Senior Director of Research Operations/Clinical Section Administrator

Department
 

BSD PED - Administration

About the Department
 

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago is a dynamic and stimulating place to work. We strive for the highest level of complex care for children from diagnosis and treatment; provide outstanding education and training for students, postgraduate scholars, and physicians; and nurture the research of Department scholars who seek to elucidate the causes of pediatric disease and identify promising new therapies. In addition to our provision of clinical care at UChicago Medicine (UCM) Comer Children’s Hospital and at our regional sites, we are currently expanding our clinical care across Northern Illinois and Northwestern Indiana. In collaboration with our partners in the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA; Advocate Children’s Hospital, and NorthShore University Health System). CCHA has responsibility for the care of almost 1 million children. The Department has 6 ambulatory sites and 3 inpatient sites of care across the region with the goal of providing care ‘close to home’ whenever feasible (https://pediatrics.uchicago.edu/). Our mission is to improve the health of every child entrusted to us, in an inclusive environment that is committed to family-centered care, clinical excellence, impactful scholarship, effective disease prevention, and advocacy for the appropriate care of every child. We are especially committed to the children on the South Side of Chicago and to altering the inequities in healthcare. The Department of Pediatrics has approximately 185 physicians, physician-scientists, and scientists in 15 sections that cover the range of pediatric care. Our education program serves the students of the College, the Pritzker School of Medicine (PSOM), 70 categorical pediatric residents, 6 child neurology residents, 58 fellows, and numerous graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. The Department has a staff of 220 advanced practice providers, administrators, research administrators, clinical research associates, and laboratory staff. The Department has an expanding portfolio of Federal, foundational, and Philanthropic awards, and is committed to doubling its research base in the next three years.

Job Summary
 

The appointee will have oversight of all Department of Pediatrics research-focused units. They will serve as the lead administrative officer for the department including the new Section of Genomics and growing Research Administration and Clinical Trials team(s). This position will be responsible for managing and optimizing the framework and centralized support structure assisting faculty and staff across the department with grant and gift management, proposal writing, and funding source identification. This position manages multiple related teams of managers and professional staff responsible for the financial and administrative oversight for the teaching, research, and clinical care missions of their sections. Develops departmental plans. Provides leadership and supervision to a large staff of exempt and non-exempt employees, including management teams.
This position provides administrative leadership to the executive team, faculty, and staff in formulating and implementing organizational goals and objectives. Directly responsible for both long-term strategic and daily administrative aspects of the Department's research-related activities, budgets, finances, marketing, public relations, fundraising, and other activities related to the pediatric enterprise. Plan, coordinate, direct, and control broad and complex financial and management functions of the sections in support of teaching, research, and research-related clinical care.
Manage the implementation, direction, and policy development in areas of finance (revenue/expense management), research-related fee billing, grants/contracts, human resources, academic appointment processing, Medical Staff Office appointment processing, facility operations, and fellowship training programs. Participate in negotiating agreements, preparing strategic plans, and other activities associated with the Department's affiliate hospitals or clinics. Conduct special studies and projects, including the development and enhancement of funding opportunities by working closely with the faculty in each section.
Strategic Planning:
In conjunction with the department chairman and senior executive leadership, formulate tactical planning for growth and viability of research programs. Conduct comprehensive feasibility studies for evaluation of new and existing programs; assessment of facility requirements; funding and staffing needs. Provide leadership in planning facility expansion, new building construction, program planning, and fundraising activities. Develop operational programs to address programmatic and financial issues facing the department to ensure strategic missions are being met. Assist faculty in pursuit of research funding and grants management.
Operations Management:
Develop and implement operational plans to ensure the research program’s performance hospital and clinical program performance and contribution to Hospital and BSD. Gather from internal and external sources appropriate data to measure performance in acute inpatient and ambulatory hospital operations. Provide information on operational trends to support hospital's and department's planning requirements. Develop plans for new operating and patient flow systems within hospital and department which are sensitive to organizational needs to ensure efficient accomplishments of objectives, and to secure resources as necessary. Prepare hospital and department for changing federal, state, and third-party policies regarding reimbursement of health care delivery services. Develop and maintain sound clinical management structure, operating policies, procedures, and staffing to meet operational needs of hospital and department. Provide direction to section administrators and other managers. Develop long and short-range action plans to achieve collaborative results and maximize individual and collective strengths. Direct departmental operations related to physician practice plan expenditures and revenues, sponsored research, ambulatory care, third-party contract, hospital contracts, and staffing. Monitor accomplishment of agreed-upon objectives. Where appropriate, recommend to executive leadership corrective actions including reallocating resources, reprioritizing, and/or recommending modifications/variance to established plans and budgets. Direct evaluation, development, and maintenance of control systems pertaining to operational/programmatic management of clinical activities. Identify needs for information or service from other administrators to accomplish organizational objectives/standards; evaluate whether appropriate systems are in place to serve needs. Manage personnel to achieve human resources and organization development goals, ensuring that all human resources activities are carried out consistent with the hospital and University personnel policies in an appropriate and consistent manner. Monitor and lead administration and oversight of academic appointment processes, including recruitment, appointment, onboarding, reappointment, and promotion of faculty. Ensure timely and accurate processing of academic appointments and medical privileges for new and ongoing faculty. Ensure faculty and staff are compliant with all training and documentation required by University and external agencies. Act as liaison to internal and external review agencies including IDPH, RRC, internal audit, and compliance office. Manage and direct the achievement of employee and patient satisfaction goals.
Financial Management:
Administer departmental budgets during course of the fiscal year, including recommendation to executive leadership for the release of funds for expenditure and review/approval process for capital equipment. Develop and manage budgets for respective units.
This position will be eligible for flexible work arrangements (e.g. flex schedule, remote work) pending periodic performance evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Manages policy development and implementation in various research-focused departmental areas.

• Manages multiple research-focused teams including those within clinical functions.

• Advises department leadership and key stakeholders on project objectives; scope of work established; and, budget.

• Provides trainings, workshops, and communication to grant staff, faculty, and administrators in pre- and post-award grant activities to support their success and strengthen the department’s protocols as needed, to both align with trends and requirements and be responsive to staff and faculty needs.

• Provides leadership to managers and professional staff within a department to support teaching, medical research, and clinical care. Facilitates research initiatives of the faculty and staff.

• Establishes department priorities, allocates resources and executes strategic plans.

• 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:

• Advanced degree in in field relevant to research administration, finance, business, or related field.

Experience:

• Research administration experience in an academic medical setting.

• Supervisory experience.

• Experience preparing (pre-award) and managing (post-award) major federal awards.

• Demonstrated budgeting and forecasting experience.

• Experience working with NIH program projects or cooperative agreements.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of accounting principles.

• Analytical skills.

• Problem-solving skills.

• Quantitative skills.

• Knowledge of spreadsheet and word processing programs.

• Knowledge of grant and award administration.

• Knowledge of hospital finances and administration.

• Knowledge of administering a physician practice plan.

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet tight deadlines.

• Excellent communication (oral, written) and editing skills.

• Attention to detail and a commitment to providing a high level of service.

• High degree of professionalism, diplomacy skills, and ability to handle confidential information.

• Ability to interact with and win the trust and confidence of faculty and administration.

• Strategic leadership skills.

• Supervisory skills.

• Decision-making skills.

• Attention to detail.

• Organizational skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Negotiation skills.

Working Conditions

• Office Environment.

• High-stress environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover letter (required)

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

Drug Test Required
 

Yes

Health Screen Required
 

Yes

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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