Executive Director - Strategic Leadership

Executive Director

The Executive Director will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for a portfolio of healthcare and medical device cybersecurity research and translational initiatives, including a cybersecurity research program funded up to $19M for the development of a next-generation whole hospital simulator and vulnerability mitigation platform. This program will dramatically improve the capabilities of medical device manufacturers (MDMs) and healthcare delivery organizations (HDOs) to understand, plan, and deploy security upgrades to networked hospital equipment. The approach will be scalable and adaptable to diverse hospital environments through the development and dissemination of open-source tools and frameworks. These tools will enable MDMs and HDOs to proactively evaluate potential vulnerabilities and assess how corresponding security updates may impact hospital operations without risking the operational downtime that threatens continuity of patient care.

The Executive Director will also help advance broader initiatives associated with Northeastern University's Archimedes Center for Healthcare and Medical Device Cybersecurity. In support of the ARPA-H UPGRADE Program, the Archimedes Center fosters collaborative engagement with hospitals, medical device manufacturers, researchers, and industry partners through translational activities, technical workshops, joint convenings, and real-world deployment efforts that support whole hospital simulators and vulnerability mitigation platforms. The Executive Director will report directly to the Principal Investigator (PI) and provide leadership across a complex multi-institutional ecosystem of sub-awardees, consultants, collaborators, and partner organizations distributed among a dozen institutions.

The Executive Director will ensure strong coordination, communication, and accountability across program activities so that contractual research objectives, milestones, deliverables, and sponsor expectations are successfully achieved while maintaining alignment with the strategic vision of the PI.

The Executive Director will lead an internal team of seven direct reports spanning program management, grants and operations, research, and communications, while also providing oversight across the broader multi-institutional partner network.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree or equivalent experience required; Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree preferred
• Degree in cybersecurity, computer science, healthcare informatics, hospital administration, public health, or related field

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in program management, research administration, or related domains
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, multi-institutional research or technology programs
• Proven track record of managing complex, federally funded projects with multiple stakeholders
• Experience in healthcare technology, medical device security, or hospital IT systems strongly preferred
• Background in cybersecurity, network security, or vulnerability assessment, highly desirable

Technical & Domain Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, practices, and technologies
• Familiarity with healthcare IT infrastructure, medical device connectivity, and hospital networks

Leadership & Management Skills:

• Excellent organizational, operational, and program leadership capabilities, including demonstrated experience managing cross-functional teams spanning research, operations, grants administration, and communications
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively across academic and industry environments
• Demonstrated ability to develop, motivate, and lead distributed teams and partner institutions
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills in complex, multi-stakeholder contexts
• Track record of delivering programs on schedule and against defined milestones

Communication & Interpersonal Skills:

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to translate technical concepts for different audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build collaborative relationships
• Experience working effectively with principal investigators and senior researchers in academia and industry
• Skilled in conflict resolution and stakeholder management

Compliance & Administrative Expertise:

• Thorough knowledge of federal grant regulations and research compliance requirements
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to operational excellence
• Experience with research compliance, data security, confidentiality protocols, and regulatory frameworks governing research and healthcare environments
• Understanding of institutional review processes and regulatory frameworks
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high standards

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in medical device cybersecurity or experience in FDA-regulated technologies
• Executive experience in healthcare delivery or medical device manufacturing
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or related cybersecurity certification
• Publications or presentations in cybersecurity or healthcare IT

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

Program Leadership & Strategy:

• Provide strategic direction and executive oversight for the PATCH Project and its whole hospital simulation and vulnerability mitigation platform under the ARPA-H UPGRADE Program
• Maintain accountability for achievement of program goals, milestones, and deliverables, including identification and resolution of program risks and execution challenges
• Ensure all program activities remain aligned with the PI's vision and sponsor expectations
• Maintain accountability for coordination and alignment across cross-functional and multi-institutional teams — leveraging direct reports and program staff — to ensure successful achievement of program objectives, milestones, and sponsor deliverables
• Promote the program and foster collaboration with MDM and HDO communities associated with the Archimedes Center for Healthcare and Medical Device Cybersecurity in support of ARPA-H UPGRADE Program objectives

Team Management & Coordination:

• Supervise and provide direction to program staff, sub-awardees, consultants, and collaborators while working alongside Northeastern University research administration
• Directly supervise a team of seven (7) reports, including: Program Manager, Program Coordinator, Sr. Grants and Operations Manager, Digital Marketing & Communications Specialist, Sr. Research Scientist, Postdoctoral Researcher, and PATCH Research Fellow
• Manage relationships with a dozen sub-awardee and consultant institutions, fostering engagement, accountability, and alignment with program objectives and across partners
• Facilitate collaboration among cybersecurity experts, healthcare IT specialists, software developers, researchers, and clinical stakeholders among the various teams
• Oversee and maintain accountability for coordination activities, whether conducted directly or through program staff, to ensure shared understanding of priorities, risks, milestones, and deliverables across participating teams and institutions
• Oversee performance management, mentoring, and professional development of direct reports and contributing personnel

Compliance, Data Protection & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal grant requirements, institutional policies, contractual obligations, and regulatory standards
• Oversee execution of confidentiality agreements and data management of sensitive hospital and healthcare cybersecurity data, in coordination with designated clinical partners
• Coordinate with institutional compliance offices and legal counsel on regulatory, contractual, and risk-related matters
• Maintain strong internal controls and documentation to support audits, reviews, and sponsor reporting

Grants & Financial Management:

• Oversee grant administration and financial management across the full program portfolio
• Ensure milestones and deliverables are completed on time, within scope, and within budget in accordance with the sponsor's milestone schedule
• Monitor spending at Northeastern University and across all sub-awardees and institutional partners while overseeing financial performance and resource utilization across the broader research portfolio
• Work with grants managers to prepare progress reports, financial documentation, and sponsor deliverables
• Support preparation of sub-award modifications, consulting agreements, and supplemental funding requests as needed

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation:

• Serve as primary liaison between the PI and the broader program team
• Represent the program to external stakeholders, including hospital and manufacturing partners, funding agencies, and collaborating institutions
• Proactively communicate program progress, risks, and achievements to Northeastern University leadership and federal sponsors
• Build and maintain strong relationships with hospital cybersecurity professionals, clinicians, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare IT leaders
• Support dissemination and knowledge-transfer activities in accordance with sponsor guidelines

Documents Required:

• Resume
• Cover letter

Additional Information:

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time