Chief of Staff - University of Florida College of Medicine

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

The University of Florida College of Medicine is seeking an accomplished and highly strategic leader to serve as Chief of Staff to the Dean. The Chief of Staff serves as a senior advisor and operational partner to the Dean and plays a central role in advancing the priorities of the College of Medicine. As a member of the Dean’s Cabinet and College of Medicine Executive Leadership, the Chief of Staff works as part of an integrated executive team alongside the Dean, Senior Associate Deans, and the leaders of Finance, Human Resources, and Communications to support collective decision-making, align priorities, and translate strategic direction into coordinated action across the College. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring exceptional judgment, discretion, executive presence, and organizational acumen. The Chief of Staff operates at the intersection of strategy, operations, governance, communications, and organizational leadership, connecting people and priorities across the Dean’s Office, academic departments, administrative functions, the University of Florida, and UF Health. The successful candidate will be a trusted advisor, skilled integrator, and strong relationship builder who can operate effectively within a shared executive leadership structure. The individual must value and engage the expertise of fellow leaders, navigate a complex academic health environment, anticipate organizational implications, bring the right leaders and perspectives together, and ensure important decisions and priorities move from discussion to coordinated execution.

Requirements

Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and six years of appropriate experience, or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and eight years of experience.

Nice To Haves

Significant leadership experience in higher education, academic health care, health care, or another complex, highly matrixed organization.
Demonstrated experience working directly with senior executives and contributing effectively within a shared executive leadership structure.
Demonstrated ability to translate executive priorities into coordinated organizational action and advance complex initiatives across organizational boundaries.
Exceptional executive presence, judgment, discretion, political and organizational acumen, and emotional intelligence.
Demonstrated ability to build trust, foster alignment, and influence outcomes without relying on direct authority.
Ability to synthesize complex information, anticipate organizational and stakeholder implications, and facilitate effective executive decision-making.
Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and executive communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop professional staff, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively amid ambiguity and organizational change.
Experience within an academic medical center or integrated academic health system.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted senior advisor and operational partner to the Dean while working as an active and collaborative member of the Dean’s Cabinet and College of Medicine Executive Leadership.
Partner closely with the leaders of Finance, Human Resources, and Communications, Senior Associate Deans, and other executive leaders to support collective decision-making, align priorities, and advance College-wide goals.
Synthesize complex information and perspectives, ensure relevant leaders and subject-matter expertise are engaged, and translate executive direction into coordinated organizational action.
Serve as an integrator across the Dean’s Office, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, academic leadership, and other areas of the College, respecting the expertise, responsibilities, and authority of each leader.
Identify connections and dependencies across major priorities and bring the appropriate leaders and perspectives together to support well-informed decisions and coordinated action.
Facilitate alignment across organizational boundaries and exercise sound judgment regarding when to lead, collaborate, engage functional or academic leadership, elevate an issue to the executive team or Dean, or transition responsibility to the appropriate leader.
Champion high-impact strategic initiatives assigned by the Dean and supported through the College’s executive leadership structures.
Translate executive priorities into actionable plans with clear objectives, ownership, resource needs, dependencies, decision points, and accountability.
Coordinate initiatives spanning multiple areas of the College, monitor progress, address barriers, and ensure responsible leaders remain engaged in decisions and implementation.
Provide leadership and oversight for the administrative and operational effectiveness of the Office of the Dean, including its staff, structure, processes, and critical functions.
Lead and develop assigned Dean’s Office staff by establishing clear priorities, expectations, workflows, and accountability.
Partner with Finance and Human Resources leadership on Dean’s Office staffing, organizational structure, budget, resource needs, and senior leadership transitions.
Provide leadership and strategic oversight for communications supporting the Dean’s priorities and executive agenda.
Partner with the Dean and Director of Communications on communications priorities, significant announcements, leadership messaging, sensitive matters, and issues with potential organizational or reputational impact.
Guide major executive communications and institutional responses, exercising sound judgment regarding audience, timing, context, sensitivity, and appropriate information sharing.
Develop trusted relationships with fellow members of the Dean’s Cabinet and College of Medicine Executive Leadership, Senior Associate Deans, department chairs and administrators, University leaders, UF Health leaders, and other key partners.
Serve as a senior point of connection between the Office of the Dean and College leadership, fostering direct communication, productive partnership, and appropriate access to the Dean.
Represent the Dean in meetings and institutional matters within delegated authority while maintaining appropriate coordination with the executive, academic, and functional leaders responsible for the work.