Director, Planning, Design & Construction – Clinical Projects

Job details

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe.

Exciting Opportunity at MSK: Director, Planning, Design & Construction – Clinical Projects

The Director, Planning, Design & Construction (Clinical) leads MSK’s clinical design and construction portfolio and plays a key role in delivering the physical environments that support world‑class cancer care. This leader oversees the full lifecycle of capital projects across inpatient, ambulatory, procedural, and clinical support programs, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities for safety, quality, experience, and operational excellence.

Role Overview

• Leads and develops a team of 8–10 Senior Project Managers and Architecture PMs managing MSK’s clinical construction portfolio.

• Oversees a large, diverse portfolio of capital projects, ensuring predictable delivery and alignment with MSK’s clinical, operational, and strategic goals.

• Partners with clinical executives, operations, nursing, physicians, FP&S, and Planning to define scope, feasibility, design concepts, and implementation strategies.

• Provides strategic counsel to MSK leadership regarding project prioritization, resource planning, risk mitigation, and capital program sequencing.

• Ensures adherence to PD&C’s standardized processes for project governance, budgeting, reporting, scheduling, and change management.

• Oversees budget development, financial controls, forecasting, and reporting in collaboration with Corporate Finance and the PD&C Business Functions Team.

• Establishes performance expectations for external design firms, construction managers, and specialty consultants; leads contract negotiations in partnership with Supply Chain.

• Ensures regulatory compliance with NYC DOB, NYSDOH, JCAHO, NFPA, OSHA, and MSK internal safety standards.

• Represents PD&C with executive stakeholders, facilitating transparent communication, issue resolution, and decision-making.

Key Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in planning, design, or construction management, preferably within healthcare or complex clinical environments.

• Proven experience managing large, multi‑year capital programs and leading multidisciplinary teams.

• Deep knowledge of healthcare regulatory standards and technical requirements for clinical environments.

• Demonstrated capability in strategic planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership.

• Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing multimillion‑dollar capital budgets.

• Ability to influence, negotiate, and communicate effectively with executives, clinical end users, and external partners.

Core Skills

• Strategic leadership and development of high‑performing technical teams

• Portfolio and program management

• Stakeholder alignment and executive communication

• Analytical problem‑solving and risk mitigation

• Decision-making in complex, fast-paced environments

• Conflict resolution and change management

Additional Information:

• Schedule: Hybrid; at MSK offices 1x a week with flexibility to go to construction site the other 4 days each week

• Location: 885 3rd Avenue, New York, NY

• Reporting to: VP, Planning, Design & Construction

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Compensation Philosophy 

Benefits

Closing:

At MSK, we believe in fair, competitive pay that reflects your job, experience, and skills.

MSK is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran status or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision.  

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