Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Position Overview: The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will work closely with the Dean and other senior leadership to advance the goals and objectives of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. This role involves providing strategic direction, managing administrative functions, supporting continuous improvement of graduate education, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the Graduate School.

Reporting: The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs reports directly to the Dean of the Graduate School

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership and Administration:
  • Assist the Dean in the development and implementation of strategic plans and initiatives.
  • Oversee the day-to-day operations in primary area of responsibility including budget management, resource allocation, and policy enforcement.
  • Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to achieve the institution’s strategic goals.
• Graduate Program Oversight:
  • Provide leadership and coordination for all graduate-level programs, including master’s and PhD programs within the Graduate School.
  • Collaborate with Program Associate and Assistant Deans, staff, and faculty to ensure high-quality curriculum design, delivery, and assessment.
  • Oversee the development, approval, and implementation of new graduate programs.
  • Support student success initiatives (e.g., retention, academic advising oversight).
  • Monitor enrollment trends, student outcomes, and program performance metrics to inform strategic planning and resource allocation.
  • Support the recruitment and retention of an outstanding and talented student body.
  • Support alumni activities and engagement.
• Program Review and Academic Quality:
  • Lead the academic program review process, including the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and timelines for regular periodic program evaluation.
  • Provide guidance on analysis and interpretation of data related to program quality, effectiveness, and compliance.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Institutional Effectiveness to facilitate the preparation of internal and external reports for accreditation, regulatory and institutional purposes.
  • Support programs in responding to review findings and implementing improvement plans.
• Academic Policy and Governance:
  • Advise the Dean and other senior leaders on academic policies, standards and strategic initiatives.
  • Serve as a liaison to faculty bodies, curriculum committees, and graduate councils.
  • Ensure compliance with institution, federal, state, and external academic regulations and reporting requirements​

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree required.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum Requirement: 10+ years experience in a business facing Program Management role, with substantial consulting leadership & program implementation experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing/ overseeing/ leading multiple/large/complex program(s) keeping the impact on/ needs of customer in mind.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, prioritizing of programs and defining approaches for implementation.
• Significant experience in risk management, issue resolution, resource management, and financial tracking across multiple programs.
• Significant experience in operational management, and budget planning & management through multiple diverse program teams.
• Experience building systems/tools/processes to leverage program synergies and drive continuous improvement in quality and consistency of programs.
• Experience managing program managers/ teams with direct reporting.
• Proven performance in earlier role/comparable role.

Qualifications:

• Education: A doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D.  or equivalent) in the biomedical sciences or health-related sciences. A record of scholarly achievement and/or professional accomplishments is preferred.

• Experience: Significant experience in higher education academic leadership or administration, with a proven track record of success in teaching, research, and program management. Prior experience in a senior administrative role is preferred. Prior experience with SACSCOC or other regional accreditation processes is preferred. Prior experience in a biomedical science faculty role is highly desirable.

• Skills:
  • Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate with various stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of current trends and challenges in higher education and academic administration.
  • Experience with budget management, strategic planning and data-informed decision-making.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $104,000 - $186,160 per year for the role of Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

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