At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better 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.
Cancer care is complex, fragmented, and rapidly evolving. People facing cancer and their caregivers encounter emotional, physical, financial, and logistical barriers that can make it difficult to access timely, high-quality, evidence-based care. Patient navigation is a critical strategy for helping people overcome these barriers and successfully move through the cancer continuum—from screening and early detection through diagnosis and treatment, including critical care transitions, access to supportive care and clinical trials, and survivorship. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has been a leader in advancing patient navigation since its conceptualization at the 1989 ACS Hearings on Cancer and the Poor. Recent changes in reimbursement, accreditation, quality measurement, and cancer care delivery have created new opportunities to expand sustainable, high-quality navigation across diverse care settings and communities. Given these changes and the critical role navigation plays in improving cancer care delivery, ACS is committed to remaining at the forefront of oncology navigation through innovation, care delivery, education, policy, research, and strategic partnerships.
As a member of the Patient Support Pillar and a senior leader within the Navigation business unit, the Senior Director, Healthcare Transformation provides strategic and subject-matter leadership to initiatives that advance equitable access to the best available cancer care. The position brings deep expertise in oncology navigation and cancer care delivery across the continuum, including screening and early detection, diagnostic evaluation, treatment initiation and adherence, supportive care, clinical trials, care transitions, and survivorship. The Senior Director translates this expertise into scalable strategies, programs, tools, and partnerships that help health systems, oncology practices, navigators, and other stakeholders effectively identify and address barriers to care and connect people with the services and resources they need.
This position leads the planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, leveraging ACS assets, evidence, data, technology, and partnerships to drive meaningful improvements in cancer care delivery and patient outcomes. The Senior Director serves as a subject-matter expert and strategic resource across ACS, helping integrate navigation into broader organizational priorities and ensuring alignment across programs, education, policy, research, and external engagement. The position represents ACS externally through strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives and helps advance the field of oncology navigation by identifying emerging opportunities, translating evidence into practice, and supporting sustainable models of high-quality, equitable navigation. Throughout this work, the Senior Director models ACS' commitment to health equity and to ensuring that every person facing cancer has the opportunity to receive timely, evidence-based, person-centered care.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Drives Enterprise Priorities: Translates national strategy into priorities, initiatives, and implementation plans that advance ACS objectives. 20%
- Build Strategic Partnerships & External Influence: Develops high-value partnerships and represents ACS with external organizations, agencies, experts, funders, and other stakeholders. 20%
- Provide Evidence-Based Thought Leadership: Serves as a recognized subject-matter expert, interprets emerging evidence, shapes recommendations, and represents ACS externally. 20%
- Lead Program Development, Implementation & Evaluation: Oversees the full program lifecycle—from design and implementation through evaluation and continuous improvement—with emphasis on evidence-based approaches and measurable impact. 20%
- Drive Cross-Functional Execution & Accountability: Aligns internal functions and resources, manages budgets and operations, and ensures programs achieve defined outcomes and organizational requirements. 20%
EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum Degree Required: Bachelor's Degree
- Preferred Degree: Master's Degree
- Certificate(s) or License(s): RN or PA
- Years of experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in the cancer care delivery space.
- Minimum 5 years progressive experience with expertise in program development and execution, healthcare delivery, program building, execution, and evaluating impact. Experience with national partnerships and public speaking preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:
- Extensive knowledge of patient navigation, oncology care delivery, cancer survivorship, and evidence-based interventions across the care continuum
- Demonstrated ability to provide vision and strategic direction for complex, interdependent initiatives with measurable outcomes
- Skill in strategic planning and implementing nationwide programs that align with organizational priorities
- Ability to interpret complex research, identify optimal approaches, and translate evidence into actionable strategies
- Proven ability to manage and develop diverse staff teams, creating a culture of excellence and accountability
- Collaborative leadership style that builds consensus across functions, works through others to accomplish goals, and brings closure to complex initiatives
- Ability to cultivate strategic relationships with health systems, clinical organizations, diverse stakeholder groups
- Advanced communication skills to present effectively to varied audiences and represent the organization as a thought leader with partners and external stakeholders
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be able to travel occasionally
The starting rate is $140,000 to $150,000. 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.
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.
