Senior Associate Dean

As a part of a diverse community of faculty and staff who represent many faith systems and worldviews, Marian University is seeking a Senior Associate Dean for Operations and Academic Affairs who will promote our Catholic Franciscan mission and identity by serving as the principal advisor and strategic partner to the Dean of the Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCOM). Working collaboratively with the Dean, this position supports the implementation of the Dean's vision and strategic priorities while fostering alignment across the school's academic, faculty, research, and physician education initiatives.
The Senior Associate Dean coordinates the work of key academic leaders, facilitates communication and collaboration among administrative units, and provides guidance on operational and academic matters to support informed decision-making by the Dean. This role serves as a trusted resource to the Dean, helping translate strategic priorities into coordinated action while promoting organizational effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Through direct supervision of designated academic leaders, the Senior Associate Dean supports the successful execution of institutional initiatives, encourages cross-functional collaboration, and helps ensure the medical school's programs operate in alignment with its mission, accreditation standards, and commitment to excellence in osteopathic medical education.

The position provides direct supervision for:

• Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
• Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
• Director of Research
• Assistant Dean for the Continuum of Physician Education
• Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs

The Senior Associate Dean serves as the Dean's principal advisor on academic operations and implementation of strategic initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively engage the Catholic Franciscan mission and identity of Marian University by modeling the Franciscan Sponsorship Values and honoring the legacy of the founding congregation through transformative education, unity in diversity, leadership through service, integrating faith and life, and institutional policies.

Executive Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership of academic operations.
• Provide direct supervision, mentoring, and performance evaluation for direct reports.
• Foster collaboration across academic affairs, faculty affairs, research, continuing, and clinical education.
• Ensure alignment across academic units.
• Lead special projects on behalf of the Dean.

Strategic Planning and Operations

• Ensure accountability for strategic goals and operational performance.
• Coordinate implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Monitor institutional performance metrics.
• Coordinate annual goal setting, budget planning, and operational priorities.
• Monitor organizational performance and key performance indicators.
• Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

Academic Administration

• Partner with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to support curricular excellence and accreditation.
• Promote collaboration across preclinical, clinical, and continuum of physician education.
• Support implementation of new academic initiatives and educational innovations.

Faculty and Research

• Partner with the Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs to advance faculty recruitment, development, promotion, and retention.
• Support growth of the research enterprise through collaboration with the Director of Research.
• Foster a culture of scholarship, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Clinical Education and Physician Continuum

• Oversee the integration of undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, and continuing professional development.
• Support expansion and quality improvement of clinical education programs and partnerships.
• Ensure strong collaboration with affiliated health systems and community partners.

Organizational Culture

• Promote a collaborative, mission-driven culture grounded in excellence, accountability, innovation, and service.
• Support leadership development across the medical school.
• Lead organizational change initiatives as directed by the Dean.

University Expectations:

• Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of Marian University
• Adheres to Marian University’s policies and procedures
• Strong attention to detail and basic data-entry skills.
• Shows courtesy and respect in interactions with f