The David Geffen School of Medicine at
UCLA seeks a highly accomplished academic administrative leader to serve as
Executive Director of Academic Department Administration within the Dean's
Office. Reporting directly to the Senior Associate Dean for Finance and
Administration and Chief Financial Officer, this executive will play a central
leadership role in advancing administrative excellence, financial stewardship,
and enterprise alignment across the School of Medicine.
This position is designed for a senior
leader from a peer academic health system or research-intensive university who
brings deep experience in academic finance, departmental administration, and
complex organizational operations. The Executive Director will partner closely
with department chairs, chief administrative officers, finance leaders, and
campus stakeholders to strengthen administrative infrastructure, enhance
operational performance, and support the long-term vitality of the School's
academic, research, and clinical missions.
Operating with broad autonomy under
general direction, the Executive Director will translate institutional
priorities into coordinated, sustainable operational strategies across the
School's academic departments and research units.
About the David
Geffen School of Medicine
The David Geffen School of Medicine
(DGSOM) is one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions, comprised
of:
- 24 academic departments
- 5 organized research units
- 5 interdisciplinary research centers
- Approximately 4,800 faculty
- 2,500 students, trainees, and fellows
- 7,500 staff and non-faculty academics
The School manages approximately:
- $3.8 billion in annual revenue
- $1.8 billion in expendable net assets
- $2 billion in endowment and
quasi-endowment assets
Within this large, decentralized, and
mission-driven environment, the Dean's Office provides strategic oversight and
enterprise coordination to ensure consistency, accountability, and operational
excellence.
Position Scope
and Impact
The Executive Director serves as a
senior advisor within the Dean's Office and provides strategic leadership
across academic department administration. The role directly oversees a team of
13 administrative professionals and leads a broader network of senior
departmental administrators and chief administrative officers.
This executive will:
- Guide enterprise administrative
priorities across academic departments. - Strengthen consistency and alignment in
financial and operational practices. - Advance scalable models that support
growth, compliance, and long-term sustainability. - Partner with the DGSOM Controller and
Executive Director of Finance to enhance financial planning and
operational performance frameworks. - Foster an environment of accountability,
transparency, and service excellence.
The Executive Director will play a
pivotal role in evolving administrative models to meet the increasing
complexity of modern academic medicine, ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace
with strategic ambition.
Key
Responsibilities
Enterprise
Administrative Leadership
- Serve as a strategic partner to the
Senior Associate Dean on matters of academic department administration. - Develop and implement coordinated
operational strategies aligned with the School's long-term goals. - Provide leadership and direction to senior
departmental administrators to promote best practices and shared
standards. - Advance alignment across departments
while respecting local operational needs within a federated environment.
Academic Finance
and Operational Optimization
- Collaborate with finance leadership to
strengthen business planning, resource allocation, and financial modeling
for academic departments. - Promote disciplined financial management
and sustainable operating models. - Identify opportunities to enhance
efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery across administrative
functions. - Establish performance metrics and
dashboards that support data-informed decision-making.
Organizational
Effectiveness and Change Leadership
- Lead complex, enterprise-wide initiatives
that modernize administrative structures and processes. - Cultivate a culture of adaptability,
continuous improvement, and professional development. - Engage faculty and administrative leaders
to build shared ownership of operational evolution and performance
outcomes.
Stakeholder
Engagement
- Partner closely with department chairs,
vice chairs, chief administrative officers, and UCLA Health and campus
leaders. - Serve as a trusted advisor capable of
navigating diverse perspectives and aligning stakeholders toward common
objectives. - Strengthen communication channels between
the Dean's Office and academic departments.
University of California - Los Angeles Health
Mar 04, 2026