Michigan Medicine Health Advancement guides and empowers the Michigan Medicine community to reach their full potential by advancing health, expanding career and educational opportunities, fostering a culture of support, and strengthening partnerships. This team plays a vital role in building systems and programs that improve patient care, learner development, workforce engagement, and community collaboration. With a focus on excellence, safety, and measurable impact, the department supports efforts across education, research, and clinical care to create an environment where all individuals can thrive professionally and personally. 

Our strategic pillars are health equity across care, education, research, and community; pathways and professional growth; and supporting an environment for advancement and a thriving culture. These pillars inform our job roles and responsibilities and inform reporting and collaborative connections within the department. 

The Senior Director provides strategic oversight, operational, programmatic, and administrative leadership, responsible for the functions, performance, and output of Michigan Medicine Health Advancement. Working closely with the Associate Vice President and Associate Dean for Health Advancement, the Senior Director provides strategic guidance and implementation of the Health Advancement mission and vision across Michigan Medicine.

The Senior Director supervises a minimum of six positions within the department continually as well as additional staff and program areas as needed. The direct reporting staff include the Administrative Specialist Intermediate, Financial Analyst Senior, Executive Assistant Senior, Financial Analyst, Strategic Communications Manager, and two Administrative Manager Intermediate Healthcare roles.

This role also convenes and presides over the Health Advancement Advisory Board in consultation with the Associate Vice President and Associate Dean for Health Advancement, and with support from designated department Manager(s). This body is comprised of Michigan Medicine and campus leadership from numerous partnering departments and is focused on spearheading collaborations and system-wide opportunities related to the Health Advancement strategic pillars and the Michigan Medicine BASE+ Values framework.  

Oversight of the Health Advancement strategic planning, including working with key stakeholders to establish and deliver a programmatic and operational plan to advance the strategic pillars; health equity across care, education, research and community; pathways and professional growth; and supporting an environment for advancement and a thriving culture. This work incorporates the following:

a.    Guide the strategic direction of the department internally and externally, effectively cultivating partnerships and interacting with an array of constituent groups.
b.    Working with leadership to set appropriate goals and deadlines, assess progress, and engage in ongoing program and process improvement, incorporating changes based on feedback.
c.    Developing specific metrics/data analysis and action plans, including culture enhancement and community engagement.
d.    Implementing plans and programs rooted in treating our patients, families, learners and workforce with professionalism, kindness, empathy, and respect.

Provide operational oversight of all Michigan Medicine Health Advancement personnel and administrative functions including:

a.    Oversight of Health Advancement financial performance and budget, ensuring resources are strategically allocated and the unit complies with University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine financial practices and policies.
b.    Responsible for space utilization, internal controls, and compliance-related matters. 
c.    Develop, implement, and ensure adherence to unit policies and procedures, aligning with those of the institution. 
d.    Oversight of office personnel matters, including recruitment, hiring and onboarding of staff; staff supervision, coaching and performance management; and HR-related matters.

Responsible for cultivating partnerships in pursuit of common goals and engaging key stakeholders including members of the community, faculty, staff and learners at all levels, including:

a.    Building relationships and collaborative partnerships to create and foster support for the university?s health equity and educational and professional pathways initiatives and creating strategies to foster an open and affirming culture for all.
b.    Representing Health Advancement on committees, at events, academic conferences and national meetings and serving as the representative of the Associate Vice President and Associate Dean for Health Advancement as needed.
c.    Leading Health Advancement fundraising efforts in consultation with the Michigan Medicine Development Office.
d.    Developing and maintaining community partnerships and resources to promote health equity.

• Articulate and champion institutional and mission-driven strategic priorities to multiple audiences. Excellent interpersonal and formal communication abilities.
• Provide professional presentations and facilitations.
• Collaborate with the Health Advancement Communications Manager to develop the strategy and content for Health Advancement marketing and development materials, website and intranet, and other public relations activities.
• Measure the effectiveness of Health Advancement initiatives and operations, which includes ensuring department participation in institutional benchmarking and the preparation and delivery of periodic reports for leadership.
• Ensure programming, events, and resources are in alignment with both the Michigan Medicine and Health Advancement strategic vision, focused on creating an environment for all to achieve excellence in healthcare, education, and career advancement.
• Ability to attend meetings and events (on-site and virtual), including travel and occasional evening and weekend hours as needed.

• Advanced degree, Masters or Doctorate, in a relevant field (MS, MPH, MBA, PhD, JD) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a complex environment (10 or more years preferred).
• Experience in management and supervision of a team of 15 or more.
• Strong understanding of current local, regional, and national best practices and trends in higher education, health advancement, and educational and professional pathways.
• Demonstrated experience with guiding the strategic direction of a unit or organization, including the ability to craft and evaluate strategic recommendations from multiple perspectives. 
• Accustomed to working in a fast-paced, complex, and policy-driven environment. 
• Experienced in change management or launching new lines of business or service with the capacity for fostering collaboration and building consensus.
• Familiar with data-driven decision-making and able to collect, analyze, and present findings across formats.
• Exercises sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to produce forward-looking, transparent plans and budgets that strategically allocate resources and link expenditures to outcomes, with a focus on return on investment. 
• Operational skills to manage resources, set priorities, develop accountability measures, and achieve goals and desired outcomes.
• The ability to clearly communicate strategies, key measures of success, and policy and accountability structures to staff and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated interest in policy and structural change, with enthusiasm to partner with units, groups, committees, and leaders throughout the academic medical center focused on continuous improvement, data-driven outcomes and an enhanced climate and organizational culture.
• Effective and detailed writing, editing, and proofreading abilities are required.
• Demonstrated growth mindset and motivation for organizational and personnel development, and a commitment to developing others and maximizing strengths, talent, and productivity.
• The ability to lead and inspire teams during times of growth or change. 
• Demonstrated leadership experience with finance and budgeting, including oversight of line item, project, personnel, and department operation budgets. 
• Knowledge of data collection and evaluation processes and an understanding of the research lifecycle.

• A Terminal Degree (PhD, JD, MBA, etc.) that is directly related to the duties of the position. 
• Background in change management or organizational development, including the ability to lead and inspire individuals and teams during times of growth or change. 
• Experience with University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine administrative systems, financial practices, policies, and processes strongly preferred.
• Experience with strategy development, program assessment, and organizational culture improvement efforts.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Reporting and key partnerships 

The Senior Director reports to the Associate Vice President and Associate Dean for Health Advancement. The Senior Director also works closely, and in partnership with, U-M/Michigan Medicine Human Resources, Office of Well-Being, Michigan Medicine Office of Development, Office of Patient Experience, U-M Medical School Admissions, Office of Medical Student Education, and other campus partners and key leaders at Michigan Medicine to implement the Health Advancement strategic pillars.

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.