Senior Director, Subspecialty and Affiliate Provider Relations

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

Work arrangement: Hybrid. Must live within 60 miles of the office location - Durham 

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Subspecialty and Affiliate Provider Relations provides strategic and operational leadership to develop, strengthen, and expand a high-performing network of subspecialty programmatic and clinical affiliations. This role advances enterprise strategy by improving access to subspecialty care, strengthening program quality, and extending provider services across strategically aligned, like-minded partner organizations through both in-person and virtual models. The Senior Director serves as a key connector across clinical, operational, and external partners to ensure affiliated programs are aligned with system priorities, deliver high-value, quality care, and achieve sustainable growth.

Scope of Responsibilities

The Senior Director is accountable for leadership and performance across the following domains:

• Subspecialty affiliation strategy, development, and growth
• Subspecialty program operations and performance improvement
• Provider services planning and deployment across affiliate sites
• Affiliate relationship management and partner engagement
• Digital and virtual care collaboration across affiliated programs
• Brand governance and marketing communications oversight across Duke, LifePoint, and DHAN affiliates
• Financial performance, business planning, and resource stewardship

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Network Growth

• Partner with Duke Health leaders to participate in and help facilitate strategic discussions that identify and prioritize opportunities to expand Duke programmatic and clinical services in alignment with enterprise strategy and market needs
• Translate enterprise and service line priorities into actionable strategies for subspecialty affiliations and clinical practice opportunities
• Identify and evaluate new clinical and program expansion opportunities
• Lead market assessments, feasibility studies, and business planning to support growth and access for current and potential affiliates
• Lead planning and coordination of subspecialty provider services at current and potential affiliate sites, including virtual care
• Evaluate and implement innovative provider service and care delivery models to address the needs of community healthcare
• Monitor external trends and adapt strategy to evolving clinical and market needs

Program & Operational Leadership

• Oversee performance and effectiveness of assigned teams’ scope of work
• Guide development and execution of site-specific operational and improvement plans
• Ensure affiliate programs align with clinical standards, accreditation requirements, and best practices
• Lead program assessments and implementation of quality, operational, and process improvements
• Serve as the lead for affiliate marketing and communications request process to ensure appropriate use of Duke Brand as licensed and truth in description of relationship and services. This includes but is not limited to reviewing, editing and obtaining appropriate approvals within Duke and LifePoint and other DHAN affiliations. Materials include
• Marketing & promotional materials
• Public relations,
• Communications (media relations, organizational communications, publications, online, etc.)

• Serve as the lead with Duke Marketing and Communications to facilitate DHAN developed content, such as Website development and updates and externally facing reports

• Support education and knowledge-sharing initiatives across affiliated sites

Relationship & Partnership Management

• Serve as primary liaison between the health system and affiliated hospitals and practices for subspecialty affiliations and affiliate provider relations
• Serve as the direct liaison with Duke Marketing and Communications on behalf of DHAN
• Build and sustain strong relationships with executive, clinical, and operational leaders
• Facilitate structured communication to identify needs, resolve issues, and strengthen alignment
• Support development, negotiation, and execution of affiliation agreements

Digital & Innovation Collaboration

• Partner with Digital Strategy and clinical leaders to evaluate and implement digital and virtual care initiatives
• Support technology-enabled care models that improve access, quality, and program reach

Financial & Performance Management

• Lead budgeting, financial planning, and performance monitoring for assigned affiliations and DHAN teams
• Support business case development, ROI analysis, and long-term program sustainability
• Oversee development of operational, financial, and quality performance reporting

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and coach high-performing teams
• Establish clear priorities, goals, and accountability aligned with strategy
• Foster a collaborative, results-driven, and improvement-oriented work culture
• Support staff development, recruitment, and performance management

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Position requires analytical, organizational, and communication skills generally acquired through completion of a bachelor’s degree program. Master of Health Care Administration, Business Administration, Nursing or related field strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 7–10 years progressive leadership experience in healthcare administration, network development, or specialty program management
• Experience in academic and/or complex health system environments preferred
• Demonstrated success in affiliation development, provider strategy, program growth, and relationship management
• Experience in strategic planning, market analysis, business development, and financial management
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and managing teams and supervising team members

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong strategic thinking and execution capabilities
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to lead in complex, matrixed organizations
• Strong financial, operational, and analytical skills
• Effective communicator with strong presentation and writing skills
• Project and program management expertise
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Understanding of clinical operations, quality improvement, and healthcare delivery models
• Ability to travel to affiliated sites as required