Program Manager, Innovation

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient‑first approach sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry and offers the opportunity to join our quest for better health care across the Northwestern Medicine system. Ready to join our quest for better? Job Description The Program Manager, Innovation is responsible for leading innovation initiatives, evaluations, and pilot efforts at Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. The Innovation Program Manager drives project teams in achieving health system, regional and local priorities that advance the implementation of the innovation strategy for Northwestern Medicine. The PM uses business planning, strategy, data analysis, change management, and project management skills to advance these efforts. Responsibilities Lead the evaluation of innovative opportunities developed internally at NM or through external vendor partners by collaborating with NM leaders to assess needs, solutions, companies, and partnerships through a methodic business case review of products, markets, leadership teams, risks, finances, and alignment to NM goals and objectives. Partner with Clinical Operations, IT, Marketing, Patient Engagement, OGC, Compliance, Analytics, Operations, Process Improvement, Office of Investment, and other NM Departments to thoroughly vet opportunities and facilitate decision‑making by building relationships across diverse functional backgrounds. Conduct value analysis for innovation opportunities across four domains of Experience, Cost Avoidance/Efficiency, Risk Avoidance/Reduction, and Revenue Capture to pursue solutions that provide optimal value to NM. Manage relationships with and work closely with startup company partners and entrepreneurs to successfully activate innovation at NM. Guide the planning for potential innovation pilots and serve as the project manager for Minimum Viable Product development, Proof of Concept creation, and pilot activations of innovative solutions. Plan innovation pilot activations by collaborating with stakeholders and vendor partners to define goals, identify SME teams, design solutions, develop timelines, outline success metrics, define and manage tasks, and execute pilot activities. Create regular status updates, executive report‑outs, and presentations to communicate progress and next steps for innovation opportunity evaluations and pilots. Manage pilot project budgets, including capital and expense dollars, to ensure pilots remain within forecasted funding. Oversee evaluation metrics of NM’s innovation offering with emphasis on user experience and the needs of patients, caregivers, and providers. Work with IT, Analytics, and Operational Leaders to collect data, measure the “return on innovation,” and, upon completion of pilots, assess effectiveness to inform system‑wide scaling decisions. Develop, refine, and lead innovation engagement programs with the NM workforce, including the annual Innovation Challenge Grant, Innovation Champions, hackathons, and future programs that advance innovation. Assist in facilitating invention disclosure reviews between NM inventors, OGC, Northwestern University, and other partners by soliciting disclosures, reviewing intellectual property needs, coordinating parties, and executing agreements to foster internal inventions. Foster relationships with innovation partner organizations—such as Chicago MATTER, Northwestern University, CB Insights, Gartner, and other healthcare innovation teams—to build an ecosystem supporting NM. Conduct market research, gather industry benchmarking data, monitor emerging healthcare technology trends, attend industry conferences, and network with other healthcare innovation centers to identify high‑impact opportunities relevant to NM. Identify and pursue innovation offerings that align with NM priorities and goals, enhance reputation, improve patient and provider experience, and strengthen financial performance. Contribute to internal Innovation team development and department growth initiatives, including playbook refinement, relationship building, roadshow and communication efforts, physical space planning, and use. Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s degree in a related field, with preference for project management, business administration, engineering, innovation, or entrepreneurship. 4‑10 years’ experience in project management and health‐care related activities. Business skills including business plan development, pro‑forma development, and management. Experience managing projects in complex organizations with diverse stakeholders. Experience scoping, planning, implementing, and evaluating pilot projects. Experience working in a health‑care provider environment. Experience performing data analysis and market research. Experience building executive‑level presentations. Excellent interpersonal skills, including presentation, negotiation, persuasion, team facilitation, and written communication. Ability to independently manage a varied workload of projects with multiple priorities. Strong time‑management skills and sound judgment. Comfort with ambiguity and complex problems. Strong understanding of how business, health care, and innovation can align to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. Preferred: Master’s degree in a relevant field, with preference for project‑management, business administration, public health, or engineering. Additional Information Northwestern Medicine is an equal‑opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members. If offered a position, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that allows Northwestern Medicine to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, consistent with local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in parts of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will still be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well‑being while protecting against unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign‑On Bonus Eligibility Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within one year are not eligible for the sign‑on bonus. New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible when a sign‑on bonus is offered, depending upon the job family. #J-18808-Ljbffr Northwestern Medicine