Role Overview: Reporting to the SVP, Perioperative, Procedural and Clinical Operations and working in close partnership with the Chair of Surgery and surgical leadership, the Senior Director will drive operational excellence, strategic growth, and leadership development. The role carries enterprise-wide scope, with direct accountability for departmental operations, financial management, program development, and talent strategy across MSK's main campus and growing regional sites, including Main Campus, Westchester, Monmouth, and the Griffin Pavilion. You will bring thoughtful financial stewardship to a department operating at the intersection of clinical excellence and innovation, balancing fiscal accountability with the investments required to grow programs, expand capacity, and advance the future of surgical cancer care.
Key Responsibilities: Leadership Development and Talent Strategy: - Build, develop, and retain a high-performing administrative leadership team across the Department of Surgery
- Oversee leadership development and grow talent from within to strengthen succession pipelines across levels.
- Model and champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous growth, partnering closely with the SVP, Chair and clinical leaders to align people strategy with departmental mission.
- Retain, recruit and onboard talent; lead performance management and professional development activities.
Strategic Planning and Program Growth: - Partner with the SVP, Chair, and surgical leadership to develop and execute the Department of Surgery's short- and long-range strategic plan.
- Lead the administrative planning and operational infrastructure required to support regional surgical expansion and future growth opportunities across the network.
- Develop and advance a care model strategy for the Department of Surgery, including programmatic growth, care delivery innovation, and clinical service line development.
- Identify and execute new program opportunities aligned with MSK's oncology mission and enterprise-wide strategic priorities.
- Serve as a lead for enterprise-wide initiatives and represent the Department of Surgery in institutional planning forums.
Operational Management: - Oversee day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the Department of Surgery across all sites, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery aligned with departmental and institutional goals.
- Monitor and optimize utilization of clinical space, OR capacity, equipment, and resources across NYC and regional locations.
- Lead data and analytics strategy for the department, including dashboards, operational metrics, and reporting to senior leadership and regulatory bodies.
- Ensure compliance with institutional, regulatory, and governmental requirements.
Financial Management: - Direct the development and management of the department's operating and capital budgets.
- Review financial performance, analyze variances, and initiate action in partnership key leaders.
- Identify and drive cost-saving and revenue optimization opportunities across the department and its regional sites.
- Ensure appropriate internal controls and financial stewardship practices are in place across all locations.
Key Qualifications: - 10+ years of progressive healthcare administration experience, with significant leadership experience in a large academic medical center, NCI-designated cancer center, or major health system.
- Experience in perioperative, surgical, or procedural services strongly desired.
- Demonstrated experience leading strategic growth initiatives, including new program development, capital expansion, or multi-site operational buildouts.
- Proven track record in leadership development: building teams, growing talent, and creating cultures of high performance in complex, matrixed organizations.
- Strong financial acumen, including budget development, capital planning, and resource stewardship at enterprise scale.
- Ability to partner effectively with clinical and surgical leadership to set and execute strategy.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and sustained growth: this is a role for someone who can build, not just manage.
Core Skills: - Strategic vision and execution
- Leadership development and talent management
- Surgical and perioperative operations
- Multi-site program and capacity planning
- Financial stewardship and resource optimization
- Data-driven decision-making
- Cross-functional stakeholder partnership
Additional Information: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest private cancer center and one of 56 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. With the Griffin Pavilion underway and a growing regional network, the Department of Surgery is entering a period of extraordinary scope and scale. MSK offers a competitive, performance-based bonus structure aligned with individual and organizational goals.
Pay Range: $248,600.00 - $422,700.00
FSLA Status: Exempt
