Department OverviewThe Department of Family Medicine is a nationally recognized academic program dedicated to advancing primary care, education, research, and patient service across Oregon and beyond. These honors come as the result of work by 200 + faculty members and nearly 300 volunteer faculty physicians across the state. (Department of Family Medicine | OHSU).
Faculty and residents provide care in six locations in the Portland metro area, Scappoose, and Klamath Falls. Each clinic is a certified Patient-Primary Care Medical Home, using a cooperative, team-focused approach to care for patients' needs.
Function/Duties of PositionThe Vice Chair of Administration (VCA) provides executive leadership and operational oversight for a large, complex, multi-mission academic department encompassing clinical care, research, and education programs across multiple locations. Serves as the chief administrative partner to departmental leadership, translating strategic priorities into operational execution while ensuring financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, workforce effectiveness, and program excellence.
Leads a team of directors, managers, and administrative professionals with responsibility for departmental operations, fiscal management, clinical services, research administration, educational programs, faculty affairs, and human resources. Establishes strategic direction, drives organizational performance, and collaborates with university, health system, and external partners to advance departmental goals.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Organizational Management- Provides overall administrative leadership for a complex department with broad institutional impact.
- Develops and executes strategic and operational plans that support departmental, school, and university objectives.
- Advises departmental leadership on operational, financial, and organizational matters.
- Leads initiatives that address complex challenges and drive continuous improvement across clinical, research, and academic missions.
- Builds and maintains strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, affiliated institutions, hospitals, and community partners.
Financial Management & Business Operations- Directs all departmental financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and resource allocation.
- Oversees management of diverse funding sources, including institutional funds, grants, contracts, gifts, clinical revenue, and endowment resources.
- Develops and maintains comprehensive multi-year business plans aligned with strategic priorities.
- Ensures strong financial controls, compliance with audit requirements, and stewardship of departmental resources.
- Evaluates the financial feasibility of new programs and initiatives and negotiates agreements to maximize financial performance.
Clinical Operations Management- Provides executive oversight of departmental clinical operations and professional revenue cycle functions.
- Monitors key performance indicators including productivity, billing, collections, compliance, and operational efficiency.
- Collaborates with health system and external partners on managed care agreements, service contracts, and clinical program development.
- Ensures effective staffing models and operational practices that support patient care quality and financial performance.
Research Administration- Oversees research administration and financial management functions supporting sponsored programs and grants.
- Ensures compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements for research funding.
- Supports development and administration of grant proposals, research budgets, and reporting processes.
Academic and Educational Administration- Provides oversight for educational programs, including graduate education, residency and fellowship programs, continuing medical education, and departmental academic activities.
- Ensures appropriate resources and administrative support for educational initiatives.
- Collaborates with institutional partners and affiliated organizations to support training programs and educational outcomes.
Human Resources & Talent Management- Leads workforce planning, organizational design, recruitment, retention, and staff development strategies.
- Oversees employee relations, performance management, training in cooperation with the HRBP, and ensures compliance with human resource policies.
- Creates a culture of accountability, engagement, and professional growth across all staff functions.
Faculty Affairs- Partners with departmental leadership on faculty recruitment, retention, compensation planning, and resource allocation.
- Oversees faculty appointment, promotion, tenure, reappointment, and annual review processes.
- Provides analysis and recommendations to support faculty workforce planning and compensation equity.
Facilities, Space & Operations Management- Directs departmental space planning, allocation, and utilization activities.
- Oversees moves, renovations, capital equipment planning, facility operations, and access management.
- Ensures efficient use of departmental facilities and compliance with institutional policies and procedures.
Scope of ImpactThis role has broad authority and accountability for the administrative, financial, operational, clinical, research, and academic functions of a large and complex department. Decisions directly influence organizational effectiveness, financial performance, faculty and staff success, educational outcomes, research productivity, and patient care operations. The incumbent regularly collaborates with senior institutional leadership and serves as a key advisor on strategic and operational matters.
Required QualificationsEducationBachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
Experience12 years of progressive leadership experience including 9 years in administration of a health care organization or clinical department administrator.
Competencies- Extensive leadership experience with broad expertise in healthcare administration, academic medicine, and related business disciplines.
- Demonstrated success leading diverse teams of staff, faculty, and learners in complex, evolving environments.
- Comprehensive knowledge of healthcare operations, business management practices, and organizational effectiveness.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and resource stewardship within complex healthcare organizations.
- Exceptional communication, relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Advanced analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to interpret data, assess performance, and support strategic decision-making.
- Proven ability to manage multiple programs, service lines, or clinical operations while balancing competing priorities.
- Track record of building collaborative partnerships with physicians, faculty, senior leaders, and external stakeholders.
- Experience overseeing contracts, grants, and other sponsored or externally funded programs.
- Demonstrated strengths in:
- Strategic planning and execution
- Organizational leadership and change management
- Innovation and continuous improvement
- Problem-solving and operational decision-making
- Goal setting and resource prioritization for large, complex organizations
- Project and program management
- Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment in all interactions.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, effectively managing multiple priorities while adapting to changing organizational needs.
Preferred QualificationsEducationMaster's Degree in healthcare administration, business administration or similarly relevant discipline.
Experience- Experience working in leadership in an academic health center.
- Experience with senior-level research and/or education administration.
Additional Details- Professional office environment with a hybrid work schedule that includes both on-site and remote work.
- Occasional travel may be required for meetings, conferences, or institutional business needs.
- Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; additional or extended hours may be required to meet operational and business needs.
- Position operates in a fast-paced environment characterized by frequent interruptions, high levels of interaction with faculty, staff, learners, and external partners, and competing priorities.
- Ability to work at a computer workstation for extended periods, typically 6 to 7 hours per day.
- Ability to travel throughout campus and to affiliated partner sites as needed to support operational, clinical, academic, and administrative activities.
- Ability to move between multiple work locations and participate in in-person meetings and events as required.
