The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.
If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or jobs@unr.edu. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778.
Job Description
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) invites applications for the role of Vice Chair, Administration serving surgical specialty departments.
The Vice Chair of Administration (VCA) provides strategic and operational leadership for the financial, clinical, educational, and research programs of surgical specialty departments. Working in close partnership with department chairs and the Dean’s Office, the VCA ensures a high-functioning infrastructure that supports academic and clinical missions while fostering collaboration with affiliated hospitals and health systems. This role is pivotal in aligning departmental goals with institutional priorities and advancing integrated health initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Planning
Develop and execute multi-year strategic and operational plans aligned with UNR Med and Renown Health’s integrated academic health system goals.
Serve as a trusted advisor to department chairs and senior leadership, providing data-driven insights for decision-making and growth initiatives.
Represent the department in enterprise-level planning, compliance, and performance improvement forums.
Financial Management & Business Operations
Oversee all departmental financial activities, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and reporting across multiple funding streams (state appropriations, clinical revenue, grants, gifts).
Ensure fiduciary controls and compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations.
Lead business planning for new programs and research initiatives.
Research Administration & Compliance
Direct pre- and post-award grant administration, ensuring adherence to sponsor and IRB requirements.
Partner with PIs and research offices to optimize funding strategies and resource allocation.
Implement systems for monitoring research expenditures and compliance metrics.
Clinical & Affiliated Health Integration
Collaborate with Renown Health leadership to align clinical operations with academic priorities.
Oversee UNR faculty time/attendance systems, billing accuracy, and productivity reporting.
Support community health initiatives and manage programs like UNR’s Student Outreach Clinic .
Education & Academic Program Support
Coordinate resources for UME/GME programs, CME, and departmental educational activities.
Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and institutional policies.
Work with the Chair to identify new resources for program development and growth.
Facilitate faculty development and mentoring programs in collaboration with Faculty Affairs.
Human Resources & Talent Management
Lead recruitment, onboarding, and performance management for administrative staff.
Support faculty appointment, promotion, and compensation processes.
Foster a culture of collaboration, equity, and continuous improvement.
Facilities, IT & Infrastructure
Oversee space planning, renovations, and safety compliance for the department.
Manage technology needs, equipment inventories, and capital planning.
Ensure continuity of operations through robust administrative systems.
Quality, Compliance & Risk Management
Monitor departmental compliance with institutional policies, HIPAA, and regulatory standards.
Implement process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and service quality.
Prepare and present operational and financial reports to leadership.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in financial management, research administration, and healthcare operations. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills will be key to success in the role.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree and five years of related work experience OR
Master’s Degree and three year of related work experience.
Related Experience: Experience in academic medicine
Schedule/Travel Requirements:
Variable work schedule
Occasional travel may be required, travel to Renown will be frequent
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in academic health center administration
Familiarity with integrated clinical and academic environments
Compensation Grade
D
Market Salary Band
$117,534 - $146,918 - $176,302
Perks of Working at UNR
Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
Generous annual and sick leave and life insurance – Faculty Benefits
Generous retirement match of 19.25%
No state income tax!
Grants-in-aid for faculty and qualifying dependents – Faculty Grants-in-aid
Faculty Daul-Career Assistance Program offers assistance connecting your spouse to job opportunities on and off campus – Dual-Career Assistance
Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate
E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
Search Contact
Wendy Duras
Search Coordinator
Exempt
YesFull-Time Equivalent
100.0%Required Attachment(s)
1) Resume/CV
2) Letters of Application (Cover letter)
3) Three professional references (include name, title, company/organization, email address, phone number)
About UNR Med and Renown Health
Founded in 1969 as Nevada’s first public medical school, the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is a research-intensive, community-based medical school committed to improving the health and well-being of all Nevadans. UNR Med combines cutting-edge biomedical science with hands-on clinical education across urban and rural campuses, preparing physicians and health professionals to serve diverse communities statewide. With more than $30 million in annual research funding and nationally recognized programs, UNR Med advances discovery in areas such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease diagnostics, and muscular dystrophy therapeutics. Our mission emphasizes excellence in education, clinical care, and research with local, national, and global impact, supported by an inclusive culture of respect and collaboration. In partnership with Renown Health, UNR Med co-leads Nevada’s first integrated academic health system—expanding access to care, growing clinical teaching faculty, and strengthening clinical research to transform health outcomes across the region.
Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network and the state’s first integrated academic health system in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Serving more than one million people across 100,000 square miles in Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California, Renown operates four hospitals—including the region’s only Level II Trauma Center and dedicated Children’s Hospital—along with a comprehensive medical group, urgent care network, and Hometown Health, northern Nevada’s largest locally owned insurance provider. Founded in 1864 as Nevada’s first hospital, Renown has grown into a nationally recognized leader in clinical care, education, and research. Guided by its mission to save lives, nurture minds, and care for all people, Renown is committed to creating a healthier future through exceptional care and discovery. Its values—People First, Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence—drive a culture of innovation and community partnership that strengthens health and well-being across the region
Posting Close Date
Note to Applicant
A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.
HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.
References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.
Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.
As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.
For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.
Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.
The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).
About Us
The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.
Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”
Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.
The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.
Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.
Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.
The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.
Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.
For more information, please visit the University’s website.