Dean of the School of Health Professions

Dean of the School of Health Professions

Position Description

UAB seeks a dynamic, entrepreneurial individual to serve as the Dean of the School of Health Professions to further the school’s twin missions as a national leader in health research and education. The Dean of the School of Health Professions is the chief executive and academic officer of the School, collaborating with the faculty and staff in overseeing the quality of its academic programs; stewarding and enhancing the School’s fiscal, capital and human resources; and playing a prominent role in building partnerships. The Dean reports to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. The Dean provides leadership to the faculty and staff in all matters relating to curriculum and program development; accreditation, assessment and evaluation; recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students; and research and scholarship. The Dean is supported by his/her faculty, Associate and Assistant Deans, and Department Chairs. The Dean leads the School of Health Professions in a research-focused public university, thereby requiring experience with, and advocacy for, all aspects of research, knowledge of the scientific method, and understanding of federal and foundation grant processes. The Dean will also actively pursue collaborations with other schools, corporations, industry partners, federal, state and local agencies, common resources, and other organizations to fulfill the research mission. The Dean will also actively support the School’s continuing pursuit of excellence in its teaching and service mission. Finally, establishing a strong and supportive alumni leading to meaningful endowments, scholarship opportunities and UAB capital and core infrastructure gifts is required.

Key Opportunities, Responsibilities and Challenges:

• Provide strategic oversight and expertise for all aspects of the School, including positive representation of the School within the UAB enterprise and beyond;
• Lead the strategic planning, growth and development of the School in a visionary, inclusive, innovative, entrepreneurial, and fiscally sustainable manner;
• Anticipate societal changes that will create strategic opportunities for the School, including perhaps as joint ventures with the UAB Health System, and lead the School to successfully meet those opportunities;
• As an institutional citizen, develop collaborative relationships with other units on campus to cultivate a community of mutual respect advanced by meaningful interaction;
• Expand and enhance the strength of the research, teaching, and service programs within the School, building on existing strengths and creating new areas of excellence;
• Ensure the financial health of the School and be proficient in business processes and entrepreneurial endeavors;
• Lead and assist in securing extramural and philanthropic resources necessary for the growth and improvement of the School;
• Communicate the values, mission and accomplishments of SHP and the University effectively to all major stakeholder groups including students, faculty, alumni, community leaders, and colleagues;
• Balance the School’s twin missions of research and education, while being sensitive to each department’s different missions and needs;
• Participate in university-wide innovative efforts to create a more efficient, effective, cohesive and high‐quality academic enterprise;
• Build a strong network of community alliances and support and draw upon this network to shape the future of the School across its missions;
• Develop new academic programs, including the exploration of online programs, to ensure the School is meeting the needs of students and the larger population;
• Ensure that the School has effective programs of student recruitment, retention, advising and student success activities;
• Demonstrate successful experience to transition to a new institution;
• Experience in setting and communicating a vision, and the plan and pace for moving the organization forward;
• Manage recruitment and retention of key personnel for expansion and innovation of future, research and teaching endeavors;
• Develop a forward-looking plan for the School based upon realistic and data-based projection for the educational programs in the School;
• Support and cooperate in a mutually beneficial relationship with alumni, professional associations and other organizations and community leaders;
• Engage and actively support the professions represented in the School at the local, state, national and global levels;
• Serves on the UAB/Lakeshore Research Collaborative Executive Committee;
• Encourage and support involvement in diverse student professional organizations;
• Lead with integrity and transparency; i.e., with consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes;
• Listen to internal constituencies in the School and otherwise provide and promote open communication within the School so that transparency yields improved opportunities for the School’s success; and
• Understand the traditions and history of the School within the State of Alabama, University of Alabama System and the greater Birmingham area.

Qualifications and Characteristics

Candidates must hold a PhD or other earned doctorate in a discipline appropriate for the School, and have scholarly distinction appropriate for a tenured professor appointment in the School. The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with a distinguished senior leadership record in a school or college with health-related programs. Other qualifications that are desirable:

• A record of successful administrative leadership in higher education or equivalent experience in government or nonprofit organizations that demonstrates strong evidence of his/her capacity to manage the School of Health Professions at UAB;
• A strong record of extramurally funded research and scholarship, with the stature and ability to cultivate and extend the School’s research agenda;
• Strong financial acumen with experience in managing and stewarding resources, an ability to promote an entrepreneurial yet fiscally sound environment and to thrive within a Responsibility Center Management budget model;
• An understanding and clear commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels and experience fostering inclusive excellence and an equitable working and learning environment in pervious leadership roles;
• The ability to make sound judgements by aligning resources with strategic priorities;
• A proven track record and support of educational excellence and a strong commitment to students;
• A track record of interprofessional collaboration and the ability to collaboratively work with other academic units across campus;
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff at all levels;
• Experience with and an understanding of the diverse academic disciplines represented in the School;
• A demonstrated ability to be an institutional citizen and commitment to advancing the quality of education;
• An understanding of and vision for the future of the educational programs and professions represented in the School’s disciplines;
• Experience in successfully leading and organizing a large number of separate accreditation activities at the university, school, and program levels;
• A proven capacity to lead in the development of effective programs of student recruitment, retention, advising and student success activities to result in a competent and effective workforce;
• A proven capacity to aid in the recruitment, retention and development of faculty members with teaching, research, and service strengths to be effective leaders within the School of Health Professions and the community;
• A record of proven, transformative, and entrepreneurial leadership with the ability to articulate a clear, compelling vision and to engage all constituencies in support of that vision;
• An ability to work effectively with faculty, students, staff, alumni, community stakeholders and partners to advance the School’s mission and create a positive working and learning environment;
• Strong written, oral and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate the vision, strengths and strategic plan effectively and transparently;
• The ability to develop and implement a strategic plan, establish metrics and assess progress, and align with the university strategic plan; and
• The ability to build a cohesive team within the School to develop a strong sense of community and pride for the School of Health Professions.

Applications and Nominations

The Search Committee invites nominations and applications (a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the position description, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of five or more references) to be submitted to the search firm assisting the UAB School of Health Professions. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. These materials should be sent electronically to the search firm consultant. It is preferred that all nominations and applications be submitted by December 28, 2018.

Porsha L. Williams, Vice President

Jacob C. Anderson, Principal

Parker Executive Search

Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2900 Atlanta, GA 30328

770‐804‐1996 ext. 111

pwilliams@parkersearch.com | janderson@parkersearch.com

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family‐friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans. A pre‐employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.