Assistant Dean and Executive Director - Joint Office of Strategic Planning

Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) is conducting a national search for the Assistant Dean and Executive Director (Executive Director) of the Joint Office of Strategic Planning (JOSP). The Executive Director is responsible for the overall direction and leadership of the Strategic Planning Office and serves as the Executive Director of the JOSP, which functions as an internal consulting group to support and align the planning needs of WUSM, its faculty practice plan (FPP), its departs and operating units, as well as its partner hospitals, Barnes-Jewish Hospital (BJH) and St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH).

The Executive Director leads the JOSP team in providing strategic advisory services including leadership meeting facilitation, data analysis and interpretation, resource alignment/coordination and the design and communication of business and strategic plans to advance the mission and goals of WUSM and its key partners and stakeholders. He/she proactively plans, facilitates and directs overall research, academic and clinical strategic planning efforts.

The Executive Director builds collaborative relationships and serves as a strategic thought partner to key leaders across WUSM, BJH, SLCH and the FPP. He/she regularly attends and participates in leadership meetings including: WUSM Executive Faculty, WUSM Management Council, FPP Clinical Practice and Clinical Managers Committees, BJH Directors and Managers, SLCH Administrative, Clinical Strategic Plan Oversight Group, and other project related groups as needed. The Executive Director works closely with BJH/SLCH finance and business development departments as well as WUSM business managers and finance team. He/she also collaborates with the BJC corporate strategic planning group.

Reporting 

The Executive Director reports in a matrix structure to the executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of WUSM; the associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs of the school of medicine and chief executive officer of Washington University Physicians; and the chief financial officers of BJH and SLCH. He/she supervises, develops and directs a staff of eight including planning managers, senior planning associates, planning associates and an administrative assistant.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning Project Oversight

• Ensures and oversees the planning and execution of multiple business and strategic planning projects.
• Oversees planning cycle for the annual process for WUSM departmental planning, and 5-year process for BJH/SLCH/WUSM overall as well as service line level planning.
• Responsible for final review and approval of all plan documents.
• Ensures all plans include appropriate implementation plans, metrics and designated leadership/sponsorship to be successful.
• Guides approval and resourcing process for strategic plans and facilitates transition to implementation once approved.
• Develops planning approach to WUSM-wide planning and ensures and oversees its execution.
• Provides direction, guidance and support to WUSM leadership (Dean and Associate Deans) on new or potential strategic planning activities.
• Identifies and facilitates opportunities to integrate planning activities with each financial, capital and space planning project.

Office Leadership

• Proactively updates FPP CEO, AVC Administration and Finance, and BJH and SLCH CEO/CFO on project activities and facilitates project priority, scope, sponsorship and outcomes.
• Directs day-to-day workload of the Office prioritizing requests for planning assistance, information and report preparation, developing project-specific work plans, assigning projects, monitoring progress, and reviewing work products, and monitoring staff performance.
• Matches staff to projects to promote progressive professional development of staff while ensuring quality of project deliverables.
• Designs and maintains the organizational structure within the Office. Reviews and updates job descriptions by assessing work processes, tasks and responsibilities in light of organizational needs.
• Communicates job responsibilities and expectations to incumbents.
• Stays abreast of advances in strategic planning field by actively participating in professional organizations (AAMC, AHA) and reviewing current literature. Presents and disseminates information to Office staff and senior leadership as appropriate.
• Represents the Office to external audiences as needed. 

Office Administration

• Develops the Office budget and secures funding from various sources (Dean, FPP and BJH/SLCH).
• Coordinates Office staff performance reviews and career development efforts.
• Leads recruitment and selection processes to attract and hire competitively qualified staff based upon organizational needs.
• Assures appropriate utilization of facilities and technology conducive to efficient, effective business operations. Prioritizes purchases of equipment, software and hardware.
• Assures that documentation (work papers and computer files) are accurately maintained according to departmental policies and procedures.
• Ensures the maintenance of confidentiality and ensures privacy in all matters pertaining to patients and their care, as well as matters related to employees and WUSM/BJH/SLCJ or other entity business.
• Assures performance of all compliance obligations required by WUSM.