Director Infection Control

The Director will oversee the Infection Control Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in collaboration with the Sr Director, Clinical Safety & Patient Family Relations, and Hospital Epidemiologist. This role is crucial in reducing the risks of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients, staff, and visitors. The scope of practice includes all adult and pediatric patients throughout all areas of the Institute, including ambulatory, inpatient, regional campuses, Longwood, the Jimmy Fund Clinic, Chestnut Hill, and all contracted services.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of Infection Preventionists.
• Serve as the key contact for all projects that are undertaken by the Infection Control team and be accountable for the prioritization, staffing, and successful completion of these initiatives.
• Provide day-to-day operational direction for infection control efforts, program enhancements, and improvement initiatives.
• Responsible for the annual review and maintenance of Infection Control program documentation and presentations to the Medical Staff Executive Committee, Quality Improvement Committee, and Board of Trustees.
• Allocate work to appropriate staff; ensure accountability and follow-up; mentor and grow direct reports.
• Responsible for the hiring, onboarding, and training for all new Infection Control staff.
• Represent Infection Control in meetings with outside organizations, including frequent collaborators and regulatory bodies (e.g., Boston Children?s Hospital, Department of Public Health, Boston Public Health Commission).
• Lead all infection control-related collaboration with Brigham and Women?s Hospital to ensure DFCI meets the contractual coverage requirements of all oncology beds.
• Develop, implement, and regularly update infection control policies and procedures in the Infection Control Manual.
• Oversee effective adherence to infection control policies across DFCI, including environmental control surveillance and regulatory readiness.
• Supervise ongoing surveillance using CDC infection criteria, review admission diagnoses, microbiology culture results, and other relevant data to identify infectious disease clusters and nosocomial infections.
• Ensure DFCI meets all regulatory requirements for infection control, including but not limited to those mandated by The Joint Commission and CMS.
• Oversee ongoing rounds of the environment of care to ensure continuous regulatory readiness per infection control standards.
• Assess environmental control through surveillance of water supply systems, air pressure relationships, and other high-risk environmental monitoring.
• Initiate and lead quality improvement activities related to infection control.
• Oversee the implementation of infection control education to clinical staff, including general orientation and specific training classes.
• Serve as the Infection Control leader, in collaboration with the Hospital Epidemiologist, in the planning of the new cancer hospital and collaboration with Beth Israel.
• Ensure representation of Infection Control staff at key meetings and regulatory reviews, including user groups, design meetings, development of policies and procedures, and DPH reviews/Certificate of Occupancy, in support of the new collaboration and hospital.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Ability to be self-directed, while thriving in a setting requiring collaboration and teamwork for maximal efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ability to effectively respond to time-sensitive issues and meet deadlines.
• Ability to anticipate, quickly address, and make independent decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Organizational and interpersonal skills to facilitate effective team management.
• Knowledge of epidemiological principles and statistical methods.
• Proficiency in public speaking for presenting information at meetings and education programs.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards including TJC, OSHA, CDC, CMS, and MA Department of Public Health requirements.
• Excellent writing skills for preparing manuals, documents, and reports.
• Proficiency with computer software applications including Outlook, Word, and Excel.