Director of Operations, Community Outreach and Engagement

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Mission: To reduce the state cancer burden for all Virginians by addressing the confluence between biological, social, and policy drivers through high-impact, cutting-edge research; person-centered care across the continuum, from prevention through survivorship; community integration; and training the next generation of community-centric researchers and healthcare professionals

Vision: To be a premier community-focused cancer center leading the nation in cancer health equity research and ensuring optimal health outcomes for all

The university and the region

VCU is a public research university unlike any other, dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients. Inclusion is our heartbeat and it drives us to tackle difficult challenges others can’t or won’t. We’re home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities for our students.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

We are the university for Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and life experiences of the VCU community are what drive the university forward. Together, we’re forging a future that is built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designers come together to reimagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

VCU dates to 1838 with the formation of the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College, whose mission was to educate physicians in central Virginia and which was later renamed Medical College of Virginia. In 1968, Richmond Professional Institute merged with the Medical College of Virginia to become what is now known as Virginia Commonwealth University.

Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax, Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, for the School of the Arts.

Ignited by the energy of the city, we’re ready to lead industries — or disrupt them. We seek out the unexpected, the experimental, the never-been-tried. VCU is designated as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, garnering more than $500 million in sponsored research from federal and other agencies in FY2024. The National Science Foundation ranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities in the country, and we are one of only 69 public universities nationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as “Community Engaged” with “Very High Research Activity.”

This research enterprise, and the influence of having one of the nation’s top-ranked public graduate arts schools, ensures students receive unique educational experiences that equip them with a creative mindset that sets them apart.

VCU’s contributions in talent, innovation and entrepreneurialism, regional stewardship and local culture shape the economic impact and overall quality of life in the region. VCU as a whole generates more than $9 billion in economic activity. It is the largest employer in Richmond with more than 26,000 employees at VCU and VCU Health, and it supports approximately 58,000 jobs in Virginia. In addition, Virginia classifies VCU with a Tier III status — the highest possible status for universities and colleges — allowing VCU more flexibility in managing its operations to implement best practices and streamline processes. To learn about VCU’s finances, visit about.finance.vcu.edu.

VCU’s mission, under the leadership of President Michael Rao, Ph.D., is to serve as one national urban public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of our students, patients, faculty, staff and community through:

• Real-world learning that furthers civic engagement, inquiry, discovery and innovation.
• Research that expands the boundaries of new knowledge and creative expression and promotes translational applications to improve the quality of human life.
• Interdisciplinary collaborations and community partnerships that advance innovation, enhance cultural and economic vitality, and solve society’s most complex challenges.
• Health sciences that preserve and restore health for all people, seek the cause and cure of diseases through groundbreaking research and educate those who serve humanity.

Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.

Unit: Massey Comprehensive Cancer Ctr MBU

Department: Massey Central Admin

Position Summary:

The Director of Community Outreach & Engagement Operations will lead the operational oversight of the cancer center’s Office of Community Outreach & Engagement. This role is responsible for managing day-to-day operations, implementing strategic initiatives to expand community access to research and care, supervising multi-site staff, overseeing budget and resource allocation, tracking key performance metrics, and building effective partnerships with community stakeholders. The Director reports to the Associate Director of COE.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide operational leadership for the office, ensuring effective execution of community outreach, engagement, and research-access initiatives across all relevant sites.
• Supervise, mentor and evaluate staff across multiple locations (e.g., site coordinators, outreach specialists, research liaisons) to build a cohesive, high-performing team.
• Collaborate with COE leadership and community partners to design, implement and evaluate programs that expand research access and promote community engagement in cancer research.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for inclusive research participation, community reach, engagement outcomes, and operational efficiency; generate regular reports to executive leadership and the AD, COE.
• Facilitate bidirectional communication between the cancer center and community stakeholders, ensuring that research and outreach strategies are responsive to community needs and priorities.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and best practices related to community engagement and research access.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation in outreach operations, and scaling of programs to enhance institutional reputation and community impact.
• Represent the cancer center at community events, internal committees, and external meetings as the operational lead for outreach and engagement activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Significant management or supervisory leadership experience (e.g., 7–10 years) ideally in a healthcare, academic, or nonprofit setting.
• Demonstrated experience managing a multi-site operation, supervising staff, and tracking performance metrics.
• Strong analytical skills, comfort with data and metrics, ability to produce reports and inform strategic decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to build partnerships and credibly engage with community stakeholders and institutional leadership.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, multi-stakeholder environment with competing priorities.
• Commitment to the mission of the cancer center and community-responsive research.
• Flexibility about work environment: able to work independently or in teams with excellent communication skills both virtually and in-person
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (in public health, health/health services administration, or related field)
• Knowledge of community engagement and/or community-engaged research principles

Please note VCU is not able to provide ongoing visa sponsorship for this position.

Please let us know if you were referred by a current Massey employee to ensure we honor our commitment to the Employee Referral Program.

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran’s period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

Salary Range: Starting at: $125,000, Commensurate with Experience

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Director HS - Open

Contact Information

Contact Name: Massey HR
Contact Email: Masseyhr@vcu.edu