Assistant Dean and Senior Director, Academic Affairs

Department
 

BSD ADM - Administration

About the Department
 

The Assistant Dean (AD) provides strategic administrative leadership for academic affairs as an essential and broad function serving a diverse faculty and physician talent pool for the Biological Sciences Division (BSD), the largest Division at the University of Chicago; oversees all administrative and operational functions related to the faculty life cycle (including recruitment, appointment and reappointment processes) in a compliant fashion. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) is a service-oriented unit in the Dean's Office devoted to overseeing faculty searches, managing institutional data, and working collaboratively reviewing proposals from appointive units for faculty and other academic appointees. The BSD OAA plays a critical role in the BSD in training, supporting, and advising academic administrators and departmental leadership. The AD establishes the BSD's goals and strategies for aligning its faculty policies and processes with the strategic vision for University of Chicago, including the faculty and physician requirements of the school and its affiliated hospitals and health system. The rigorously structured faculty appointment and promotion processes help to ensure the quality of University of Chicago faculty and physicians, which is key to the success of our education, research, and patient care missions.

Job Summary
 

The job manages multiple related teams of managers and professional staff within the University, primarily in the areas of financial, events, and support services management. Ensures compliance to the University's business plan by developing and implementing office procedures and policies. Works closely with the Dean and/or leadership in the development of unit strategies and plans.

Responsibilities

• The Assistant Dean will be responsible for aligning the work of the 2 Associate Directors,  1 Academic Affairs Specialist and 18 academic affairs professionals within the BSD clinical and basic science Departments.  The AD will ensure there is expertise, ample coverage for the routine work of managing Dean’s-level reviews of position requests postings, offer letters, appointments, reappointments, and promotions. The AD is ultimately responsible for hiring and retaining OAA staff, insuring their career development, engagement, and performance.

• Partners closely with OAA leadership to build and execute academic affairs strategies, policies, and processes in partnership with the Office of Provost and consistent with applicable Federal, State, and local law and UChicago policies. The AD advises on the interpretation of University policies and the development of Division policies, procedures, programs and processes that enhance the recruitment, retention and development of stellar and diverse faculty.   Further, the Assistant Dean advises Department Chairs, Institute Directors, and other Faculty Leaders on strategic efforts related to faculty recruitment, appointment, promotion, development, and retention issues.  The AD collaborates with the Office of Faculty Affairs and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion on diversity, wellness, and engagement initiatives as they relate to faculty and other academics.

• The Assistant Dean has oversight for the structure, processes and systems for academic affairs across the BSD, and consequently directs the training and processes conducted by academic affairs staff distributed in departments and institutes.  The Assistant Dean will also contribute to improving, refining, and simplifying processes related to the management of over 2,000 academic personnel, affiliates, and visitors within the Division of the Biological Sciences. A particular focus will be working closely with chairs, executive administrators, and academic affairs administrators throughout the BSD in anticipating issues and preemptively solving problems that may arise in the course of academic review, but also developing tools, standards, and practices that will streamline the recruitment and the human resources management of faculty and other academic appointees.

• The Assistant Dean will be expected to create and maintain resources such as online resources, standard work, and other communication and materials to support the work of academic affairs staff within the Division and academic departments, streamlining processes and eliminating barriers to accurate and efficient work, whenever possible.

• A critical responsibility will be to ensure accurate tracking/reporting of recruitment and other activities to appropriately manage the workload of the Associate Directors and to meet the needs of the BSD’s academic departments and the larger Division.

• The Assistant Dean will partner with BSDIS to leverage technology and business intelligence tools to produce key trends, regular status updates and reports regarding recruitment and other activity (e.g. terminations, leaves) within the BSD.

• Additional responsibilities include partnering with BSDIS to develop data management and reporting systems to ensure data confidentiality and integrity, as well as delivering accurate and comprehensive faculty data internally, and to external organizations such as the AAMC, and accrediting bodies (LCME) and others, as appropriate. Finally, as needed, the Director will assist and support departments with issues related to immigration, visa applications, etc. and will provide direct support for central, high-level Divisional faculty searches.

• Identifies operational goals and oversees allocation of resources to meet priorities. Ensures compliance of staff with organizational, University and other relevant policies and guidelines.

• Oversees the management of human resources activities for staff and academic employees, including the academic appointment processes, hiring, orientation, performance planning and compensation, staff development, and employee relations.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Graduate degree strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Faculty affairs/academic affairs or with faculty in a legal or human resources capacity.

• Experience working in academic medicine.

​Preferred Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong problem-solving skills.

• Effective interpersonal skills including outstanding judgment, discretion, and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

• Proven track record of working with multiple stakeholders to build successful policies and processes.

• Keen attention to detail.

• Knowledge of labor laws and HR practices relevant in a University setting strongly.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data into clear, thoughtful, and actionable reports.

• Excellent computer skills evidenced by proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.

• Proficiency with Workday, Interfolio or similar data management systems.

Working Conditions

• Office Environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Administration & Management

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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