Associate Chair for Administration - Anesthesiology

Description

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Summary :

The Associate Chair for Administration (ACA) partners with the Chair of the Department to shape and deliver the department's strategic vision across clinical care, education, research, and service. Serving as the senior administrative leader in the Chair's Office, the ACA holds significant shared responsibility for departmental policy development, human resources oversight, fiscal stewardship, and the systems and resource management needed to advance strategic priorities while ensuring school and health system alignment. As a member of the department's senior leadership team, the ACA directs all non-clinical operations and is a full partner to the Chair in internal management and external relations. The ACA functions as the primary liaison to the Health Care System, Faculty Practice, and the School of Medicine and represents the department to key external stakeholders, including referring and contract physicians, agencies, peer institutions, third-party payers, managed care organizations, and vendors. Working closely with the Chair, the ACA helps set direction and strategic priorities to ensure the department's mission is achieved. Core areas of responsibility include:

• Financial planning and management
• Clinical and business operations
• Human resources
• Sponsored programs administration
• Planning and marketing
• Governance and oversight

The Department of Anesthesiology is nationally recognized for excellence in clinical care, research, and education. With more than 350 faculty, staff, and trainees, the department advances its tripartite mission: to provide the highest-quality patient care through innovation, world-class research, and training the next generation of surgical health care professionals and scientists. In FY25, the department delivered anesthesia services for more than 100,000 patient encounters and supported an average of 101 anesthetizing sites daily. The department also educates residents and medical students and, through outreach and CME, promotes the highest standards of anesthetic care across the broader medical community. Beyond academic practice locations, the department provides anesthetic services at affiliated UNC health system hospitals through an employed group of private-practice physicians. UNC School of Medicine is a national leader in research and NIH funding among public universities. The department's research portfolio includes an NIH-funded program focused on improving pain outcomes and recovery after stress and trauma, as well as work in pain expression and therapy. Expanding research and external funding is a priority for the Department. The department offers four fellowship programs Obstetric Anesthesiology, Acute and Chronic Pain Management, Pediatric Anesthesiology, and Regional Anesthesiology and a residency program fully accredited by the ACGME that meets all ABA requirements. The department also hosts the Carolina Refresher Course, a nationally attended multi-day CME program each year.

In recent years, the department has expanded a Community Practice division with sites across the Triangle and the state, including UNC Holly Springs, UNC Fertility Services, UNC Panther Creek ASC, UNC Wayne Hospital, and UNC Johnston Hospital. This integrated model requires strong private-practice acumen and financial leadership. The ACA must lead effectively in a tertiary/quaternary academic environment and in smaller community and rural practice settings. Experience in anesthesiology administration preferred.

Responsibilities :
Clinical & Business Operations Management : Provide overall administrative management and coordination for department. Coordinate the compilation and preparation of operational reports and analyses setting forth progress, trends and appropriate recommendations or conclusions. Responsible for review of monthly charge reports and reporting out on budget projections. Coordinates with internal and external partners to maximize billing opportunities and revenue enhancement. Monitors all changes in reimbursement regulations, develops and analyzes alternate courses of action, and articulates results to departmental leadership. Collaborates with the Chair and department leadership in development and implementation of the faculty compensation plan. Oversees payments of clinical and academic incentives to faculty. Responsible and manages departmental space allocations and all renovation projects within the Department. In partnership with department leadership to establish schedules, FTE allocation, space and equipment to ensure conformance with commitments, goals and objectives.
Financial Planning & Management : Directs high level planning and budgeting process (state, overhead, clinical trust, contracts and grants, contractual trust, clinical trials, fundraising and Medical Foundation). Analyzes short and long term economic and health care environments. Proposes changes in revenues and expenses with attention to long term Departmental impact; projects expected revenue. Based on knowledge of the external environment, Departmental activities, goals and objectives; ensures the financial plan is consistent with the strategic direction of the Department and communicates budget and finance issues throughout the organization. Works with UNC Faculty Practice, the Chair, and the department leadership to recommend updates to the managed care contracts and execution of all subsequent negotiated managed care contracts. Manages for all professional income contracts both within UNC and with outside entities to include updating contracts, regular invoicing for services, and managing all expense and revenue associated with the contracts.
Systems Management : Integrates technology into the workplace and develops strategies using new technology to manage and improve operational effectiveness. Coordinates directly with the IT shared services staff to support and enhance the missions of the Department. Communicates the impact of technological changes to the organization and motivates others to quickly adapt and use new technology.
Human Resources Management :Direct and supervise staff; manage personnel activities; provide advice and recommendations per policy. Manages personnel activities for clinical and research faculty, teaching fellows, and staff members with two separate and distinct systems through the School of Medicine and Health Care System. Uses in-depth knowledge of all HR activities and the ability to independently apply policies and procedures to achieve the goals of the Department. Develop long-range workforce plans to meet the Department's needs in an ever-changing operational and organizational environment. Works closely with the Chair to develop and maintain systems related to promotion and tenure and faculty evaluations; advises the human resources shared services team in addressing employee relations and conflict resolution issues. Coaches other department leaders in selecting, deploying and developing staff members. Actively seeks and designs resources and opportunities for staff development.
Governance & Leadership : Acts as liaison with all levels of administration, faculty and outside organizations to coordinate business, accomplish directives and facilitate the resolution of problems. Influences, motivates, and challenges others. Adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations. Understands and articulates the origin and reasoning that support key policies, practices and procedures of the Department. Actively seeks opportunities within and outside the organization to represent the organization and advance its goals.
Planning & Marketing :Directs the Department's strategic planning processes for clinical activities, administration, teaching and research in collaboration with the Chair and department leadership. Oversees the implementation of strategies, once approved. Collaborates with the Chair, department leadership and division directors to develop departmental services and initiatives as well as developing support plans and processes to implement initiatives. Provides guidance and direction to the unit manager and CME Coordinator for organization of CME events in collaboration with the Office of Continuing Medical Education. Actively seeks resources and opportunities to build Departmental recognition.
Research & Sponsored Programs Management :Directs operations, staff, and facilities to support research programs. Advises on the preparation of grant proposals. Coordinates multiple research projects with shared resources. Manages departmental research space allocations and all renovation projects.
Resident & Medical Student Education :Promotes excellence in the departmental Residency and Fellowship Programs. Encourages faculty and support staff to improve the programs. Ensures compliance with the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education.
Leading People :Leads people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Provides an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Encourages workforce engagement by building a commitment to excellence and by promoting the organization's vision internally and externally. Delegates responsibility clarifies expectations and holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility. Leads in a deliberate and predictable way and operates with transparency. Treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately. Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
Leading Change :Acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action. Brings about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Establishes an organizational vision and implements it in a continuously changing environment. Is open to change and new information and rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles. Deals effectively with pressure and remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks. Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans consistent with the long-term interests of the organization. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks. Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others.
Results Driven :Exceeds organizational goals and customer expectations. Makes decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Delivers high-quality services and is committed to continuous improvement. Fosters a culture of safe and compassionate patient care. Makes well-informed, timely decisions, even when data are limited, or solutions produce unfavorable results. Positions the organization for success by identifying new opportunities and builds the organization by developing and improving services.

Other Information

Other information:
Education Requirements:
* Requires Bachelor's degree. Master's degree strongly preferred.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
* None required.
Professional Experience Requirements:
* Requires ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience as a senior manager in a medical practice or other healthcare organization, ideally in an academic medical center to include seven (7) years of management experience.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
* Ability to communicate ideas and solutions in a clear, concise manner.
* Identifies problem areas and skill gaps proactively and addresses them appropriately.
* Excellent project management and change management skills for designing and implementing high priority department initiatives in a complex environment.

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Faculty Physicians

Organization Unit: SOM Gen Anesthes

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Hybrid

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.