Department Administrator Leukemia

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center • Houston, TX

5d

About The Position

The Department Administrator is the primary administrator and chief business officer for the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. This leadership role oversees the department’s business, financial, operational, and administrative functions, aligning departmental activities with institutional priorities and supporting the success of academic, clinical, and research programs. The administrator works closely with department leadership, faculty, staff, and institutional partners to manage resources, advance strategic initiatives, and promote operational excellence.

The role encompasses financial stewardship, grants and contracts administration, physical resource and facilities coordination, personnel management, strategic planning, quality assurance, and administrative support. The Department Administrator collaborates with the Chair on long-term business plans, supports research and educational initiatives, improves processes and service quality, and helps guide departmental growth. Candidates should bring experience leading complex administrative, financial, operational, and personnel functions in an academic, healthcare, research, or clinical environment.

A bachelor’s degree is required and a master’s degree is preferred. Required experience is seven years of progressive and responsible healthcare, research, or business management experience, including three years in a management role. With a master’s degree, five years of progressive and responsible experience, including three years in management, is required. Completion of specified LEADing Self programs may substitute for up to two years of required supervisory or management experience. Extensive academic, clinical, and research operations experience is preferred. Candidates must pass a pre-employment skills test when required. This position may involve maintaining the security and integrity of critical infrastructure; satisfying and maintaining applicable security requirements is a condition of hire and continued employment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Seven years of progressive and responsible healthcare, research, or business management experience, including three years in a management role; alternatively, with a master’s degree, five years of such experience, including three years in management.
• Successful completion of LEADing Self Accelerate and/or LEADing Self Discover may substitute for one year of required supervisory or management experience; completion of both programs may substitute for a maximum of two years.
• Must pass a pre-employment skills test as required and administered by Human Resources.
• Must be able to satisfy and maintain applicable requirements for the security and integrity of critical infrastructure if responsible for maintaining it.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage numerous competing priorities.
• Exceptional communication skills and ability to collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating human resources activities, including hiring, onboarding, and promotions, as well as direct people management.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Extensive academic, clinical, and research operations experience.
• Complex clinical and financial research expertise, including direct clinical research finance experience and a comprehensive understanding of service line activities.
• Proven ability to execute initiatives, develop innovative solutions to complex challenges, and demonstrate strong decision-making and leadership.
• Experience collaborating on initiatives to grow demand, strategically transform operations, and contribute to institutional growth through innovative planning and partnership development.

Responsibilities

• Review and administer departmental and program budgets in accordance with institutional guidelines and strategic plans.
• Monitor income and expenses for centers and maintain timely, accurate financial tracking.
• Reconcile chart field strings and evaluate monthly balances for financial accuracy.
• Apply institutional and state guidelines for purchasing, travel, check requests, and other expenditures.
• Use institutional financial systems to monitor and analyze financial activity.
• Conduct financial analyses for proposed programs, including developing proformas.
• Protect departmental assets, records, and property from loss, errors, and irregularities.
• Prepare and provide required budgetary and financial reports.
• Coordinate capital equipment requests and requisitions through approval processes.
• Support financial planning, forecasting, and resource allocation decisions.
• Oversee preparation and coordination of grant proposals and contractual agreements.
• Review grant budget, staffing, and space requirements before submission.
• Monitor grant and contract activity for compliance with applicable regulations and deadlines.
• Ensure grant-related materials are processed on time through appropriate divisional channels.
• Manage administrative responsibilities associated with research programs and sponsored activities.
• Coordinate physical resource utilization, including space planning, inventory control, and property maintenance.
• Assist with relocations, renovations, and facility planning initiatives.
• Maintain the appearance and functionality of assigned departmental spaces.
• Coordinate with institutional departments and organizational peers to achieve goals.
• Anticipate operational barriers and opportunities and develop plans to address them.
• Organize and direct assigned operational areas and activities.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate departmental communication strategies.
• Promote effective information exchange across the department, division, and institution.
• Ensure appropriate selection, orientation, utilization, and evaluation of personnel.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations for direct reports using institutional systems and coordinate support for evaluations of indirect reports.
• Develop and maintain performance standards focused on measurable, job-specific outcomes.
• Ensure employees maintain current position descriptions and performance expectations.
• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and corrective action when needed.
• Promote professional development, training, and continuing education opportunities.
• Foster employee engagement and high performance; make fair and consistent personnel decisions and recognize employee contributions.
• Prepare requested workforce reports.
• Collaborate with the Chair to develop long-term strategic business plans for the department.
• Develop, implement, and assess plans supporting long-term financial and operational goals.
• Produce volume reports and serve as a liaison for marketing initiatives.
• Manage multiple projects by tracking deadlines, progress, and stakeholder input, and keep department leadership informed of status and anticipated deadlines.
• Design systems and processes that improve efficiency, effectiveness, and service quality.
• Develop and maintain internal controls that protect departmental and institutional integrity.
• Ensure compliance with health, fire, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Implement policies and procedures supporting staffing, grants management, academic appointments, recruitment, promotions, documentation, and training programs.
• Partner with information systems support teams to resolve connectivity and software issues and develop technology-based solutions that improve departmental effectiveness.

Benefits

• Employer-paid medical coverage starting on day one for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
• Optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
• PTO and Extended Illness Bank accruals, paid holidays, wellness, childcare, and other leave options.
• Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service.
• Wellness, fitness, and employee resource groups.
• Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System.
• Voluntary retirement plans.
• Employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
• Educational opportunities and individual and team recognition.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager