The Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health (PMH) is advancing a new generation of precision medicine approaches for mental health care. The Center is developing brain imaging based approaches that improve understanding of individual patients and support more personalized treatment selection.
The Center is entering an important new phase of growth, including development of a dedicated new Center facility on the Stanford campus, expansion of philanthropic and corporate partnerships, expanding its national and international leadership role and acceleration of efforts to translate brain imaging based precision approaches into routine clinical practice.
We are seeking an experienced Director of Precision Mental Health Center Strategy and Operations to serve as an operational partner to Center leadership. The Director will have unusual breadth of responsibility, working across scientific programs, strategic planning, communications, philanthropy, partnerships, and organizational development to help translate the Center's vision into sustained institutional and clinical impact.
The Director will translate strategic priorities into coordinated action, execute complex initiatives, and help guide the Center through its next phase of growth. This position offers a unique opportunity to help shape a nationally recognized program working at the intersection of clinical neuroscience, mental healthcare innovation, academic medicine, and organizational leadership. The Director will build strong relationships across Stanford and with external partners, facilitate collaboration across multiple stakeholders, balance multiple strategic priorities, and consistently deliver complex initiatives on schedule. Success will require the ability to anticipate challenges, independently translate leadership priorities into executable implementation plans, coordinate complex activities across multiple teams, and maintain momentum and accountability across a broad portfolio of Center priorities.
A signature responsibility will be providing end-to-end leadership for the Center's annual Precision Mental Health Symposium. Within the broad portfolio, the Director will also lead and coordinate high-priority initiatives that advance the Center’s long-term growth, including:
- Coordinate planning activities for the Center's future dedicated facility.
- Lead philanthropy, corporate affiliate, and external partnership initiatives.
- Develop executive presentations, strategic briefings, and communications.
- Oversee the Center's communications and digital presence.
- Lead preparation of the Center's Annual Report.
- Represent the Center in interactions with university leadership, external partners, donors, and national organizations, serving as a trusted organizational liaison.
This position requires exceptional organizational, communication, and project management skills, as well as the ability to navigate complex organizational environments and work effectively across institutional boundaries. The individual must be able to exercise sound independent judgement in establishing priorities, anticipating organizational needs, identifying emerging opportunities, and driving complex initiatives through completion.
The Center values intellectual curiosity, collaboration, innovation, accountability, operational excellence, fairness, efficiency, and diversity of perspectives. This position offers an unusual opportunity to help build the organizational infrastructure of a nationally recognized precision mental health center during a period of transformational growth.
Interested candidates should include in their application:
- A cover letter addressing the requirements of the role, motivation to contribute to precision mental health, and how their education and experience relate to the position described above.
- Resume or CV.
- In the cover letter or Resume/CV, please include the names of at least three referees.
The position is open until filled. However, because of organizational priorities and project timelines, we are seeking to fill this position as soon as possible.
The supervisor for this position is Dr. Leanne Williams. Learn more about the Center at Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health at https://www.stanfordpmhw.com. For specific inquiries about the position, contact Dr. Lara Foland-Ross, lfoland@stanford.edu. This position is classified as an Administrative Services Administrator 2 (ASA2) at Stanford University. Compensation and responsibilities are consistent with the ASA2 classification and will be commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.
Specific Tasks Include:
• Lead day-to-day planning and execution for the Center's future dedicated facility, serving as the primary liaison among Stanford planning groups, architects, consultants, contractors, and Center leadership to ensure the project advances on schedule and aligns with the Center's operational needs.
• Develop high-quality annual reports, website content, newsletters, and strategic communications that showcase the Center's accomplishments, support leadership priorities, and strengthen its national and international reputation.
• Lead the Center's digital presence, including website strategy, email communications, and social media, developing content that expands the Center's visibility, promotes key initiatives and events, and engages scientific, clinical, philanthropic, and public audiences.
• Spearhead planning and execution of the annual Precision Mental Health Symposium and related strategic convenings, including stakeholder engagement, vendor and speaker coordination, communications, logistics, and event delivery.
• Develop and execute communications, programs, and engagement activities that support the Center's philanthropic strategy, fundraising initiatives, corporate affiliate program, donor stewardship, and strategic partnerships.
• Identify opportunities and serve as a primary to strengthen organizational effectiveness, expand partnerships, enhance operational processes, and increase the Center's national visibility and impact.
Other duties may also be assigned.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience coordinating large-scale events, strategic convenings, or stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Experience supporting philanthropic, fundraising, sponsorship, or external partnership activities.
Familiarity with Stanford University or other large, decentralized organizations.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility across clinical, research, and administrative teams.
Demonstrated experience working with senior leaders, faculty, external partners, and diverse stakeholder groups.
Demonstrated experience independently leading complex initiatives from concept through implementation, including management of multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and ambiguous problem spaces.
Core Duties:
- Lead the planning and operations for programs or functions that have significant business, regulatory and/or technical challenges requiring subject matter expertise.
- Evaluate programs or functions, policies and procedures. Identify issues, and develop alternative solutions which may include changes to programs, policies and procedures.
- Review and analyze trends to advise and develop recommendations to achieve or modify the goals of the program or function.
- Represent the program or function within the department, unit or school. Commit resources and provide information and/or training. Represent the program or function at the university level and/or to external/internal stakeholders and constituencies.
- Manage and contribute to the development of outreach strategy that may include relationship development, communications and compliance.
- May develop and/or oversee budgets; manage finances including monitoring, analyzing, forecasting, and reporting.
- Assess training needs and may develop associated training.
- May direct and/or supervise staff.
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects with multiple deadlines.
- Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness.
- Demonstrated creativity, problem solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment and, decision-making skills.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and meet budget goals.
- Demonstrated solid planning and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated experience working independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
- Strong relevant subject matter knowledge.
- Ability to direct the work of others, for jobs requiring supervision.