Nominations and Applications

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Interested candidates should submit confidentially, in electronic form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files preferred), a curriculum vitae and letter of interest to Danielle.Lafhaj@russellreynolds.com .

Michigan Medicine seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan and to maintain the excellence of the University. We welcome applications from anyone who would bring additional dimensions to the University's research, teaching, and clinical mission, including women, members of minority groups, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. 

The Department of Pediatrics, like the University of Michigan as a whole, is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all persons and will not discriminate against any individual because of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status. The University of Michigan is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. 

Contact

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan invites applications and nominations for the position of Director. The Director of the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center will play a key leadership role in advancing the mission of the Center within the University of Michigan, as well as within the national and international landscape. The Director will be a visionary scholar of national stature with expertise in child health research who can effectively lead a multidisciplinary Center of faculty, trainees, and staff, and foster collaborations with academic and research units across the University of Michigan. The center has a tremendous history of being a vital connector at the University of Michigan, facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration across the University including biomedical, health, quantitative social sciences, the humanities, public health, and a broad range of professional schools. The new Director will have the opportunity to build on the Center's solid foundation and strengths and articulate a vision and strategy for further expanding its national and international reputation and impact while fostering the growth and development of the next generation of researchers and scholars.

The Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center (CHEAR)

Founded in 1998, the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, later renamed The Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center (CHEAR) is a premier multidisciplinary child and adolescent health services research center based in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan. With 18 core faculty investigators and more than 40 research staff, fellows, and students, CHEAR is one of the largest health services research centers in the country focused on children and adolescents. CHEAR's multidisciplinary work encompasses health services research, health policy, epidemiology, behavioral sciences, social sciences, and population health sciences. Members of CHEAR are dedicated to examining essential aspects of child health and well-being that includes vaccinations, newborn screening, obesity, asthma, and costs of care, and their research examines health care data using innovative data science methods to elucidate underlying factors to enable groundbreaking solutions. CHEAR conducts research and training in child health outcomes and health policy across several core research themes, including innovative data science methods to aggregate, integrate and analyze datasets, emerging technologies, outcomes research, policy and communications.

Collaboration is essential to the multidisciplinary research CHEAR conducts and as a result members of CHEAR work with partners across more than 10 schools, colleges, and institutes within the University of Michigan. Members of CHEAR are committed to being a policy resource and actively engage and identify current high-priority issues for the advancement of child health building on a long-standing history of collaboration with the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate state public health programs and initiatives. CHEAR's research is funded by federal agencies (NIH, AHRQ, CDC, PCORI, HRSA), foundations, state government, and philanthropy resulting in $6-7 million each year in extramural funding for nearly 100 active research studies and faculty investigators authoring more than 70 peer-reviewed articles annually.

To learn more about The Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, please visit: https://chear.org/

Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan is an exceptional research resource and partner to CHEAR. The Department is nationally ranked for the outstanding care they provide to patients and the high-quality training of residents and fellows in pediatrics and all of its specialties. The Department includes 18 Clinical Divisions and more than 300 highly skilled faculty members who are committed to providing excellence in pediatric care, research, and education. To date, the Department has 9 ambulatory clinics and outreach services throughout the state of Michigan. Department research facilities are amongst the best in the world - attracting trainees from all walks of life and in almost every discipline imaginable. With a clear passion and dedication to research, the Department continuously ranks among the top 20 funded Pediatrics departments in the nation.

C.S. Mott Children's Hospital

The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, a 1.1 million square foot, 12 story, 348-bed facility that opened in 2011, is located on the University of Michigan medical campus. Mott is honored to be the #1 children's hospital in Michigan and ranked in the top 3 in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report. This state-of-the-art facility includes the on-site Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital birthing center, a Level 1 Children's Surgery Center, and a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center.

The Role

Reporting to the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Donna Martin, M.D., Ph.D, the Director will play a key role in leading CHEAR's development and direction within a top-ranked public research university during a pivotal time as the Center strives to become even more visible and valuable by strengthening the Center's national recognition, increasing the impact of the Centers research and successful strategic recruitment to ensure a strong faculty pipeline well into the future. To that end, the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan is seeking a strategic and collaborative nationally recognized thought leader with demonstrated leadership, intellectual curiosity, and accomplishment in translational health services research and health policy. The candidate must understand and be committed to advancing child health and engaging with other members of the University, but might have another focus for their own research, such as health economics or health policy. 

Key priorities and responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Vision

• Engage CHEAR members to formulate a vision and strategy for the future of child health and drive the creation of a forward-looking strategic plan that will position CHEAR as the #1 child health research center in the world.
• Continue to advance the national and international reputation and impact of the Center.
• Proactively create and expand opportunities to further foster collaboration within the Center and across university academic departments, effectively breaking down barriers and generating impactful research outcomes that would be impossible to accomplish in isolation.
• Create new research initiatives to expand the impact and reach of the Center.
• Direct the activities of two postdoctoral fellowship programs expanding the training programs and educational opportunities for a broad range of learners (pre- and post-doctoral graduate students, health professions trainees, and undergraduates).
• Promote CHEAR activities and programs within the University and in national and international forums to increase visibility and promote future opportunities for collaboration.
• Promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.

Research and Funding

• Build relationships across campus and support faculty investigators in their pursuit of impactful interdisciplinary research activities and external funding.
• Foster an environment conducive to excellence in research and training including research computing and business operations.
• Maintain and expand the Director's own research program, in ways consistent with the mission of CHEAR.

Administrative Management

• Oversee the administrative and financial business of the Center encompassing 18 core faculty investigators, more than 40 research staff, fellows, and students and $5 million annual research expenditures.
• Partner with the Chair, Chief Department Administrator and appointed Administrator to manage the financial resources and business operations of the Center efficiently through an effective annual operating budget process and long-term financial plan.
• Retain, recruit, supervise and advise a diverse faculty and staff of the highest quality with a demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and safe educational and work environment.
• Foster career development of colleagues and staff at all ranks.
• Partner with tenure-granting academic units within the University of Michigan to promote the career development, tenure, and promotion of CHEAR faculty.
• Build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, partners, and collaborators within and outside of the University.
• Promote a collaborative, collegial culture throughout the Center.

Reporting Relationships

Location: The Child Health Evaluation and Research Center is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Relocation to the Ann Arbor area is required for this position.

Professional Experience and Qualifications 

Leadership: A visionary scholar of national or international stature with strong translational health services research and/or health policy credentials, and an interest in children and their families, who can effectively lead the Center and foster collaborations with academic and research units across the University of Michigan as well as the broader national community. Demonstrated record of strong management skills and effective, collaborative leadership in a distinguished academic or research setting. Capacity to formulate and articulate a shared vision, to persuade a wide range of audiences of its value, and to engage others in its implementation. Understanding and appreciation of diversity and ability to promote and construct a collegial and respectful working environment. Ability to recruit outstanding new faculty, as well as retain the Center's current faculty. 

Research Management: Conversant in and supportive of cross-disciplinary research, theories, and methods. Ability to initiate and foster successful research partnerships and collaborations both within and between social, behavioral, health sciences, and public health segments, with the ultimate goal of improving child health and health equity. 

Academic Qualifications: Scientist (PhD, MD/PhD, MD) with experience working in a university, academic health, or institutional research setting. Significant academic credentials, a nationally or internationally recognized scholar in a core area of health services research or health policy.  Experience in leading academic or professional societies and associations at a national and/or international level. A strong track record of externally funded research with federal/foundation support. The successful candidate will be qualified for a tenured academic appointment at the Full or Distinguished Professor level in an appropriate academic department or professional school. 

Fundraising Ability: An established record of securing extramural federal and/or private funding for research and training programs throughout their career, as well as mentoring others in grant success and program building. Aptitude and appetite for strengthening philanthropic support from individuals, foundations, and corporations. 

Financial Management and Administrative Experience: A record of operational leadership demonstrating excellence, growth, and financial effectiveness. Demonstrated experience in strong fiscal management. Ability to manage resources ethically, efficiently, and strategically. 

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.

This position is posted as Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor. Rank of the selected candidate will be dependent upon qualifications. 

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 opportunity/affirmative action employer.