Manager, Innovation & Partnerships

We've made a lot of progress since opening the doors in 1942, but one thing has never changed - our commitment to serve, heal, lead, educate, and innovate.  We believe that every award earned, every record broken and every patient helped is because of the dedicated employees who fill our hallways. 

At Ochsner, whether you work with patients every day or support those who do, you are making a difference and that matters.  Come make a difference at Ochsner Health and discover your future today! 

This job supports strategic projects and programs that align with growth team priorities and strategies that deliver new value to the organization. Works closely with venture leadership on special projects as needed that could include project management, research, content development and event planning. Conducts extensive market and company research to educate and inform team priorities and strategy.***a cover letter is required with each application***

Role Summary

This job supports Ochsner Ventures' mission of creating new strategic value for Ochsner Health by advancing the team’s enabling innovation and partnership priorities. The role reports to the Assistant Vice President of Ochsner Ventures and sits within Ochsner’s Corporate Development Division.

The Manager of Innovation & Partnerships will support internal innovation infrastructure and innovators, coordinate statewide ecosystem engagement, and help connect Ochsner leaders, partners, companies, and community stakeholders in ways that create strategic value for the system. This role is responsible for supporting and managing key activities related to external innovation partnerships with national and local companies and organizations, developing strong relationships and engagements with the statewide entrepreneurial and economic development ecosystem, and strengthening Ochsner Health’s internal innovation support function and processes. The individual in this role represents Ochsner as a member of the innovation ecosystem and develops strong relationships with key stakeholders inside and outside Ochsner to be successful in achieving team priorities.

The ideal candidate is passionate about healthcare innovation and excels at building relationships, connecting people and ideas, and advancing initiatives in complex environments. This individual is a self-starter who is resourceful, highly organized, and comfortable navigating ambiguity. The successful candidate possesses strong interpersonal skills, enjoys developing new partnerships, and can see the bigger picture while effectively connecting opportunities, stakeholders, and resources to achieve meaningful outcomes.Education·Required

• Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, communications, innovation, entrepreneurship, life sciences, health sciences, or related field.

·Preferred

• Master's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, innovation, entrepreneurship, or related field.

Experience·Required

• Five years of experience in healthcare administration, innovation, partnerships, program management, project management, business development, entrepreneurship, community engagement, strategic initiatives, or related field.

·Preferred

• Experience working in a healthcare system, innovation organization, venture group, startup ecosystem, economic development organization, or other complex cross-functional environment.

• Experience supporting innovation programs, stakeholder networks, events, strategic partnerships, entrepreneur engagement, clinical innovation, commercialization, or internal program development.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, digital health, clinical innovation, and emerging healthcare trends.

• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including physicians, leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, community partners, and ecosystem organizations.

• Ability to represent the organization professionally in external meetings, events, panels, conferences, and community partnership settings.

• Ability to connect the dots across people, ideas, opportunities, organizational priorities, and external resources.

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage timelines, follow-ups, meeting coordination, stakeholder communication, and deliverables.

• Strong content development and communication skills, including the ability to develop presentations, event materials, summaries, talking points, newsletters, reports, and other stakeholder-facing content.

• Ability to coordinate events, sponsorships, programming, and partnership activities in a way that maximizes value and reputation for the organization.

• Familiarity with commercialization principles, innovation processes, intellectual property considerations, startup development, and/or bioinnovation preferred.

• Ability to work independently, set priorities, manage ambiguity, and move work forward in a dynamic and evolving environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, web-based tools, and other business productivity platforms.

• Ability to travel between company facilities and attend external meetings, conferences, and events as needed.

Job Duties

• Supports and manages Ochsner Ventures initiatives related to national and statewide ecosystem partnerships, external innovation engagement, internal innovation support, and other projects as needed.

• Coordinates, manages and builds processes for internal cross-functional groups focused on connecting internal innovators with resources to support their endeavors.

• Supports innovators as they navigate Ochsner processes, resources, and stakeholders, helping clarify project needs, potential pathways, next steps, and appropriate internal or external connections.

• Builds and maintains relationships with ecosystem partners, community organizations, entrepreneurs, investors, innovation organizations, health systems, companies, and other external stakeholders looking for opportunities to create strategic value for Ochsner.

• Supports sponsorship discussions, event participation and content development, and partnership navigation to ensure Ochsner receives meaningful strategic, reputational, relationship, and community value from ecosystem engagement.

• Conducts market, company, healthcare innovation, and ecosystem research to inform team priorities, leader education, partnership decisions, and internal innovation support.

• Tracks project activity, stakeholder follow-ups, event outcomes, innovator progress, partnership opportunities, and other relevant information to support reporting and decision-making.

• Maintains awareness of healthcare innovation trends, startup activity, local and national ecosystem developments, and relevant partnership opportunities.

• Supports special projects and emerging priorities within Ochsner Ventures as assigned.

• Performs other related duties as required.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.

This employer maintains and complies with its Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns. The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status.

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply Today!

Ochsner Health does not consider an individual an applicant until they have formally applied to the open position on this careers website.

Please refer to the job description to determine whether the position you are interested in is remote or on-site. Individuals who reside in and will work from the following areas are not eligible for remote work position: Colorado, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.

Ochsner Health endeavors to make our site accessible to all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website, or if you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact our HR Employee Solution Center at 504-842-4748 (select option 1) or [email protected]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected class, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.