Business and Innovation Strategist/Full time/Wallingford

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a health system dedicated exclusively to medical rehabilitation. We provide inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to the most advanced state of recovery they can achieve. Our Mission: To enhance health, maximize function, and transform lives. Our values: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. These values guide us in providing quality patient care and transforming the lives of our patients .

SUMMARY:

The Business and Innovation Strategist will support the development, execution, and continuous advancement of Gaylord Hospital's strategic priorities and innovation initiatives. This role partners closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for growth, operational improvement, service line advancement, and organizational transformation.

The position serves as a strategic advisor and integrator, focusing on strategic planning, innovation pipeline development, project management, market research, and performance tracking. This role does not have direct ownership of operational execution or financial results, and works in partnership with Finance, Operations, Clinical, and IT Leadership to support execution while maintaining clear functional accountability.

E SSE NTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Planning & Execution:

CRITERIA:

• Support the CEO and executive leadership team in the development and execution of short-term and long-term strategic priorities.
• Coordinate strategic planning cycles, timelines, stakeholder engagement, and progress reporting.
• Analyze internal and external trends impacting healthcare, rehabilitation, post-acute care, and related markets.
• Develop executive-level presentations, dashboards, and reports for leadership and Board review.

Innovation, Growth, and Transformation Initiatives:

CRITERIA:

• Identify and evaluate innovative opportunities that improve patient care, operations, and organizational growth through a structured innovation sandbox.
• Allocate time weekly for market research, external venture scouting, identifying strategic partnership models, and analyzing non-traditional revenue paths to leverage Gaylord's specialized clinical expertise.
• Develop business cases that include market analysis, operational considerations, and financial assumptions.
• Partner with Finance to validate financial models, ROI, and capital implications.
• Lead or coordinate pilots and feasibility assessments in collaboration with Operations, Clinical, IT, and Finance stakeholders.
  Research emerging healthcare technologies, partnership models, and service opportunities to identify areas of opportunity for Gaylord Hospital.
• Ensure initiatives are evaluated through appropriate financial, operational, and clinical governance processes.
• Serve as a member of the Board Strategy and Innovation Committee.

Executive & Organizational Collaboration:

CRITERIA:

• Serve as a strategic partner across departments to align initiatives with enterprise priorities.
• Facilitate meetings, working groups, and stakeholder communications related to strategic projects.
• Build effective relationships with internal leaders, physicians, and clinicians related to strategic projects.
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and accountability.
  

Project Management & Performance Improvement:

CRITERIA:

• Manage strategic and cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation planning, transitioning execution ownership to operational and functional leaders.
• Establish project plans, milestones, deliverables, and accountability measures.
• Track outcomes, key performance indicators, and return on investment for strategic initiatives in partnership with Finance and Operations.
• Identify risks, barriers, and dependencies and recommend mitigation strategies.

IT IS ICARE

CRITERIA:

• Innovation : Embracing creativity and new ideas to improve processes and outcomes.
• Teamwork : Collaborating effectively with others to achieve shared goals and objectives.
• Inclusion : Fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
• Safety : Prioritizing the well-being and security of patients, individuals and communities.
• Integrity : Acting with honesty and transparency in all interactions and decisions.
• Compassion : Showing empathy and kindness towards others, especially in challenging situations.
• Accountability : Taking responsibility for actions and outcomes, ensuring reliability and trust.
• Respect : Treating others with dignity and consideration, valuing their perspectives and contributions.
• Excellence : Striving for the highest quality in performance and achievements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Finance, or a related field required.
• Demonstrated progressive experience in strategy, innovation, and project management required.
• Healthcare industry experience is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams required.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from executives, leadership teams, and stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical capabilities.
• Experience leveraging dashboards, analytics, and process improvement methodologies to drive outcomes.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean, Six Sigma, or related certifications preferred.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information.
• Hybrid or occasional off-site meetings may be required.

HOURS:

Full time

We Are An Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualifications

Education

Required

Preferred

Licenses & Certifications

Required