Vice Dean & Chief Operating Officer, School of Medicine & Health Sciences

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND, USA

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

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Vice Dean & Chief Operating Officer, School of Medicine & Health Sciences

497744

Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States

Full-time Faculty
Full-time Staff

Purpose of Position

The Vice Dean and Chief Operating Officer (VD & COO) will serve as the senior operational academic leader within the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) and is responsible for strategic oversight, academic mission integration, operational excellence, and accreditation compliance across the school’s educational, research, and administrative units. The VD & COO ensures cohesive leadership for medical education, student affairs and admissions, learning discovery, basic and clinical science departments and graduate medical education. The VD & COO will align work with the Senior Associate Dean for Health Sciences and Senior Associate Dean for Research to ensure a cohesive education and research operation. Additionally, the VD & COO partners closely with the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration to align resource allocation with institutional priorities, accreditation standards, and long-term strategic goals.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Academic Operations

Provide visionary leadership to advance the academic mission of SMHS.
Lead strategic planning initiatives in coordination with the Dean and leadership teams to define and achieve school-wide goals.
Monitor and evaluate academic programs and operational initiatives to ensure alignment with UND and SMHS priorities.
Facilitate cross-unit collaboration across medical education, research, student affairs, and academic departments.
Work with Dean’s Council and SMHS department chairs to resource and advance strategic initiatives.

Accreditation and Academic Quality Assurance

Oversee accreditation activities for all SMHS programs and ensure compliance with all accreditation standards and reporting requirements.
Implement continuous quality improvement processes for curricular and operational effectiveness.
Lead preparation and maintenance of documentation required for accreditation reviews, self-studies, and site visits.

Academic Program Oversight

Provide leadership and administrative oversight for:
- Office of Medical Education
- Office of Student Affairs & Admissions o Office of Learning Innovation
- Basic science and clinical science departments
- Graduate Medical Education
Support academic chairs and associate/assistant deans in achieving programmatic excellence and educational outcomes.
Promote interprofessional education and integrative curriculum development.

Resource and Financial Planning

Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Finance & Administration to ensure fiscal stewardship and resource allocation align with strategic goals.
Contributes to budget planning, financial analysis, and prioritization of investments in academic and operational initiatives in coordination with SMHS leadership and health systems.
Advocate for budgetary needs and resource support to advance institutional mission.

Faculty Development

Support recruitment, retention, and development of high-quality faculty and academic leaders.
Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative environment for faculty.
Mentor academic leaders in operational excellence, performance management, and professional development.

Strategic Initiatives

Lead or support initiatives assigned by the Dean aimed at strengthening SMHS strategic stature, educational innovation, research growth, and community impact.
External Relations and Representation as assigned by the Dean

Required Competencies

Ability to lead and manage diverse academic and clinical units.
Skills in strategic planning, quality improvement, and accreditation planning.
Strong ethical standards and commitment to UND/SMHS mission and values.
Capacity to engage internal and external stakeholders for institutional success.
Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal leadership experience, and organizational skills.

Minimum Requirements

Terminal medical degree (MD, DO, MD/PhD, DO/PhD).
10 years of progressive academic leadership experience in a medical school or health sciences environment.
5 years within executive leadership such as regional dean, senior associate dean, dean
Demonstrated success with program accreditation, academic operations, and strategic planning.
Proven record of collaborative leadership with educational, clinical, and administrative units.
Strong financial acumen, data-driven decision-making skills, and experience with academic budgets.
Successful completion of criminal history records check.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with accreditation for MD or health sciences accrediting bodies.
Track record of leading complex academic initiatives in large, multi-department environments.
Familiarity with Indigenous health education, population health sciences, and interprofessional academic models.