Nursing Workforce Program Manager

About the role

The Program Manager, Nursing Workforce Development develops and advances strategic initiatives that strengthen the visibility, attraction, recruitment, development, and retention of the nursing workforce across Dana-Farber. The role promotes the value and impact of nursing practice through innovative workforce programming, coordinated outreach, and relationship cultivation with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Leads nursing workforce development initiatives that enhance the visibility, reputation, and long-term sustainability of Nursing and Patient Care Services.
• Promotes the value and impact of nursing practice through innovative workforce programming, coordinated outreach, and relationship cultivation with internal and external partners.
• Serves as a visible representative and advocate for Dana-Farber nursing, promoting the strengths of nursing practice, professional development, and patient care excellence across internal and external audiences.
• Helps articulate and reinforce the nursing value proposition in a manner that reflects Dana-Farber’s mission, culture, and commitment to high-quality oncology care.
• Develops and maintains relationships with colleges, universities, schools of nursing, and other academic and workforce partners to strengthen awareness of Dana-Farber as a destination for nursing careers.
• Supports and advances outreach efforts that foster student engagement, early-career interest, and long-term pipeline development, including coordination related to student placements, experiential opportunities, and transition-to-practice pathways in collaboration with nursing education partners.
• Partners closely with Recruitment Marketing, Institute Marketing, Talent Acquisition, and NPCS leadership to develop and support branding, messaging, campaigns, materials, and events that elevate the profile of Nursing and Patient Care Services and strengthen nursing recruitment efforts.
• Ensures communications are consistent, mission-aligned, and reflective of the professional opportunities and practice environment within Dana-Farber nursing.
• Organizes nursing participation, supports event planning and follow-up, and ensures the Institute is represented in a professional, engaging, and mission-centered manner that builds interest in nursing opportunities and strengthens candidate engagement.
• Designs, implements, and evaluates workforce-related nursing programs in collaboration with nursing leaders, Professional Development Specialists, Clinical Practice Specialists, and interdisciplinary partners.
• Evaluates the new hire experience. Analyzes recruitment, retention, and workforce data trends to identify patterns, risks, gaps, and opportunities.
• Uses available data, stakeholder feedback, and program outcomes to develop insights, disseminate findings, refine strategies, strengthen engagement efforts, and support data-informed workforce planning and decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing required.
• Master's Degree in Nursing Education, Health Care Administration, Organizational Leadership, Public Health, Communications, Marketing, Human Resources, or related field preferred.
• 5 years of nursing experience required, including clinical practice experience and progressive experience in nursing education, professional development, workforce planning, recruitment outreach, academic partnership development, program management, or related functions.
• Oncology nursing experience preferred.
• Experience collaborating with marketing, recruitment, academic institutions, and operational leaders on workforce or pipeline initiatives preferred.
• Experience representing an organization externally and coordinating events, partnerships, or workforce programs preferred.
• Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the State of New Hampshire, as required by the role.
• Professional certification required within 3 years of hire, such as NPD-BC, oncology-specific certification, or other relevant certification.
• Additional certification in professional development, workforce planning, project management, or talent-related disciplines preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of nursing roles, specialty practice areas, scope of practice considerations, and qualification requirements that influence nurse recruitment, development, and retention.
• Demonstrated ability to represent nursing programs and practice environments effectively to external audiences, including students, faculty, professional organizations, and prospective candidates.
• Working knowledge of nursing professional development principles, adult learning concepts, orientation practices, and workforce development strategies.
• Ability to build, sustain, and leverage collaborative relationships across disciplines and levels, both internally and externally, including Nursing, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Marketing, Institute Marketing, academic institutions, and workforce partners.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to contribute to outreach materials, event content, informational resources, reports, and workforce communications.
• Strong verbal communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate nursing practice, career pathways, and professional development opportunities into clear, compelling, and audience-appropriate messaging.
• Ability to serve as a credible and effective ambassador for Nursing and Patient Care Services, promoting Dana-Farber’s nursing culture, values, and opportunities with professionalism and confidence.
• Strong program/project management skills, including planning, execution, stakeholder alignment, and managing multiple concurrent priorities.
• Ability to plan and support outreach events, partnership activities, and branding initiatives, including coordination of logistics, participant engagement, materials, and follow-up activities.
• High degree of discretion, professionalism, and integrity in handling sensitive applicant, employee, and workforce information.
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, and other systems used to support workforce programming, reporting, communications, and event coordination.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategic initiatives with day-to-day operational needs.