Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Success and Engagement - College of Health Professions

About Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU is a public research university unlike any other, dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients. We’re home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities for our students.

We are the university for Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and experiences of the VCU community are what drive the university forward. Together, we’re forging a future that is built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designers come together to reimagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax, Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, for the School of the Arts.

Ignited by the energy of the city, we’re ready to lead industries - or disrupt them. We seek out the unexpected, the experimental, the never-been-tried. VCU is designated as a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, garnering more than $500 million in sponsored research from federal and other agencies in FY2024. The National Science Foundation ranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities in the country, and we are one of only 69 public universities nationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as “Community Engaged” with “Very High Research Activity.”

VCU’s contributions in talent, innovation and entrepreneurialism, regional stewardship and local culture shape the economic impact and overall quality of life in the region. VCU as a whole generates more than $9 billion in economic activity. It is the largest employer in Richmond with more than 26,000 employees at VCU and VCU Health, and it supports approximately 58,000 jobs in Virginia. In addition, Virginia classifies VCU with a Tier III status - the highest possible status for universities and colleges - allowing VCU more flexibility in managing its operations to implement best practices and streamline processes. To learn about VCU’s finances, visit about.finance.vcu.edu.

VCU’s mission drives us to remain dedicated to the success and well-being of our students, patients, faculty, staff and community.

Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.

About the College of Health Professions

VCU’s College of Health Professions, consisting of nine departments and a center, includes U.S. News and World Report top-ranked programs, with occupational therapy, rehabilitation counseling, nurse anesthesia, and healthcare administration all ranked within the top ten. As of Fall 2024, the College’s student body included over 1,300 individuals, with over 400 undergraduates and more than 900 graduate and certificate students.

With a focus on building a strength-based culture, the College has an accomplished and highly active group of 200-plus faculty and staff who embrace and respect individuals with different perspectives, backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. The College cultivates transformational research and innovation through collaborative partnerships across the University and with external stakeholders. Since 2018, CHP research awards are up 150% and yielded $7.9 million in new awards in FY24.

The College of Health Professions serves as an international leader in the education of excellent, innovative and responsible allied health professionals. The College, responsive to the needs of society, promotes excellence in healthcare service and encourages collaborative research that generates state-of-the-art and specialized knowledge. Educational formats are technologically advanced and accessible to students through on-campus and distance learning.

The College is an integral part of Virginia Commonwealth University and its Medical College of Virginia campus. The College recognizes the importance of being accountable to students and their families, the Commonwealth, faculty, staff, alumni, and other benefactors by using resources effectively. Strong linkages with clinical educators, preceptors, and the community are essential to the success of the College.

The College serves and represents its member departments. It is organized in a decentralized structure that empowers the departments to achieve leadership in each of their respective disciplines. The College derives its strength from professional collaboration that is based upon cooperative interdisciplinary education, research, and service.

Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Success and Engagement

Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Health Professions is seeking a visionary and transformative leader to be the Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Success and Engagement, who will report directly to the CHP Dean. The Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Success and Engagement is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Team who is responsible for advancing and overseeing the College of Health Professions’ faculty and staff experience and success, creating and sustaining a culture of excellence that supports the vision and mission of the College. This position supports recruitment and retention of faculty and staff, faculty and staff growth and development, and works in collaboration with the Dean, Director of Human Resources, Associate Deans, and Department Chairs.

This position will be a 12-month, tenure-eligible appointment at the faculty rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

The Associate Dean of Faculty and Staff Success will be responsible for the following:

• Facilitates the Promotion and Tenure Process, including Policy Review, with support from College Human Resources
• Leads strategic and innovative initiatives designed to engage faculty and staff in a way that fosters a community of respect, trust, unity, and fairness to achieve excellence in the employee experience in a way that all are able to thrive and flourish together
• Provides leadership and oversight of endowed faculty reviews, emeritus requests, faculty awards and distinguished faculty requests
• Facilitates the faculty evaluation process and supports chairs in faculty performance review process
• Recommends development and enhancement of policies or procedures that lead to overall efficiency and excellence and quality enhancement of the faculty experience; updates faculty by-laws
• Coordinates and facilitates the Peer Teaching Observation process
• Supports the faculty committee nomination process
• Reviews and approves affiliate faculty requests
• Works with the Provost Office of Faculty Affairs, Vice President for Health Sciences, Legal Office, Human Resources and other leadership at VCU to ensure compliance with faculty policies and procedures
• Serves as the College’s liaison with other university units intersecting with faculty affairs and development
• Supports the College faculty in developing and promoting rich teaching opportunities and impactful research experiences
• Works with VCU and CHP Human Resources to provide support related to staff, faculty members, chairs, and the employee experience
• Supports professional development activities
• Engages employee recruitment, orientation, onboarding, and retention in conjunction with the College of Health Professions Human Resources team
• Employee awards coordination
• Staff evaluation calibration support
• Consultation on personnel matters
• Co-facilitation of strength-based and flourishing organizational culture
• Promotes employee morale, wellbeing, development, and growth to foster a culture of engagement and excellence
• Supports the Dean, as requested

Minimum hiring standards:

• Terminal graduate degree, including PhD, or comparable credential in a Health Professions field or related discipline
• Knowledge of faculty affairs, including culture, roles, and responsibilities
• Previous leadership experience in higher education
• Demonstrated innovative faculty and staff engagement programming
• Knowledge of positive organizational development
• Demonstration of successful collaborative leadership
• Demonstrated organizational development and communication skills
• Politically and relationally astute and able to work well with people at all levels - a reputation as a consensus builder and someone who can resolve conflict for the betterment of the organization
• Successful administrative and leadership experience at an academic institution
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of professionalism, respect, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred hiring standards:

• Gallup Clifton Strengths certified coach
• Understanding of Interprofessional environments
• Previous leadership experience in higher education or industry
• Demonstrated innovative faculty and staff engagement programming

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not to be used as part of the application process or submission.