Executive Director Academic Department Administration, Dean's Office

The David Geffen School of Medicine atUCLA seeks a highly accomplished academic administrative leader to serve asExecutive Director of Academic Department Administration within the Dean'sOffice. Reporting directly to the Senior Associate Dean for Finance andAdministration and Chief Financial Officer, this executive will play a centralleadership role in advancing administrative excellence, financial stewardship,and enterprise alignment across the School of Medicine.

This position is designed for a seniorleader from a peer academic health system or research-intensive university whobrings deep experience in academic finance, departmental administration, andcomplex organizational operations. The Executive Director will partner closelywith department chairs, chief administrative officers, finance leaders, andcampus stakeholders to strengthen administrative infrastructure, enhanceoperational performance, and support the long-term vitality of the School'sacademic, research, and clinical missions.

Operating with broad autonomy undergeneral direction, the Executive Director will translate institutionalpriorities into coordinated, sustainable operational strategies across theSchool's academic departments and research units.

About the DavidGeffen School of Medicine

The David Geffen School of Medicine(DGSOM) is one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions, comprisedof:

• 24 academic departments
• 5 organized research units
• 5 interdisciplinary research centers
• Approximately 4,800 faculty
• 2,500 students, trainees, and fellows
• 7,500 staff and non-faculty academics

The School manages approximately:

• $3.8 billion in annual revenue
• $1.8 billion in expendable net assets
• $2 billion in endowment and quasi-endowment assets

Within this large, decentralized, andmission-driven environment, the Dean's Office provides strategic oversight andenterprise coordination to ensure consistency, accountability, and operationalexcellence.

Position Scopeand Impact

The Executive Director serves as asenior advisor within the Dean's Office and provides strategic leadershipacross academic department administration. The role directly oversees a team of13 administrative professionals and leads a broader network of seniordepartmental administrators and chief administrative officers.

This executive will:

• Guide enterprise administrative priorities across academic departments.
• Strengthen consistency and alignment in financial and operational practices.
• Advance scalable models that support growth, compliance, and long-term sustainability.
• Partner with the DGSOM Controller and Executive Director of Finance to enhance financial planning and operational performance frameworks.
• Foster an environment of accountability, transparency, and service excellence.

The Executive Director will play apivotal role in evolving administrative models to meet the increasingcomplexity of modern academic medicine, ensuring that infrastructure keeps pacewith strategic ambition.

KeyResponsibilities

EnterpriseAdministrative Leadership

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Senior Associate Dean on matters of academic department administration.
• Develop and implement coordinated operational strategies aligned with the School's long-term goals.
• Provide leadership and direction to senior departmental administrators to promote best practices and shared standards.
• Advance alignment across departments while respecting local operational needs within a federated environment.

Academic Financeand Operational Optimization

• Collaborate with finance leadership to strengthen business planning, resource allocation, and financial modeling for academic departments.
• Promote disciplined financial management and sustainable operating models.
• Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery across administrative functions.
• Establish performance metrics and dashboards that support data-informed decision-making.

OrganizationalEffectiveness and Change Leadership

• Lead complex, enterprise-wide initiatives that modernize administrative structures and processes.
• Cultivate a culture of adaptability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Engage faculty and administrative leaders to build shared ownership of operational evolution and performance outcomes.

StakeholderEngagement

• Partner closely with department chairs, vice chairs, chief administrative officers, and UCLA Health and campus leaders.
• Serve as a trusted advisor capable of navigating diverse perspectives and aligning stakeholders toward common objectives.
• Strengthen communication channels between the Dean's Office and academic departments.

Education

Master's degree required, preferablyin business administration, health administration, public administration, or arelated field.

Experience

• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in academic finance and administration.
• Significant senior-level experience within a large, research-intensive school of medicine, academic health system, or complex university environment.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-department or enterprise administrative initiatives.
• Experience operating effectively within decentralized or matrixed governance models.

Knowledge,Skills, and Leadership Attributes

• Deep understanding of the financial, research, clinical, and educational dimensions of academic medicine.
• Proven ability to drive alignment across departments while honoring academic culture and faculty governance.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence at the chair, dean, and health system leadership levels.
• Demonstrated expertise in academic budgeting, funds flow models, and complex revenue structures.
• Experience building high-performing administrative teams and developing future leaders.
• Analytical rigor combined with pragmatic decision-making.
• Commitment to transparency, integrity, and service excellence.