ASSOCIATE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

9d

About The Position

Join Duke University School of Medicine as an Associate Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO) and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of neuroscience care and research. This senior leadership position drives strategic initiatives across clinical, research, and education missions, fostering collaboration and operational excellence within two world-class departments—Neurosurgery and Neurology.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Health Administration, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare or academic medical administration, with expertise in financial management, grants and contracts, and complex operational systems.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and drive organizational change.
• Strong project management, financial acumen, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in clinical operations, strategic planning, and cross-functional team leadership required

Nice To Haves

• Neuroscience experience is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Drive integrated academic, clinical, and research programs that advance neuroscience excellence across Duke University Health System.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that optimize financial performance, enhance HR strategies, and leverage data analytics for informed decision-making.
• Champion resource planning for staffing, space, facilities, and equipment across clinical, research, and administrative functions.
• Innovate clinical workflows and patient access strategies to improve operational efficiency and care delivery.
• Oversee faculty and staff compensation processes, including effort reporting and incentive planning.
• Collaborate with analytics teams to ensure timely, accurate reporting and actionable insights.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards and metrics aligned with SOM/DUHS priorities.
• Monitor financial performance across all missions and provide strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Mentor and empower administrative staff in HR, communications, and shared operations.
• Engage actively with School of Medicine and national organizations to implement best practices in clinical administration.
• Ensure compliance with SOM and DUHS standards and lead risk mitigation efforts.
• Collaborate with the CAO and Department Chairs to implement strategic initiatives and monitor progress toward departmental goals.
• Support development and execution of clinical operations plans, including service line integration and expansion efforts.
• Advance shared clinical programs and joint faculty initiatives across departments.
• Align departmental operations with Neuroscience Service Line strategies.
• Partner on budget preparation, financial forecasting, and resource allocation with finance teams.
• Cultivate a high-performing, collaborative departmental culture aligned with Duke’s values of excellence, equity, and innovation.
• Represent the departments in institutional committees and working groups as delegated by the CAO.
• Assist in developing and implementing departmental policies related to finance, HR, and operations.

Benefits

• Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family- friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees