Associate Chair for Innovation at InsideHigherEd

Department of Health Sciences - 405501

09/09/2025

11/14/2025

No

Permanent Faculty

Associate Chair for Innovation

Open Rank

FAC0005614

Full-Time Permanent

40

1

North Carolina, US

07/01/2026

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.

Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

The Department of Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a full-time, open track, open rank faculty position as Associate Chair for Innovation and Community Partnerships. This position includes leadership of the Health Sciences Innovation Hub, a new initiative designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerate translational research, and promote entrepreneurial activity across the health sciences. The Associate Chair will report directly to the Senior Associate Dean and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences in the School of Medicine and will play a pivotal leadership role in advancing the department’s innovation initiatives.

This individual will hold a primary faculty appointment within the Department of Health Sciences, with a secondary administrative appointment as Associate Chair. Appointment and rank will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

The Department is home to 16 academic programs, 8 divisions and various centers and programs including the nationally known Center for Literacy and Disability Studies. Five academic programs are in the top ten US News and World Report Rankings.

Areas of Focus
* Strategic leadership in innovation initiatives
* Cultivating a culture of collaboration and partnerships
* Building relationships with clinical and corporate entities
* Advance scholarly work in areas such as clinical innovation, applied research, quality improvement, or interdisciplinary collaboration.
* Mentor faculty and trainees, fostering professional development and academic growth.


Key Responsibilities

* Launch and manage the Health Sciences Innovation Hub, including infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, and programmatic direction.
* Lead the planning, development, and implementation of innovation and community engagement initiatives aligned with UNC’s strategic and academic priorities.
* Provide strategic and visionary leadership to advance research excellence and innovation across the Department of Health Sciences.
* Offer strategic guidance to align departmental strengths with emerging funding opportunities.
* Support alignment between research, teaching and clinical practice to enhance student learning and experiential opportunities.
* Represent the department in extern innovation networks within the research triangle and beyond, advisory councils, and philanthropic organizations
* Work collaboratively with Innovate Carolina, UNC-Chapel Hill’s department for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development.

* A doctoral degree from an accredited institution
* Demonstrated excellence in clinical practice, education, and/or healthcare leadership.
* A strong commitment to advancing innovation and scholarship within clinical and academic settings.
* Experience mentoring faculty and fostering professional development, particularly in clinical or interdisciplinary environments.
* A strong record of scholarly activity, which may include clinical innovation, quality improvement, education, or applied research.
* Leadership experience in academic or clinical administration.
* Demonstrated excellence in clinical work, with experience in securing external funding considered an asset.
* Experience supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, or work-integrated learning.
* Strong interpersonal, communication, and project management skills.

* Knowledge of commercialization and public-private research partnerships.
* Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives and manage complex projects in dynamic environments.
* Experience leading or contributing to interdisciplinary clinical or academic initiatives.
* Academic credentials for eligibility for tenure track

Not Applicable.