The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
OngoingThe annual salary range for this position is $153,061 - $238,868.
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
The Senior Advisor is the senior strategic advisor to the Dean, Faculty of Medicine (FOM) and Vice-President Health. Serving as the principal strategic partner and ‘right hand’, key architect of operational excellence and institutional integration, the Senior Advisor plays a pivotal executive leadership role in ensuring the effective execution of the Dean, FOM/VP Health’s vision and priorities across the Faculty of Medicine and the broader UBC Health system. This includes oversight and advancement of cross-cutting strategic initiatives that span the University, healthcare, government, and distributed academic/clinical environments across British Columbia, ensuring that the Dean, FOM/VP Health’s dual portfolios operate with maximum impact, alignment and agility.
This role requires a proven senior leader with extensive experience in academic health systems, a mastery of complex administration, and the political acuity to navigate multi-stakeholder environments with diplomacy, discretion, and high-impact results. The Senior Advisor ensures that the Offices of the Dean, FOM/VP Health operate at peak strategic and operational efficiency, proactively aligning internal and external priorities to meet the demands of a dynamic academic and health leadership portfolio.
Organizational Status
This role reports directly to the Dean, Faculty of Medicine (FOM) and Vice-President Health and functions as the Dean, FOM/VP Health’s delegate in advancing, aligning and executing institutional and system-wide priorities to integrate current verticals related to the health system (UBC Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Engagement) and plan and operationalize key priorities that arise from those relationships and may integrate with Faculty of Medicine initiatives. Leads collaborative work with leaders across UBC and in healthcare, government and distributed academic/clinical environments throughout British Columbia.
Work Performed
Strategic Counsel & Institutional Liaison
Serves as the principal external liaison advisor to the Dean, FOM/VP Health, providing strategic analysis, confidential counsel, and executive decision support on high-priority academic and system-level issues.
Acts as a senior liaison between the Dean, FOM/VP Health offices and UBC Executive leadership, academic leadership across post-secondary educational institutions and their faculties and departments, clinical and research institutes, including health authorities, government partners, and external organizations.
Represents the Dean, FOM/VP Health offices in high-level senior discussions as required and ensures continuity of key initiatives in their absence and often acting with delegated authority.
Anticipates and advises on emerging issues, institutional risks and opportunities to strengthen UBC’s academic health leadership
Strategic Initiative Leadership & Execution
Directs, scopes and leads the implementation of cross-functional institutional transformation, often high-stakes strategic projects on behalf of the Dean, FOM/VP Health that span academic, healthcare, government and research environments.
Leads senior-level transformation projects and initiatives that require collaboration with multiple stakeholders (e.g., provincial ministries, UBC Health, distributed medical education sites, clinical affiliates) and works closely with the Vice Dean, Health Engagement and UBC Health to advance system-wide initiatives.
Drives accountability for the executive of initiatives with Faculty strategic goals, tracking outcomes and ensuring tangible impact/outcomes.
Operational Oversight & Prioritization
Scopes, plans the daily pace of the Dean, FOM/VP Health’s dual portfolios, prioritizing executive activities including cross-programmatic or system-wide projects, and directing site visits, public appearances, and stakeholder engagements across the province.
Fosters key relationships by partnering with appropriate stakeholders, including external parties/liaisons, to undertake analysis, identifying and addressing core issues within business processes.
As a strategic trusted partner, works closely with senior operational leaders, including Managing Directors, department heads, and executive assistants to ensure seamless support of senior executive-planned activities and functions.
Oversees high-level senior leadership planning, institutional transformation and follow-through for internal and external meetings, delegations, and institutional events to ensure opportunities for improvement are addressed.
Performance Analytics & Reporting
Provides oversight on key performance indicators (KPIs), analyzing and presenting data and trends relevant to institutional priorities and strategic objectives to support leadership decision-making.
Develops and presents senior-level reports, metrics, briefings with data and actionable insights to support leadership strategy, decision-making and system improvement.
Relationship Stewardship & External Engagement
Develops and sustains strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including government ministries, healthcare leaders, academic partners, and philanthropic organizations.
Acts as a trusted institutional ambassador, ensuring the Dean, FOM/VP Health’s influence and priorities are represented across the Province.
Partners with Managing Directors of both UBC Health and Faculty of Medicine, and the Vice Dean, Health Engagement, to direct execution of initiatives with external stakeholders.
Anticipates emerging issues and navigates complex political or institutional dynamics to preserve the Faculty’s and University’s reputation and influence.
Senior executive oversight of planning, implementation and delivery of related subject matter.
Executive Communications & Institutional Alignment
Develops and oversees senior executive communications on behalf of the Dean, FOM/VP Health, including briefing materials, correspondence, and strategic updates between Senior Leadership, Faculty of Medicine team members, and across the UBC Health System.
Ensures alignment of messaging across key institutional stakeholders, reinforcing shared goals and strategic cohesion.
Supports the Dean, FOM/VP Health’s ability to maintain influence, credibility and strong institutional voice across multiple sectors.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
As one of the key strategic leaders in the Faculty, this role exercises broad executive authority and will function independently and be responsible for exercising superior judgement. Errors could result in significant issues regarding liability, credibility and integrity of the Faculty and the university, as this role is expected to foster and enhance key partnerships with external institutions, provincial ministries, UBC Health, distributed medical education sites, clinical affiliates, academic governance and health authorities. The reputational impact is significant and may result in an additional financial burden for the Faculty and/or University. Failure to provide the necessary strategic services would impact the Faculty and the University’s relations with faculty, staff, students and external partners. The role will work largely outside of defined terms of reference and draw from knowledge of the University and Faculty of Medicine policies and practices in recommending courses of action.
Supervision Received
Works independently and with delegated authority under broad directives from the Dean, FOM/VP Health as his/her representative regarding human resources, academic governance and strategic organizational initiatives.
Supervision Given
Provides supervision and direction to the Office of the Dean and Vice-President Health staff.
Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., health administration, public policy, business, education).
Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive executive-level experience in a complex academic, healthcare, or public-sector environment.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
A doctoral or medical degree is an asset.
Deep knowledge of academic medicine, university governance, and health system strengthening across diverse settings.
Demonstrated track record of leading complex projects, institutional transformation, and sustaining senior executive leadership.
Skills and Competencies
Exceptional political and organizational acuity.
Outstanding leadership, diplomacy, and executive communication skills.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize competing demands, and drive measurable outcomes.
Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and project execution capabilities.
Ability to build and sustain trust-based relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Unwavering discretion and confidentiality.