Senior Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives

Senior Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives Department: SOMG School of Medicine Greenville Part/Full Time: Full Time Advertised Salary Range: To commensurate with qualifications

About UofSC From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Advertised Job Summary The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville seeks applicants for the Senior Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives position.

The Senior Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville reports directly to the Dean of the School of Medicine and serves as an executive academic advisor responsible for providing overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight of high-priority strategic, tactical, educational, and special projects.

The position leads initiatives that support the recruitment, education, academic success, professional development, and overall experience of medical students, faculty, and staff, advancing SOMG's mission: Educate. Innovate. Serve. Where Lifestyle is Medicine.

As a senior faculty administrative leader, the Senior Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives oversees comprehensive institutional effectiveness for the SOMG. This includes overseeing essential activities associated with accreditation and regulatory bodies, leading strategic initiatives and special projects, including readiness activities, and supports the preparation of applicable reports to inform administration, faculty, staff, and students about institutional effectiveness, strategic initiative attainment, and opportunities for improvement.

The Senior Assistant Dean serves as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the Dean; a liaison to the USC Provost's Office, Prisma Health–Upstate, faculty governance bodies, external organizations; and an integrator of institutional priorities across academic, clinical, administrative, and student-support units.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Position

Strategic Leadership, Executive Governance, and Dean's Liaison

• Serves as the Dean's executive academic representative, liaison, and project leader for high-priority institutional initiatives and special projects.
• Represents SOMG with the University System leadership, Prisma Health–Upstate, and other external partners regarding academic policy, program development, program modification, and institutional strategy.
• Leads the continuous implementation, monitoring, updating, and communication of the SOMG Strategic Plan.
• Translates the Dean's vision for Strategic Initiatives into measurable outcomes, defined timelines, accountability structures, and operational deliverables.
• Facilitates Dean's Cabinet and executive leadership agendas in coordination with Dean's Office staff.
• Identifies emerging opportunities and challenges relevant to SOMG's mission and advises the Dean accordingly.
• Serves as a liaison for the Dean at key philanthropic and networking events as requested.
• Prepares strategic reports, executive summaries, and presentations for internal and external audiences, including USC and Prisma Health stakeholders, leadership, and the USCSOMG Dean's Council.
• Tracks strategic commitments and ensures timely executive follow-through.
• Serves on the SOMG Strategic Planning Committee and other institutional leadership committees as designated by the Dean.

Institutional Effectiveness and Special Projects

• Incorporates systematic review of institutional goals and outcomes consistent with SOMG's mission, strategic priorities, and special projects, monitoring Key Performance Indicators and developing dashboards and reports to track progress.
• Collaborates with the Associate Dean for Institutional Data, Program Assessment, and Accreditation to support a comprehensive program of assessment and provide research findings, dashboards, and actionable information to the Dean's Cabinet and executive leadership.
• Leads high-priority, cross-functional projects as assigned by the Dean.
• Supports grant development, philanthropic initiatives, and external partnership efforts aligned with the school's strategic priorities.
• Manages operational effectiveness of the Dean's Office, ensuring efficient workflow, prioritization of projects, and follow-through on key initiatives.
• Coordinates Dean's Cabinet and other advisory bodies, working with the Dean's Executive Assistant to develop and revise agendas, facilitate meetings, and follow up on action items.
• Provides academic leadership for the assessment and review of degree requirements, academic policies, new programs, and program modifications.
• Promotes academic support strategies, interventions, and student-centered success programs in collaboration with SOMG leadership, chairs, and faculty.
• Ensures that assessment and policy work supports faculty governance and does not replace the authority of faculty committees or approved university processes.

Accreditation Leadership, Compliance and Institutional Planning

• Collaborates with the Office of Institutional Data, Evaluation, Accreditation and Strategic Planning (IDEAS) for SOMG's continuing readiness for LCME accreditation and SACSCOC institutional accreditation requirements.
• Works collaboratively with SOMG faculty, senior staff, administrators, and students to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements related to oversight and continuous improvement of the medical student education program.
• Coordinates essential activities related to LCME Standards and Elements and applicable SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation with the Office of IDEAS.
• Reviews and provides suggested edits of accreditation documents, including self-study materials, data reports, narratives, evidence files, and necessary follow-up reports.
• Supports preparation for accreditation site visits, monitoring activities, mock reviews, institutional briefings, and stakeholder preparation sessions.
• Ensures that assessment findings and improvement activities are documented and tracked for institutional planning and governance purposes.
• Serves as an ex officio member of the SOMG Curriculum Committee, providing strategic guidance while respecting faculty governance authority.
• Promotes faculty and staff understanding of accreditation expectations, assessment processes, and continuous improvement responsibilities.

Faculty Academic Contributions and Departmental Engagement

• Maintains an active faculty appointment in SOMG Department of Biomedical Sciences.
• Participates in teaching, small-group facilitation, laboratory instruction, clinical education, or other academic activities as negotiated with the Department Chair and approved by the Dean.
• Engages in educational scholarship, health systems research, medical education research, or disciplinary scholarship appropriate to the faculty member's appointment.
• Participates in faculty governance, departmental academic meetings, and institutional service.
• Contributes to the national profile of SOMG through appropriate professional organizations, presentations, publications, and academic engagement.

Other Responsibilities

• Serves on other SOMG or USC committees as assigned or as appropriate to the position's responsibilities.
• Promotes an atmosphere of continuous professional development, collaboration, accountability, and ongoing strategy development.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Dean in support of the School of Medicine's mission, strategic priorities, accreditation responsibilities, and operational needs.

Required Education and Experience

• Terminal academic or clinical doctorate, including PhD, MD, DO, or equivalent doctorate.
• Minimum of seven to ten years of progressive leadership experience in medical education, educational assessment, institutional effectiveness, accreditation, academic administration, or academic health center leadership.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of LCME accreditation standards and processes, SACSCOC institutional effectiveness requirements, continuous quality improvement, or comparable accreditation and assessment systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives, facilitate consensus, and build effective partnerships across academic, administrative, clinical, and student-support units.
• Exceptional written, oral, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information and communicate findings to faculty, staff, administrators, students, and external stakeholders.
• High degree of discretion, professionalism, independent judgment, and sound decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in a Dean's Office or decanal leadership role, such as Chief of Staff, Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, Department Vice Chair, Accreditation Director, Curriculum Director, or Executive Director.
• Experience preparing or reviewing LCME (or equivalent) self-study materials, Data Collection Instrument materials, accreditation reports, follow-up reports, or site-visit documentation.
• Experience with SACSCOC reaffirmation, institutional effectiveness planning, or regional accreditation reporting.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed scholarship in medical education, curriculum innovation, institutional assessment, health systems science, or a related field.
• Experience with medical education data systems, curriculum management software, survey design, dashboards, and institutional research tools.
• Experience obtaining educational, institutional, foundation, or federal grants.
• National engagement with the Association of American Medical Colleges or other relevant academic, medical education, or accreditation organizations.

Job Close Date 11/12/2026

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. je-acc48ceda6ca40cf89a6b6611024e293