Senior Director Research and Development

The Senior Director of Research and Development is a unique and compelling opportunity to join WellSpan Health in an integral leadership role on an aspirational and dynamic innovations team within a transformational and market-leading health system that has fully embraced the mission of making healthcare a better consumer experience. This Senior Director position is a key contributor to transformational efforts, driving execution of the health system's strategic plan which has prioritized innovation as a key pillar.

This visible and influential position is highly engaged with senior executives and a broad range of internal stakeholders, external partners, and clients. This role offers a dynamic and problem-rich environment where creativity is a cornerstone, coupled with resources and support to identify and address challenges, from planning and research to the development and scaling of new products and services.

The role also provides the opportunity to collaborate with world-leading start-ups in AI and technology, further enriching problem-solving capabilities. This leader will work with both internal and external clients, leading a department in human-centered design and managing consulting projects to ensure exceptionally high client satisfaction and successful project delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads a department in using human-centered design methods to create and grow new products and services through all lifecycle phases-planning; research; synthesis; strategy; ideation; design; and/or development for prototyping; alpha and beta launch; beta growth; and transition to enterprise scale/commercialization.
• Serves as the organizational leader and champion for Research and Development projects such as consumer research and inside consulting, new product and service development, and exploration of new platforms of capability.
• Anticipates system and client needs and identifies new opportunities. Communicates status and updates as needed to system leadership. Obtains and applies feedback.
• Leads the implementation of internal and external (consulting or investment related) projects to meet and exceed commitments to clients and partners.
• Participates in business development actives for consulting projects.
• Manages all aspects of assigned consulting projects including proposal development, project plan development, deliverable development, and presentations.
• Produces quality client deliverables and maintains high client satisfaction through proactive client interaction and engagement.
• Fosters collaboration with other departments and vendors through the innovation process (planning, research, synthesis, design, prototyping and production).
• Plans, produces, and facilitates culture-building design events, workshops, strategy sessions and meeting experiences.
• Mentors colleagues within the Innovation Division and beyond. Serves the organization as an expert on innovation-related subjects such as digital/connected health, human-centered design, digital marketing, modern advertising strategies, marketing automation, prototyping, agile development methodologies, etc.
• Participates in WellSpan Innovations Governance meetings to show case work, pitch new focus areas and inform key decisions.
• Is accountable for the client experience of working with the R&D department and the overall quality of the Research and Development department's deliverables.

This role is special, combining leadership in innovation and research with a deep focus on advancing transformational initiatives impacting healthcare across the continuum. This leader will play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare, making a significant impact on both the organization and the broader healthcare landscape.

Qualifications for this role include a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree, with a preference for a Master's Degree, and at least 10 years of experience in human-centered design, digital health, and/or innovation. Experience working in a consulting firm is preferred. Candidates should have knowledge of the healthcare industry, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven track record of success.