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It is an exciting time to be a part of the Informatics and Analytics (I&A) department at Dana-Farber. I&A is a core component of the Institute, using data, AI, and software to drive operational innovation that is accelerating DFCI’s mission to defy cancer and improve the lives of our patients, caregivers, and staff. Dana-Farber has embraced the capabilities of AI and Analytics as a core enabler of this mission, both of which require a solid, interconnected data foundation in order to be utilized to their fullest.

Reporting to the Director of Data Platform and Analytics Enablement in the Department of Informatics & Analytics, the Associate Director, Metadata Management and Data Governance, supports the strategic vision and implementation of core metadata platforms and processes which enable all user personas and systems to discover, understand, access, trust, and use data and analytics assets to drive impact for the Institute. This role partners closely with the I&A Strategy & Architecture and Enterprise Data Services teams to design and develop these metadata solutions. As a dynamic and experienced leader, this role builds data solutions that will underpin high-impact strategic initiatives supporting secure, simplified data consumption and use by Faculty, Clinicians, Researchers, and Business Operations staff in all Institute departments. In addition to hands-on work, the Associate Director also leads and grows a team of 2-5 full-time employees, coaching and nurturing their capabilities.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and Vision Development:

• Engages with a variety of users across the Institute to capture a deep understanding of goals and requirements for metadata management from all perspectives.

• In collaboration with the Director, partner with the Strategy & Architecture team, technical stakeholders across Informatics & Analytics, and end user groups across Research, Clinical Operations, and Business Functions to develop a comprehensive metadata management strategy and vision that aligns with organizational goals, user needs, and I&A data strategy.

• Designs a solution architecture that brings together technical and enriched metadata enabling consumption of linked metadata by all user personas and technical integrations.

• Evaluates our current metadata technology stack against the strategy and user needs.

• Leads robust evaluation and proof-of-concept engagements with new vendors that may better serve our strategy for capabilities with metadata integration, data cataloging and enrichment, data quality, access control plane, and data marketplace requirements.

• Explores opportunities to leverage emerging AI solutions, both within our existing platforms and from new vendors, to simplify metadata management processes and tools.

• Develops a comprehensive program roadmap and workstream project plans to enable and operationalize strategic transformation.

Data Catalog and Governance Platform Implementation and Management:

• Builds and maintains a comprehensive metadata catalog covering data from source to consumption, helping all users discover, understand, access, trust, and use data and analytics assets to drive impact for the Institute.

• Leads critical workstreams and coordinate working groups, including planning, executing tasks, managing timelines and risks, and communications.

• Designs and implements a framework and workflows for metadata enrichment and glossary content curation that enable employees throughout the Institute to appropriately take responsibility for their data.

• Ensures a usable platform for all stakeholder personas, including conducting user interviews, training sessions, and establishing clear communication channels.

Process and Policy Development and Documentation

• Establishes, documents, and maintains data governance processes and policies in partnership with the Director and stakeholders across functions including Informatics & Analytics, Legal, Compliance, departmental leaders, and various governance committees. These will include data enrichment, asset curation, access controls, data ownership and stewardship, data observability and quality, and compliance.

• Conducts pilots of new approaches with stakeholders to optimize processes for efficiency and value.

• Oversees continuous improvement in data governance strategies and practices while monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness and impact value of data governance initiatives.

• Drives and holds accountable necessary review processes with data owners and stewards to ensure completeness and approval of glossary content.

• Reports progress, roadblocks, and value generation of this program to leadership.

Stakeholder and User Community Engagement

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with stakeholders across persona types and Institute functions, ensuring their needs and expectations are met, and driving change management.

• Develops an engaged community of practice for metadata management with representation across persona types where best practices are shared, questions are answered, and support and training are delivered.

• Drives product management and stakeholder engagement interactions, including resolving vendor issues and ensuring smooth communication channels.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and grow a team of 2-5 direct reports including mentorship, coaching, upskilling, and management.

PATIENT CONTACT:

• None.

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required (e.g., Computer Science, Information Systems, Analytics, Business, Engineering). Master's degree is preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in data governance and metadata management, analytics and AI, data science, software engineering, and/or related roles.

• 3+ years of experience in biomedical, healthcare, healthtech, life sciences, or other highly regulated industries.

• Extensive hands-on skills in enterprise data catalog platforms such as Informatica, Collibra, Alation, Atlan, Ataccama, or others, including building workflows, managing curation/enrichment, setting governance/controls, building dashboards, and educating users on how to navigate and use.

• 3+ years of direct people management experience.

• Demonstrated data platform experience with hands-on expertise in data engineering, data warehouse management, data modeling, and/or data product creation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Deep skills in best practices for data catalog curation and enrichment, business glossary development, data lineage mapping, and creation of data governance workflows.

• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency in Microsoft 365 suite to prep, manage, maintain, and store templates of glossary input data, analyze data sets, and support prototyping of catalog solutions.

• Excellent understanding in best practices for solution design for data, AI, informatics, and/or software development use cases including technical architecture, and the interactions between systems including working knowledge of data flows and platforms.

• Working understanding of healthcare-related clinical and business terminology and data processes.

• Emerging capabilities in consulting with users of data across maturity levels and departments to understand their metadata needs, mapping needs to a practical technical solution design, managing through challenges, and ensuring adoption with a successful implementation.

• Experience guiding and supporting career development and performance management, including for direct employees.

• Strength in leading and developing high performing project and solution delivery teams with a user-centric and impact-first mindset.

• Experience engaging with clients across organizations and departments to open eyes to what’s possible and then drive ideas through to solution.

• Experience in fostering stakeholder teams to reach their full potential through change management, risk mitigation, and strategic planning.

• Curious and eager to learn about others’ work and perspectives.

• Excellent at identifying and validating the business value of initiatives.

• Strong service orientation with an unwavering commitment to our patients, employees, partners, customers, collaborators, and users.

• Expert at presenting results clearly, persuasively, and accurately, both verbally and in writing.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to interact effectively with all levels of staff and external contacts.

• Ability to routinely create, cultivate, and leverage cross-group, cross-departmental, and cross-institutional relationships with a strategic, institutional mindset.

• Outstanding project, program, and portfolio management, with excellent analytical, organizational, and time-management skills.

• Excellent communication skills to share program and project updates succinctly and clearly to senior leadership and external stakeholder groups.

• Superb attention to detail, accuracy, quality, and compliance.

• Possesses a high-level of empathy, kindness, and a mindset of inclusive, diverse thinking.

• Demonstrates self-awareness, professionalism, agility and flexibility, a strong work ethic, appropriate humility, and the ability to lead through challenging situations.

• Thinks and acts consistently with a broader “we” mentality, i.e., what’s best for the group as a whole vs. self and “my team”.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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