Associate Chair for Administration and Finance and Chief Administrative Officer

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Associate Chair for Administration and Finance and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is the administrative leader for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (DPBS) and the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute (LPPI), and a strategic advisor to the Department Chair on administrative and operational matters. The position reports directly to the Department Chair and indirectly to the School of Medicine Vice Dean of Administration and Finance. It is responsible for administrative operations supporting more than 803 paid staff, 374 academic faculty, 237 volunteer faculty, and 181 trainees, including 64 residents; the department’s FY25 annual expenditure was $244 million. The Associate Chair oversees strategic and functional activities involving financial and personnel management, compliance, resource planning, and systems that support clinical, research, and teaching goals. This includes oversight of the department’s financial and Human Resources teams and collaboration with the Associate Chair for Operations on risk management and space allocation. The role is accountable for effective use of departmental and program resources, administrative excellence, financial viability, sound decision-making, and regular financial oversight and reporting to department leadership. The position provides strategic guidance and management to department leaders, including the HR and Academic Affairs Manager and the Director of Finance and Administration and/or Chief Financial Officer. It sets clear goals, responsibilities, measurable outcomes, and evaluation processes, and translates requests from the Department Chair and leadership team into action. The Associate Chair also advises the Department Chair and works with department leaders on policy development, faculty and staff affairs, and administrative and financial operations. The Associate Chair serves on the DPBS Executive Committee, attends leadership and key departmental meetings, and works with the DPBS Advancement and Promotions Committee. The role oversees the DPBS Education Training Program Manager and the administrative and financial operations of education and training programs, partnering with the Vice Chair for Medical Education, Vice Chair for Psychology Education, and Adult Psychiatry Residency Program Director. It manages the faculty compensation plan, ensures compliance with relevant School of Medicine, UCSF Health, and UCSF Campus policies and procedures, and co-leads the Department’s Compensation Committee. The position responds to campus and school-level initiatives and promotes partnerships across clinical and basic science departments, University Centers and Institutes, and Organized Research Units. It represents departmental needs on campus and school committees and may undertake university service commitments such as serving as a Skelly Officer or Step One Officer, and participating in Funds Flow 2.0 Workgroups, Enterprise Resource Planning System groups, and SMAC. The UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is a national and international leader in child, adolescent, and adult mental health. Its programs span multiple UCSF and partner locations across San Francisco and Northern California. Faculty, staff, and trainees work across patient care, research, education and training, public policy, health equity, community engagement, and diversity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related area and ten or more years of experience, or equivalent experience/training.
More than ten years of supervisory or management experience.
Excellent leadership skills to oversee large or multiple academic departments, centers, and/or institutes through subordinate managers.
Advanced knowledge of financial analysis and reporting techniques, accounting principles, forecasting, budgeting, audit, and internal control systems.
Excellent interpersonal skills to lead, facilitate relationships, collaborate, persuade, and influence.
Advanced negotiating skills.
Highly advanced analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Highly advanced skills in strategy development, systems planning, and change management.
Highly advanced human resources administration skills.
Highly advanced project management skills, including the ability to manage capital projects.
Highly advanced ability to identify, develop, and prioritize objectives.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Experience with UC and UCSF system-wide policies and procedures regarding financial and administrative matters, environmental health and safety, fire safety, space utilization, and facilities management.

Responsibilities

Provides direction to subordinate managers and resolves escalated human resources issues with legal, the dean’s office, and academic affairs.
Directs workforce analysis and implementation of workforce plans; develops and directs change-management initiatives and monitors results.
Directs strategic and operational planning in partnership with the dean, department chairs, and medical center leaders; plans initiatives, identifies funding, drives efficiencies, and establishes policies and procedures.
Directs financial analyses and reporting, including forecasts of clinical and research revenue and expenses, governmental contracts, and philanthropic resources; develops financial models, evaluates program feasibility, and establishes budgeting practices.
Collaborates with senior leaders to plan, develop, and expand clinical services and research programs; develops funding models, program enhancements, and clinical incentive plans.
Seeks new funding sources for research services; directs research compliance and risk management; develops productivity measures, reporting tools, and improvement strategies; promotes collaboration.
Collaborates with the Department Chair on faculty recruitment and retention, negotiates commitments, resolves appointment and cooperative-agreement issues, and oversees health sciences compensation plans.
Participates in education program planning, develops teaching metrics and evaluation methods, and ensures funding for teaching programs.
Works with DPBS leadership to define and accomplish goals and serves as an advisor to Vice Chairs.
Participates in planning and implementation of philanthropic strategies to increase gifts and endowments.
Leads resolution of complex issues involving areas such as faculty misconduct and staff performance.
Oversees departmental financial and Human Resources teams and administrative operations, and works with the Associate Chair for Operations on risk management and space allocation.
Provides strategic direction, goals, responsibilities, measurable outcomes, and regular evaluation for department leaders, including the HR and Academic Affairs Manager and the Director of Finance and Administration and/or Chief Financial Officer.
Ensures efficient decision-making through financial analysis, planning, oversight, and reporting to the department leadership team.
Serves on the DPBS Executive Committee, attends leadership and key departmental meetings, and works with the DPBS Advancement and Promotions Committee.
Oversees the DPBS Education Training Program Manager and the administrative and financial operations of education and training programs, in partnership with education leaders.
Manages the faculty compensation plan, ensures compliance with applicable policies and procedures, and co-leads the Department’s Compensation Committee.
Promotes partnerships across clinical and basic science departments, University Centers and Institutes, and Organized Research Units; represents departmental needs on campus and school committees.
May serve in university roles and committees, including as a Skelly Officer or Step One Officer and on Funds Flow 2.0 Workgroups, Enterprise Resource Planning System groups, and SMAC.