Department Chair-School Of Medicine

Creighton University School of Medicine invites applications and nominations for Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. The school is seeking an individual with leadership ability and administrative experience who will work to promote excellence in all missions of the department, school, and university. The major responsibilities of the chair are to further develop and promote high quality research, provide leadership and vision to enhance existing programs and develop new initiatives, and to vigorously support medical and other educational programs of the department. Information about the department can be found at https://medschool.creighton.edu/departments/medical-microbiology-immunology

Applicants should have a Ph.D. and/or MD. The successful candidate must have a record of distinguished research accomplishments highlighted by publications in peer-reviewed journals, and a research program supported by ongoing extramural funding. A strong commitment to mentoring to promote professional growth and development of faculty in the department, and to establishing collaboration with faculty in other basic and clinical departments is essential.

The School of Medicine is one of nine schools or colleges at Creighton University including professional schools of Business, Law, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Health Professions, and a Graduate School. Founded in 1878, Creighton University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution with an enrollment of approximately 8821 students.

We encourage applications from qualified individuals representing all backgrounds and faith traditions who identify with our mission and can contribute to our distinctive academic traditions. Candidates are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with Creighton’s mission and founding principles and review the Faculty Handbook at: https://www.creighton.edu/fileadmin/user/GeneralCounsel/docs/Faculty_Handbook_2016__complete_.pdf;

Potential candidates are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with Creighton’s mission and founding principles at: http://www.creighton.edu/mission/.

Responsibilities include:

Vision and Direction.
To achieve excellence, the Chair must accomplish several tasks. These include setting a vision and direction for the department, developing and maintaining an atmosphere of creativity and scholarly interest, and balancing the competing interests of health science, medical and graduate education, research and the provision of service to the institution and the scientific community. Effectively choreographing these many tasks, while ensuring that faculty can build credible, rewarding and coherent careers over time are the hallmarks of a successful department.

Mentor the academic careers of faculty.
Coaching, mentoring, and supporting faculty throughout their careers are important to reduce faculty turnover, and to maximize productivity. Recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of faculty members can help an experienced Chair use these to the departments’ advantage. Seeking out and selecting appropriate opportunities for faculty inside and outside of the institution is enhanced by the Chairs’ experience and standing within the academic community. Additional mentoring would include, but not be limited to, assistance in the development of research protocols, preparation and submission of grant applications, critical review of manuscripts, ongoing oversight of departmental research activities, facilitating appropriate faculty participation in regional, national and international academic activities.

Evaluation of faculty performance.
This would include, but not be limited to, review of personnel performance, establishing faculty expectations in the various teaching, and/or research responsibilities, evaluating performance in accord with those expectations in such a way that both exceptional and below expectation performance can be identified, counseling faculty regarding substandard performance, rewarding faculty for exceptional performance. This also includes tracking faculty progress over time relevant to appointment, reappointment, promotion and tenure actions.

Establish and maintain morale within the department.
Developing and modeling an atmosphere that demonstrates transparency, fairness, integrity, and respect contributes to the esprit de corps among faculty, staff and learners.

Maintain strong, successful research programs.
Collaborate with SOM leadership, department chairs, research core directors, other University schools and their departments, the CHI health system, and local partners to develop grant funded research programs that are nationally recognized for excellence. Meet the needs of undergraduate, medical and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows regarding research opportunities and research training. Support and promote research activities of the department, SOM and University locally, nationally and internationally.

Develop and maintain excellent educational programs.
This would include, but not be limited to, ensuring that the department obtains excellent student evaluations of curricula in your discipline. Other duties include developing or assigning faculty to develop appropriate new curricular initiatives, maintaining excellent and outstanding evaluations for teaching performance by faculty, developing and maintaining excellent performance at formal lectures and conferences at local, national and international sites.

Participate in key SOM/departmental activities.
The Chair is expected to attend regular leadership meetings with the Dean of the SOM and with other SOM and University leaders. The Chair should have regularly scheduled departmental faculty meetings to provide information on SOM activities and to foster collegial relationships. In addition, the Chair may serve on appropriate standing committees of the SOM; serve on special committees or councils as appointed by the Dean; attend regularly scheduled departmental activities such as research rounds, research seminars and conferences.

Provide leadership in program planning and implementation for the academic mission.
This would include developing recommendations for long-range goals of the academic mission in conjunction with SOM leadership and departmental faculty. Goals and objectives for new programing would be agreed upon and the Chair would ensure that the faculty charged with the goals are accountable.

Participate in the recruitment of faculty.
In collaboration with others, establish a process for the recruitment of faculty members. Strategic planning will identify needs for teaching and research positions, and such planning will identify the appropriate amount of academic faculty that are needed for these areas. The Chair will participate in the interview process of all candidates.

Scholarly Activity/ Research.
Chairs should be a model to their faculty and thus should pursue research and scholarly activity, consistent with the requirements for career advancement at Creighton University. Collaboration with other faculty members to pursue research investigations as a part of academic activity is encouraged.

Qualifications:
1. Earned doctorate (Ph.D. and/or MD).
2. Must have a record of distinguished research accomplishments highlighted by publications in peer-reviewed journals, and a research program supported by ongoing extramural funding.
3. A commitment to mentoring to promote professional growth and development of faculty in the department, and to establishing collaboration with faculty in other basic and clinical departments is essential.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with multiple and diverse constituencies;
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resources;
Outstanding organization, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, prioritize multiple tasks, manage projects, and work independently without close supervision;
Skilled in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems;
Excellent written/verbal communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills;
High Proficiency in the MS Office Suite to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook;
Strong collaborative/teamwork ability to motivate, and inspire staff at all levels of the organization;
Demonstrated experience with strategic and analytical thinking and planning;
Experience with planning, forecasting and fiscal management;
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement complex plans coordinated with multiple constituencies;
Experience handling confidential information, must have a track record of discretion in addressing confidential matters and sensitive situations;
Ability to remain flexible, optimistic, and effective in a rapidly changing, dynamic environment;
Demonstrated commitment to customer service and the ability to create a welcoming, inclusive, positive work environment for people from a variety of backgrounds and communities;
Ability to manage, supervise, and develop professional staff;
Results oriented;
Mission and Service oriented.

Reporting Relationship?
The Chair will report to the Dean of the School of Medicine

Physical Requirements:
Seeing: 75 – 100%
Hearing: 75-100%
Standing/Climbing/Mobility: 25-49%
Lifting/Pulling/Pushing: 0-24% (pound: up to 15 lbs.)
Fingering/Grasping/Feeling: 75 – 100%
Travel: Yes (less than 25%)

Additional Applicant Information:
Potential Applicants/Candidates are required to attach the following documents for application to be complete:

• Curriculum Vitae;
• Letter of application that includes a description of administrative and teaching experiences, current and future research activities and funding sources
• Names and contact information of three (3) professional references

AAP/EEO Statement:
Creighton University is committed to providing a safe and non-discriminatory educational and employment environment. The University admits qualified students, hires qualified employees and accepts patients for treatment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or other status protected by law. Its education and employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other programs and activities, are administered without unlawful discrimination.

Disclosure Statement:
This description describes the general nature of work to be performed and does not include an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, or abilities required. Regular, reliable attendance is an essential function and all employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor. Employees may also be required to work in excess of normal working hours as workloads and seasonal activities necessitate. A complete description is available in the Human Resource office located at 3006 Webster Street Omaha, NE. Creighton University reserves the right to modify duties, responsibilities and activities at any time with or without notice.