Associate Dean, Business Strategy

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

The School of Medicine invites applications for the role of Associate Dean, Business Strategy, a pivotal leadership position that shapes and drives strategic initiatives across the School and University. 

This role is ideal for a visionary leader who thrives in collaborative environments and appreciates the value of decentralized academic traditions. Reporting jointly to the Executive Vice Dean for Administration and the University’s Vice President of Finance, the Associate Dean will work closely with senior leadership to advance institutional priorities, foster innovation, and develop cross-functional strategies that elevate the School of Medicine.

Be You.

The Position plays an important leadership role, working with leaders across the School and University to reach agreement on initiatives and issues, while continuing to honor the University’s unique decentralized qualities and traditions. The Position, reporting to the School of Medicine Executive Vice Dean for Administration as well as the Vice President of Finance for University-based projects, will work in concert with the School and University senior management teams.

The Position serves as a key member of the leadership team, responsible for advancing the School of Medicine’s long-term vision and priorities through the development, coordination, and execution of cross-institutional strategies. This role will lead efforts to identify and oversee development, implementation, and sustainment of strategies to grow and differentiate the School and University.

The Position works collaboratively across academic, administrative, and external-facing areas to ensure that initiatives are strategically sound, fiscally responsible, and operationally sustainable. The Position partners with the CFO and other senior leaders on the budgeting and resource allocation process to ensure alignment with institutional priorities.

As a senior leader, Position champions data-informed decision making, nurtures collaboration across departments, divisions, and units to solve complex problems connecting day to day activities to long-term goals, and ensures that the School of Medicine and larger University remains agile in responding to evolving needs, demands, and higher education trends.

The position drives organizational success through strategic insights, operational excellence, and transformative change. In this role, the position will partner with leaders across the organization to catalyze innovation and mobilize the community.

Work Arrangement – Hybrid

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERENCES

Experience - At least ten (10) years' experience leading and managing financial and business operations at a research university or equivalent experience advising to, or with career progression in, a large complex organization.

Demonstrated knowledge of and experience managing financial and capital planning processes in a multi-divisional environment.

Proven leadership success in establishing and maintaining productive, collaborative relationships with a full range of internal and external constituencies.

Education/Training - An MBA, CPA, and/or other relevant advanced professional/graduate degree is strongly preferred or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education - Bachelor degree required.

Experience - Work requires the ability to organize and coordinate complex, sensitive and confidential processes, programs and activities within the Provost's Office, generally acquired through six (6) years of experience in academic administration, general business/program administration or a related field.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Be Bold.

Required Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience managing financial and capital planning processes in a multi-divisional environment.
• Proven leadership success in establishing and maintaining productive, collaborative relationships with a full range of internal and external constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategically with vision, energy and passion in a culture of ambiguity.
• A thoughtful listener, strategic thinker, strong communicator and negotiator with unquestionable integrity.
• Must have strong organizational skills, a flexible work style and be able to manage multiple challenging projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work environment.
• Evident ability to recruit, hire, and lead a talented and inclusive workforce.

Strategic Goals of the position include:

• Understanding of the Schools’ and University's key missions of research, teaching and service and the importance of framing the planning process in support of academic priorities and related strategic initiatives.
• Leading innovative change that will improve the use of School/University resources while maintaining the institution's high degree of responsible stewardship.
• Providing analytic capacity and consulting services in support of strategic initiatives and business and academic program opportunities, in collaboration with senior leadership at the divisional or University level.
• Identifying and assessing new strategic business and revenue generation opportunities, including the consideration of any key risks/challenges, potential political and cultural impacts and the creation of business and communication plans for each initiative.
• Assessing improvement opportunities and growth through data analysis, surveys, focus groups, and interviews.
• Managing strategy implementation via programs and projects.
• Facilitating group processes like visioning, process redesign, and new service delivery models.
• Developing strategies to maintain operational continuity through organizational transitions.
• Measuring, tracking, and reporting results and impact.

Work Performed

This highly visible role will work collaboratively with other leaders across the enterprise and externally to enhance the reach of the institution. Including:

• Serve as a trusted advisor and as part of the leadership team.
• Actively engage senior management throughout the planning and business due diligence periods for newly developed strategies and projects.
• Lead the development and due diligence of business strategies to advance the mission of the organization.
• Monitor near- and long-term trends as well as emerging needs/interests among key stakeholders to forecast future trends and opportunities that inform strategies.
• Serve as a key contributor to the budget development and strategic resource allocation processes.
• Establish effective planning presentations and communications to senior leaders, and campus stakeholders.
• Evaluating and developing business opportunities, potential partnerships, financial due diligence, innovative business models and programs, and research strategies.

Collaboration: Work closely with the SOM/University Senior Leadership and where appropriate the DUHS leadership team, legal team, and other key leaders to gain collaboration and buy in with new expansion opportunities. Responsible for smooth integration of legal and financial review of proposed business engagements to ensure all aspects of return and risk are appropriately heard and vetted.

Market Analysis: Linkages with strategic planning to collaborate on market research to identify potential targets and assess the competitive landscape.

Lead the end-to-end process of transactions, including due diligence, financial analysis, negotiation, and integration planning.

Choose Duke.

If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and collaboration, we invite you to apply for the Associate Dean, Business Strategy position.

Apply today and become a driving force in advancing our mission and vision.