Director of Patient and Family Advisory Council Program

The Betsy Lehman Center is a small, dynamic state agency that plays a unique role in improving the way health care is delivered and experienced in Massachusetts.

Our programming, research, policy and communications work engages other health care agencies, providers, and consumers in initiatives that enhance the safety and quality of patient care in the state.

The Center, named for a Boston Globe health columnist who died in 1994 from a preventable medical error, is supported by and shares space with the state’s Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA).

We are seeking an experienced manager to set the vision and strategy of a new program that offers support to Patient Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) at hospitals and other health care organizations across the state.

Our program seeks to assist PFAC members in their efforts to elevate the voices of patients and families in organizational decisions contributing to the delivery of better, safer and more responsive health care.

This new role is an opportunity to bolster PFAC work statewide. It is a part-time, contract position of approximately 25 hours / week, with an opportunity for the role to expand to a full-time position.

The program director will report to the Center’s Deputy Director and the hourly rate will be $55-$75 / hour, commensurate with experience.

As the Director of the PFAC Program, you will have the opportunity to :

• Develop impactful programming : Assume responsibility for the overall vision and strategy as you lead an effort to elevate the patient / family voice in health care organizations’ decision-making, specifically through the Patient Family Advisory Councils established at hospitals, accountable care organizations and other health care provider entities.
• Lead a collaborative effort : Partner with stakeholders across the state to make PFAC work as impactful as possible, particularly related to safety and quality improvement efforts.
• Build a learning community : Host regular forums, grow a repository of useful resources for PFAC work and foster communication among PFACs.
• Spread the influence of PFACs : Adapt and expand the program over time to bring PFACs and PFAC support to additional health care settings.

We are looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and has experience convening people with diverse viewpoints and experiences.

Specifically, we seek a director who is / has :

• A strategic thinker with proven leadership skills : Demonstrated ability to lead a program, including to plan, prioritize, manage multiple competing priorities, incorporate diverse feedback and viewpoints.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills : Many in the PFAC community are just getting to know the Betsy Lehman Center.

The director will bring clear, concise, creative communication skills to the role for interacting with PFAC leaders and members in Massachusetts as well as with leaders of similar efforts across the country.

• Experience working independently as well as part of a small team : The director will function as part of a programming team at the Center, meeting regularly with two other program directors and collaborating to analyze cross-sectional issues and develop fresh strategies to identify and remove barriers to progress.
• Experience working in the community : The director will bring experience working with community members that will inform effective interactions with PFAC members, many of whom are current or recent patients and / or family members, eliciting thoughts and feedback that keeps the Center’s PFAC programming dynamic and responsive.

Other attributes of the director include :

• Detail-oriented, flexible and conscientious.
• Comfortable speaking in front of a broad range of audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, or a strong willingness to learn.

This position will remain open until filled.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

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