Assistant Director Of Strategic Initiatives - Student Health & Wellness

The University of Virginia's Department of Student Health and Wellness (SHW) seeks a highly motivated and experienced finance management professional to join its dynamic team. The Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives reports to the Director of Administration and works closely with the Executive Director and our Student Health Office of Research Excellence (SHORE) in search of various research and other strategic funding opportunities to support the exploration of scientific study pertaining to the student population with the goal to improve student well-being.

The primary area of focus includes accelerating the department's ability to find funding opportunities and assist in the development of highly competitive proposals for extramural grants and contracts from federal, state, non-profit, and private sector funding sources.

Job Description:

• Provide guidance and direction on the prospective funding opportunities that match the department's research goals and on the implementation of policies and strategies necessary to achieve those goals.

• Develop, plan, and organize initiatives in collaboration with the Executive Director, Director of Administration, and other senior leadership that create strategic relationships that enhance the department's research and well-being mission.

• Use all available tools and databases to identify funding opportunities for collaborative projects targeting priority research areas and programmatic initiatives as defined by SHW.

• Manage a portfolio of extramural funding projects with varying degrees of complexity through the entire project life cycle, including planning, budgeting, implementation, logistics, risk mitigation, and reporting. Works alongside UVA's Office of Sponsored Programs for all pre- and post-award activities.

• Facilitate routine thought-leader focused discussions with project sponsor(s), stakeholders within the department and across Grounds on strategic goals, resources, and challenges.

• Analyze and interpret financial data associated with extramural funding providing regular reporting on the financial health of projects and initiatives.

• Prepare financial statements comparing funding performance against budgeted projections providing recommendations for current and future forecasting needs.

• Work closely with the Director of Administration and the Assistant Director of Finance on strategic budget planning throughout the year including forecasts for active and projected extramural funding projects.

• Collaborate with SHORE and other research partners on monitoring project deliverables that impact the funding stream and identify potential cash shortfalls.

• Assist the Director of Administration in transforming operational processes as needed using data-driven methods that ensure the successful execution of strategic initiatives.

• Provide an extremely high level of customer service to stakeholders.

• Exercise discretion and judgment to solve complex problems regarding projects, and department/ division-related work.

• Remain current on university, state, and federal policies impacting extramural funding and research initiatives.

• Serve on committees for the department and other various stakeholder groups.

• Participate in other special projects and strategic planning initiatives as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree required, degree in the social, public health, medical or health sciences; business or public administration, or other related fields is preferred.

• Minimum eight years of facilitating research and other development activities, with a demonstrable record of accomplishment in assisting organizations with securing funding and managing large scale extramural projects.

An ideal applicant will:

• Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and experience in seeking strategic initiatives to support organizational initiatives including but not limited to grant submissions; project management; regulatory, procurement and research process requirements; problem solving; and, discretion/tact/diplomacy.

• Demonstrate experience successfully working in a team environment and fostering working relationships with diverse faculty, staff, and students.

• Thrive overseeing/managing multiple short-term projects across institutions and disciplines.

• Have high energy and be solution focused.

• Have a passion for supporting strategic initiatives including research that improves the well-being of our student population.

• Have a history of progressive and successful leadership responsibilities, including supervision of direct reports.

• Demonstrate highly effective communication skills (written, verbal) through heightened situational awareness and leadership, ability to tailor communications to diverse audiences, and conflict management.

• Be proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's or Doctoral degree in the social, public health, medical or health sciences; business administration, or other related fields.

• Thinks systematically and strategically about funding proposal development and has experience identifying barriers to efficient and effective completion.

• A successful record of accomplishment developing procedural and automated research process improvements.

The anticipated salary range will be $95,000-120,000 commensurate with education and experience. This is an exempt level, benefited position. Employees benefits package highlights include:

• 22 days of paid time off, increasing with service; 13+ paid holidays each year, in addition to paid time off

• Parental and Community Service Leave

• Health plan with options to meet healthcare and financial needs available from day one

• Retirement benefits

• Tuition and professional development benefits after six months of employment

• Employee wellness program featuring activities to earn up to $500/year.

About Charlottesville and UVA:

UVA is a world class institution with nationally ranked schools and programs, diverse and distinguished faculty, a major academic medical center and proud history as a renowned research university. Charlottesville is nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the edge of Shenandoah National Park, while also being just 2.5 hours to Washington, DC and 3 hours to the ocean. Charlottesville is home to an array of attractions, schools, and businesses to keep you and your family entertained and educated for years to come. Learn more about all C'Ville has to offer.

Application Instructions

Please apply through the UVA job board, and complete an application online. Internal applicants please search "Find Jobs" in Workday. Include the following documents:

• A CV/resume

• A cover letter

• Contact information for three references (name, email address, telephone number, and address).

Internal applicants please apply through Workday by searching "find jobs." The position is open until filled and review of applications will begin in early June. Applications that do not contain all of the required documents will not receive full consideration. References will be completed via UVA's standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process. A minimum of three is required. For questions about the application process, please contact Michele Jarman, Academic Recruiter. The selected applicant will pass a criminal background check, health check and drug screen. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician's Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.