Executive Director, Culture and Community Engagement

The Stanford Medicine Office of the Chief Community Engagement Officer is seeking a visionary and strategic leader for the newly established position of Executive Director, Culture and Community Engagement.


This role will serve as a key partner across Stanford Medicine, responsible for advancing operational and cultural frameworks that reflect our shared commitment to community well-being and an institutional culture that facilitates the realization of our shared mission. The Executive Director will collaborate across the School of Medicine (SoM), Stanford Health Care (SHC), and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health (SMCH) to implement cross-functional strategies that elevate the culture and support our mission.


This role will oversee enterprise-wide programs, policy alignment, and systems that enhance experiences of staff, faculty, students, patients and the communities we serve. The successful candidate brings leadership experience in complex health or academic systems, deep operational expertise, and a values-driven, mission-oriented mindset.

Duties include*:

• Recommend and implement organizational frameworks that promote community engagement and operational alignment across SoM, SHC, and SMCH. Ensure infrastructure supports inclusive participation, collaboration, and service. Maintain responsibility for leadership development, team performance, and staff retention.
• Partner with HR teams and managers to embed values of community accountability and service excellence into policies and programs. Enhance staff experience through inclusive hiring, transparent practices, and supportive career development across all entities.
• Lead development and execution of strategic plans focused on strengthening institutional identity around community engagement. Work across organizations to align operational practices and initiatives with the shared values of service, mutual respect, and achievement for all community members.
• Support the development of administrative and academic policies that reinforce a culture of shared responsibility and community well-being. Serve as a thought partner in designing initiatives that reflect the principles and mission.
• Provide strategic guidance on resource allocation to support community-centered programs. Design and implement systems for measuring the impact of engagement initiatives, ensuring transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Serve as a central advisor to senior leadership. Build partnerships that enhance cross-departmental collaboration and ensure that programs, services, and practices are grounded in community needs and aspirations.

* - Other duties may also be assigned.

JOB PURPOSE:


Provide strategic direction for the administrative and operational functions that foster community engagement across the School of Medicine (SoM), Stanford Health Care (SHC), and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health (SMCH). Align staffing structures, policy development, and programmatic initiatives with a unifying vision.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership and program development experience within a large, complex academic health system.
• Strong background in organizational development, change leadership, and community engagement strategy.
• Experience fostering institutional excellence through service-based leadership or community partnership.
• Proven ability to lead through influence across diverse stakeholders and deliver enterprise-wide initiatives.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):


Bachelor’s degree and seven years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or a combination of education and relevant experience. Master’s degree preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory, planning and change management skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills. Able to influence people, solve problems, troubleshoot, think creatively and resolve conflicts.
• Advanced financial expertise in accounting budget planning, and financial forecasting.
• Advanced expertise in grants and contract administration.
• Advanced analytical and problem solving skills Strong knowledge of industry standards and/or regulatory requirements.
• Strong negotiation and effective interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Advanced expertise in business and management computer applications and databases.
• Subject matter expertise for area(s) of responsibility.
• Ability to multi-task and manage deadlines.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:


Program assessment skills training is highly desired.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently sitting.
• Occasionally stand/walk, writing by hand, use a telephone, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.
• Rarely sort/file paperwork or parts, rarely twist/bend/stoop/squat.

*- Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:


Occasional evening and weekend hours.

WORK STANDARDS:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors bases on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide, .

About Stanford University School of Medicine


With more than 3,200 faculty and other teaching titles, each providing a unique mix of research, education, and patient care effort, organized in 28 academic departments and 9 interdisciplinary institutes and centers, supported by more than 3,500 staff, educating 3,000 students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical residents/fellows, and trainees, and collectively generating about $2.3B in revenues, the School of Medicine is Stanford’s largest school and truly a complex organization.


Holistically, the School of Medicine is rooted in a culture of excellence and values innovation, collaboration, and life-long learning. To foster the talents and aspirations of staff, Stanford offers career development programs, competitive pay that keeps pace with market trends, and benefits that increase financial stability and promote healthy, fulfilling lives.

The expected pay range for this position is $206,749 to $261,619 per annum.


Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.


At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website ( ) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.


Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form .


Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.