Senior Director, Thought Leadership

Company Description

Adtalem Global Education is a national leader in post-secondary education and leading provider of professional talent to the healthcare industry. Adtalem educates and empowers students with the knowledge and skills to become leaders in their communities and make a lasting impact on public health, well-being and beyond. Through equitable access to education, environments that nurture student success, and a focus on expanding and diversifying the talent pipeline in healthcare, Adtalem is building a brighter future for communities and the world.

Adtalem is the parent organization of American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and Walden University.

We operate on a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week (Monday–Thursday). This approach enhances creativity, innovation, communication, and relationship-building, fostering a dynamic and collaborative work environment.

Visit Adtalem.com for more information, and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
 

Job Description

Opportunity at a Glance
Adtalem Global Education is a leading workforce solutions provider, empowering students and professionals to achieve their goals and advance healthcare outcomes. The Head of Thought Leadership will serve as the architect and driving force behind Adtalem's research-based influence strategy, with a focus on addressing the nation's healthcare workforce shortage. This senior leader will design and oversee rigorous, data-driven initiatives that position Adtalem as a trusted authority in healthcare workforce development. The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with deep research expertise and can translate complex analyses into compelling narratives that shape conversations among policymakers, investors, media, and industry leaders. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, research, and communication, requiring intellectual curiosity and an instinct for storytelling that advances Adtalem's brand and mission.

Responsibilities include:

Research Strategy & Design

• Develop and execute multi-year research strategies aligned with Adtalem’s healthcare education priorities and brand positioning.

• Lead studies that evaluate the impact of Adtalem’s initiatives such as the Aspiring Nurse Program, Practice Ready, Specialty Focused curriculum, and AI-enabled credentialing on healthcare workforce readiness.

• Identify and manage partnerships with research firms, data providers, and analytics partners to ensure methodological rigor and credibility.

Insight Generation & Publication

• Produce high-impact research reports, white papers, and data-driven analyses that highlight Adtalem’s role in solving the healthcare workforce crisis.
• Translate complex datasets into accessible, engaging content such as op-eds, policy briefs, and executive summaries.

• Ensure all outputs reinforce Adtalem’s authority through empirical evidence, statistical robustness, and trend forecasting.

Strategic Content Development

• Partner with communications, marketing, and executive teams to develop thought leadership campaigns that showcase Adtalem’s impact on healthcare education and workforce development.

• Create signature reports aligned with national healthcare priorities and market shifts, including physician and nursing shortages, rural healthcare access, and technology-enabled learning.

• Identify opportunities for proactive engagement in industry and policy dialogues based on gaps in existing research or unmet audience needs.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborate with internal leaders across Chamberlain University, Walden University, AUC, and RUSM to surface insights from Adtalem’s student and alumni network.

• Engage external stakeholders including Google Cloud, American Nurses Foundation, and policy think tanks to co-author research and amplify Adtalem’s influence.

• Manage cross-functional teams and external vendors to ensure high-quality research production and publication.

Measurement & Impact

• Define and track KPIs for thought leadership initiatives, including media coverage, citation tracking, stakeholder engagement, and policy influence.

• Evaluate the ROI of research investments and provide insights to inform future strategy and partnerships.

• Oversee research program budgets, including costs for data acquisition, analysis, and report production.

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Complies with all policies and standards

Qualifications

• A master's Degree in Public Policy, Economics, Business, Communications, or Data Analytics is required.
• 10+ years years of experience in research, strategy, or thought leadership roles within healthcare, education, consulting, or policy organizations is required.
• Proven ability to lead complex research initiatives from concept through publication.
• Strong background in quantitative and qualitative research methods, with familiarity in data visualization and analytics tools.
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills and the ability to synthesize complex findings into clear, persuasive narratives.
• Experience working with senior executives and subject matter experts to shape strategic content.
• Deep understanding of healthcare workforce trends, public policy, and media dynamics.
• Demonstrated success in driving measurable influence through thought leadership.
• Skilled in managing budgets, timelines, and external vendors.
• Highly collaborative and intellectually curious, with a commitment to analytical excellence and brand integrity.

Additional Information

In support of the pay transparency laws enacted across the country, the expected salary range for this position is between $200,000 and $275,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; geographic location; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Our Talent Acquisition Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and we look forward to learning more about your salary requirements. The position qualifies for the below benefits.

Adtalem offers a robust suite of benefits including:

• Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match
• Participation in Adtalem’s Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy
• 12 Paid Holidays
  
  For more information related to our benefits please visit: https://careers.adtalem.com/benefits.
  
  You are also eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

Equal Opportunity – Minority / Female / Disability / V / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation