Dean of the College of Health, University of Montana

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The University of Montana (UM), located in Missoula, Montana, invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the College of Health (COH). We seek a dynamic, visionary, and experienced professional to lead the College. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of healthcare education, research, and practice in Montana.

UM is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action (see below). We encourage applications from and nominations of women, Native Americans, persons of color, persons with disabilities, veterans, and other individuals from historically underrepresented groups.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer for the COH and is responsible for administering six schools, eight centers and institutes, three clinics and the Family Medicine Residency Program of Western Montana. The Dean is also responsible for developing and implementing academic strategies, recruiting and retaining faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and managing organizational and financial structures that promote excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to the University, community, state, and beyond.

The UM College of Health is proud to be a leader in healthcare education, research and service in the Rocky Mountain west. Our broad mission is dedicated to recruiting students into health professions, executing the highest quality education for those students, leading impactful research, and encouraging inter-professional education. The College plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare professionals and advancing knowledge in the health sciences. To that end, we seek a dean who is committed to excellence in education, research and community engagement.

The Dean should be a collaborative leader who will develop and execute a visionary strategy for the COH, aligning with the university’s overall mission and values. The Dean will foster an inclusive and collaborative environment that encourages innovation in teaching, research and community outreach. They will forge connections with other academic colleges and campus units by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to enrich the educational experience for students. The Dean will display energy and aptitude for building meaningful connections with external stakeholders including alumni, donors, employers, community members, and other academic and industry leaders.

About the College of Health:

The College of Health encompasses the:

• Skaggs School of Pharmacy
• School of Integrative Physiology and Athletic Training
• School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
• School of Public and Community Health Sciences
• School of Social Work
• School of Speech, Language Hearing and Occupational Sciences

The College is home to several federally funded research centers including but not limited to the Center for Population Health Research, Center for Translational Medicine, Center for Work Physiology & Exercise Metabolism, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, and Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation. Additionally, several community facing programs such as the Native American Center of Excellence, Health Careers Opportunities Program, Montana Public Health Training Center, Montana Youth Sports Safety Institute, Neural Injury Center, Center for Children, Families, & Workforce Development, Montana Geriatric Education Center, and Western Montana Area Health Education Center are administratively housed within the College. 

The College of Health aspires to equip students with a dedication to improving the health and quality of life for Montanans, our nation, and our international community. To that aim, we seek to create new programs to meet the workforce needs of our growing & diverse population while strengthening relationships with rural and urban partners. We aim to expand collaboration with two-year higher education institutions throughout Montana by developing major-specific transfer pathways for students to earn four-year degrees at the College. We strive to accomplish these goals while promoting student success, celebrating diversity, implementing team-based healthcare education opportunities, and conducting research with an impact. 

The College’s schools, programs, and clinical spaces are housed within various campus facilities including McGill Hall, Jeannette Rankin Hall, Skaggs Building, Curry Health Center and Missoula College as well as local/regional hospitals and community clinics.

Qualifications:

The Dean will provide strategic leadership and direction for the College, working with administration campus-wide to further the mission and vision of the College and partnerships across colleges. The successful candidate has:

Required Qualifications:

• terminal degree in their field.
• qualifications to represent all accredited programs within the college, including the Skaggs School of Pharmacy.
• be able to satisfy standards to provide leadership in pharmacy education, research, and practice as well as have a distinguished record in research, and substantial engagement with pharmacy education, the profession, and supporting sciences.
• the ability to bring the faculty and staff together collaboratively to realize the College’s strategic goals, as well as the ability to communicate the College’s strategic vision to external stakeholders, including campus partners, alumni and donors, community leaders, prospective students and the public.
• an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit and a focus on opportunities to reach new student markets, with the confidence to support initiatives brought forward by members of the College and the managerial acumen to see projects through to completion.
• recognition of the College’s core mission of promoting student success, coupled with an understanding of the balance required between excellent teaching and high-quality research.
• a demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and cultural awareness, and specifically to the University’s constitutional mandate of administering Indian education for all.
• a strong background in healthcare education, research, and administration.
• the ability to manage budgets under circumstances of limited resources and a demonstrated commitment to allocate those resources in ways that are transparent, fair, and inclusive.
• a high level of energy for fundraising, an aptitude for building meaningful connections with donors, the ability to strategically manage donor relationships, and a willingness to travel in order to build relationships with alumni and community partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Substantial academic administrative experience, including management of budgets and personnel.
• Experience and success in fundraising.
• Demonstrated record of:
  • Recruiting and retaining a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students.
  • Understanding program development in response to higher education trends.
  • Successful senior-level leadership at a research university with professional schools.
  • Success in collaborating with executive leaders.
  • Outreach and advocacy for the academic mission.

Position Details:

• Position is full-time (1.0 FTE) Montana University System (MUS) Contract and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.
• Salary range for this position is $205,000 - $225,000 annually

About UM and Missoula:

UM is located in Missoula, Montana’s second-largest city with a population of 70,000 residents. Missoula is a culturally vibrant community surrounded by mountain grandeur and recently ranked in the “top 20 best college towns with a population of less than 250,000” by the American Institute for Economic Research and 9th in Outside Magazine’s “The 16 Greatest Places to Live in America.” The city has been singled out in many national publications for its high quality of life.

Nestled in the Northern Rockies of Montana, surrounded by seven wilderness areas and at the confluence of three rivers, Missoula is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Missoula is known for its blue-ribbon trout fishing and spectacular natural beauty. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. Known for its eclectic culture and outstanding public education system, Missoula hosts a seemingly endless array of events and activities including farmers markets, gallery openings and exhibitions, symphony, theater, film festivals, athletics, ballet, rodeo, hockey, and roller derby. In addition, the Wilma Theater, Kettlehouse Amphitheater, and UM’s Adams Center are anchors of a vibrant and burgeoning music scene.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• Video:  Mission First, People Always

• Video:  There's This Place

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment.  In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations.  ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference.  Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law.  References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant.  Testing  Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions.   E mployment Eligibility. All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply:

Priority Application Date:   Tuesday, January 2, 2024  by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials. Please submit the following application materials** via the  UM Jobs porta l and by clicking "New Resume/CV" button. Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.

• Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position
• Detailed resume listing education and describing work experience
• Three (3) professional references - Names and contact information

*Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application. Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above.

**Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.