Executive Director, Business Systems & PMO

Boston Children's Hospital; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Children's Hospital seeks an Executive Director, Business Systems and PMO to lead enterprise ERP and research administration systems, with a primary focus on Workday. You will guide the IT PMO, ensure governance, and partner with Finance, HR, Research, clinical operations, and leadership to translate strategy into effective systems and project portfolios.

This hybrid role requires exceptional executive presence, strategic vision, and hands-on execution, including budgeting, vendor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, business management, or related field; MBA or MHA preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive IT leadership with ERP experience in a large organization.
• Experience in university-affiliated academic medical centers or large health systems.
• Experience with Workday and grants management/eRA platforms and ERP integrations.
• Proven leadership of an IT PMO with portfolio governance and delivery methodology.
• Knowledge of healthcare regulatory and compliance requirements, including HIPAA.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, governance, and lifecycle management of enterprise business systems.
• Oversee Workday and related applications; manage system support teams.
• Partner with Finance, HR, Research, and clinical ops to align systems with strategy.
• Direct IT PMO portfolio governance, prioritization, and reporting to leadership.
• Drive AI integration, automation, and operational efficiency.
• Manage budgets, staffing, vendor relationships, and KPIs.

Skills

Executive IT leadership

ERP program management

Workday expertise

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Budgeting & vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT / related field

MBA or MHA preferred

Tools

Workday

eRA platforms

ERP integrations

Job description

Position Summary

The Executive Director, Business Systems and Project Management Office (PMO) is a senior IT leader responsible for the strategy, governance, and operational excellence of enterprise business systems and IT project delivery. The role oversees three key areas:

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP), with a primary focus on Workday;
• Research administration systems supporting the sponsored research enterprise
• The IT PMO, which oversees prioritization, delivery, and portfolio management for institution-wide technology initiatives.

This leader will partner across Finance, HR, Research, clinical operations, and academic leadership to translate institutional strategy into effective systems and project portfolios.

This is a hybrid role with a monthly onsite expectation.

Key Responsibilities

Business Systems & Research Administration

• Lead the strategy, roadmap, governance, and lifecycle management of Workday and related enterprise business applications.
• Direct teams responsible for system support, configuration, integrations, security, enhancements, and optimization.
• Partner with Finance, HR, Payroll, and Supply Chain to ensure systems align with institutional, regulatory, and operational requirements.
• Provide systems leadership for research administration, including pre- and post-award, grants management, compliance, and financial systems.
• Lead the implementation, integration, and optimization of research administration platforms.
• Advance AI integration, automation, self-service, reporting, and operational efficiency.

IT Project Management Office

• Lead the enterprise IT PMO, including portfolio governance, intake and prioritization, delivery methodology, resource planning, and reporting.
• Ensure effective delivery across clinical, administrative, research, business, and infrastructure initiatives.
• Provide portfolio reporting to senior leadership, including project status, risk, capacity, and financial performance.
• Drive continuous improvement in project delivery, tools, and change management practices.

Enterprise Partnership & Leadership

• Ensure systems and technology initiatives align with healthcare regulatory requirements and broader clinical and IT strategy.
• Partner across clinical informatics, EHR, infrastructure, and cybersecurity to ensure effective integration.
• Build trusted relationships across Finance, HR, Research, clinical operations, and Health Affairs, translating between technical teams and executive, physician, faculty, and administrative stakeholders.
• Manage strategic vendor relationships and represent business systems and PMO priorities in IT governance and capital planning.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams and foster accountability, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Manage budgets, staffing, and vendor resources and establish KPIs for systems performance, project delivery, and team effectiveness.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, business management, or related field required; MBA or MHA preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, including significant ERP experience in a large, complex organization.
• Experience in a university-affiliated academic medical center or large integrated health system.
• Experience with Workday and familiarity with grants management/eRA platforms and ERP integrations.
• Proven experience establishing or leading an IT PMO, including portfolio governance and delivery methodology.
• Knowledge of healthcare regulatory and compliance requirements, including HIPAA and HITECH.
• Change management expertise supporting large-scale system implementations.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and managing significant technology budgets.
• Exceptional executive communication, relationship management, and stakeholder influence skills.
• Executive presence and ability to operate effectively with senior leadership while remaining hands-on when needed.

The posted pay range is Boston Children's reasonable and good-faith expectation for this pay at the time of posting.

Any base pay offer provided depends on skills, experience, education, certifications, and a variety of other job-related factors. Base pay is one part of a comprehensive benefits package that includes flexible schedules, affordable health, vision and dental insurance, child care and student loan subsidies, generous levels of time off, 403(b) Retirement Savings plan, Pension, Tuition and certain License and Certification Reimbursement, cell phone plan discounts and discounted rates on T-passes. Experience the benefits of passion and teamwork.