Chief Administrative Officer

University of Texas at Austin

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Texas at Austin is undertaking a once-in-a-generation transformation to build a world-class academic health system in Central Texas. Anchored by Dell Medical School and the growing UT Health Austin clinical enterprise, this bold initiative is redefining how academic medicine delivers care, accelerates discovery, educates future healthcare leaders, and improves health across the communities we serve. As UT Dell Medical School continues its rapid growth and advances toward development of a new academic medical center and hospital, the organization is making foundational investments that will shape its future. Success will require modern infrastructure, scalable operations, innovative technologies, strong financial stewardship, and an administrative platform capable of supporting growth across clinical care, research, and education. Within this environment, UT Dell Medical School seeks a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to serve as the administrative dyad partner to the Dean and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs. Reporting directly to the Dean/SVPMA, the CAO provides strategic and operational leadership for administration, shared services, organizational development, and enterprise execution. The CAO helps translate institutional vision into operational reality while building the capabilities, systems, and culture required to support a premier academic health system. This executive will oversee key administrative functions including finance, human resources, information technology, facilities, development, marketing and communications, compliance, legal affairs, and other shared services. As a member of the senior leadership team, the CAO will play a critical role in shaping organizational strategy, executing growth initiatives, driving operational excellence, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the enterprise.

Requirements

Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive senior-level healthcare administrative leadership experience.
Demonstrated success leading large teams and complex organizational initiatives.
Experience developing and executing strategic and operational plans within complex healthcare environments.
Experience overseeing large-scale administrative functions, operations, and shared services.
Proven ability to drive organizational performance, growth, and operational excellence.
Broad expertise in healthcare administration and large-scale organizational leadership
Experience leading complex, matrixed healthcare organizations
Strong financial management, operational, and strategic planning capabilities
Success overseeing large administrative and shared service functions
Experience supporting organizational growth, facility development, and expansion initiatives
Demonstrated ability to drive innovation, workforce transformation, and operational modernization
A collaborative leadership style that builds alignment across diverse constituencies
Excellent communication, relationship-building, and executive influencing skills
Experience operating within academic medicine, healthcare delivery organizations, or integrated health systems

Nice To Haves

Fifteen or more years of senior healthcare leadership experience.
Experience supporting development of new sites of care, major capital projects, hospital activation, or health system expansion.
Demonstrated success applying artificial intelligence and automation within healthcare operations.
Experience within a university-based academic medical center or major academic health system.
Healthcare executive certification such as Certified Healthcare Executive (CHE) or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Serve as strategic and operational dyad partner to the Dean and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs.
Provide overall strategic and operational direction for UT Dell Medical School and its future growth as a destination academic medical center.
Lead development and execution of enterprise strategic and operating plans.
Design and implement organizational structures, leadership models, and administrative capabilities that support continued expansion.
Oversee administrative shared services, including finance, human resources, information technology, marketing and communications, development, facilities, compliance, legal affairs, and related functions.
Ensure alignment between enterprise priorities and administrative operations across departments, institutes, and clinical programs.
Deliver financial, operational, quality, and growth objectives across the organization.
Foster and maintain strategic partnerships with external organizations that advance institutional goals.
Ensure legal, regulatory, and policy compliance across administrative operations.
Lead modernization efforts through adoption of artificial intelligence, automation, and innovative workforce strategies.
Develop and oversee workforce upskilling programs that prepare employees for the future of healthcare.
Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and operational innovations that improve organizational performance.
Serve as a member of the senior leadership team and contribute to enterprise governance and decision making.
Create an environment that attracts, develops, and retains exceptional talent.
Build a high-performing culture aligned with Dell Medical School values and strategic priorities.