patient Support Strategy as well as demonstrating progress toward the broader ACS mission of ending cancer as we know it for everyone. This position is responsible for partnering with development to create a fundraising strategy that supports the comprehensive implementation science portfolio and includes the development of new external partnerships. This position requires a strong external presence, representing ACS at high-level professional meetings and conferences. This position manages a budget that includes restricted and unrestricted funds and manages a team of staff with expertise in developing collaborative relationships including a variety of health systems, professional societies, public health agencies, and others.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creates a vision and strategy to build a portfolio of implementation science programs to ensure that scientific advancements are scaled and spread to all communities.
• Establishes, manages, and collaborates with existing and new high value external partnerships that will influence our ability to improve outcomes across the cancer continuum.
• Provides leadership within the patient support pillar on issues related to implementation science including program design and methodologic rigor.
• Collaborates with key internal partners including Patient Support Pillar leadership and other leaders across the organization.
• Raises the profile of implementation science as an important strategy for improving cancer outcome and advancing health equity through internal and external presentations and publications.
• Develops and shares technical expertise in implementation science with team members.
• Raises and manages funding from external funders in partnership with Development.
• Identifies priority health systems, health care professionals, and/or topic areas for partnerships and collaborations with partners to develop meaningful, high impact projects with measurable outcomes.
• Aligns implementation science initiatives around core organizational goals and metrics.
• Creates visibility and accountability for performance within the team.
• Leverages existing American Cancer Society core competencies and translates that to implementation science Patient Support initiatives.
• Strategizes and works closely with appropriate internal departments, including Marketing, Digital Solutions, Discovery, and Advocacy, to leverage appropriate expertise and technical assistance.
• Recruits, trains, supervises, leads, and monitors performance of team responsible for the implementation science program.
• Manages budgeting and reporting requirements.
• Develops and oversees the annual program budget of restricted and unrestricted funds.
• Fosters strong and continuous relationships with donor agencies and implementing partners.
• Directs ongoing collaboration and planning with senior leadership, finance, and legal teams to streamline and refine grant processes.
• Develops key expertise and uses it to represent the Society externally as a technical expert of spokesperson.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

FORMAL KNOWLEDGE:     

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE:        

• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in implementation science with a primary focus on cancer
• PhD or other advanced degree in implementation science, health sciences discipline or public health.
• Work experience in health care delivery strongly preferred.
• Understanding of and experience with practical application of implementation science theories and quality improvement methods to address complexities of cancer care.

COMPETENCIES/SKILLS:

Demonstrates ACS (American Cancer Society) Leadership Competencies:

• People-First Mindset – Demonstrates genuine care of ACS’s people by providing meaningful work, offering opportunities for professional development, and valuing work-life balance of team members.
• Organizational Savvy – Demonstrates clear understanding of organizational culture and effectively navigates through complex company dynamics, championing organization initiatives.
• Decision quality - Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Business Knowledge – Applying business knowledge and industry best practices to advance the organization’s goals and inform data-driven decision making.
• Leadership Courage – Stepping up to address tough organizational issues and demonstrates conviction and courage to do what is right.
• Strategic Mindset - Sees future possibilities ahead and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

Other Skills:

• Superior communications, analytical and business development skills.
• Excellent ability to communicate across cultures and in different environments – nonprofit, government, and business.
• Detailed knowledge of public health, nonprofit business strategies and trends in the global marketplace.
• Ability to evaluate and prioritize new opportunities, set strategic goals, and determine best allocation of resources to achieve organizational goals and optimize performance.
• Ability to supervise and provide leadership to staff in multiple locations.
• Ability to work within a large, formal organization with multiple stakeholders and competing programmatic interests.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other senior staff members and to leverage their skills and expertise to achieve departmental goals and priorities, operational efficiencies, and organizational impact.
• Ability to speak knowledgeably about the Society's mission, priorities, and global strategies in a wide variety of settings.

SPECIAL MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to travel internationally and maintain a non-traditional work schedule

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/GIVEN

DIRECT SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Reports directly to the SVP of Cancer Prevention

DIRECT SUPERVISION GIVEN: 

Directly supervising leaders and teams implementing a diverse and comprehensive portfolio representing the full cancer continuum.

INDIRECT SUPERVISION GIVEN:

Serves as team lead for enterprise-wide projects and collaborates with peers, staff, and colleagues across the organization and key mission support departments that are relevant to Heath care professional and health care system programs, operations, and partnership priorities.

CONTACTS

INTERNAL CONTACTS:       

Frequent contact with members of the Patient Support leadership team; other leaders within the Patient Support pillar and across the enterprise, by telephone, and in writing, to advise, discuss, and recommend implementation science strategies and activities.

EXTERNAL CONTACTS:

Frequent contact with high-level and diverse members of the oncology and primary care community, including high level leaders in oncology care, public health, non-profit organizations, research and donors.

The starting rate is $180,000 to $210,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education

The American Cancer Society has adopted a vaccination policy that requires all staff, regardless of position or work location, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (except where prohibited by state law).

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.

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