The University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) seeks an exceptional and strategic leader to serve as its Vice Dean for Administration and Finance/Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO reports directly to the Dean and Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and works in close partnership with faculty, staff, and colleagues across SMPH, UW-Madison, and the broader state and local community. The COO will provide world-class executive leadership for the school's administrative enterprise, including finance, human resources, operations, facilities, information technology, analytics, and organizational effectiveness, with a focus on how these areas can synergize efforts to reach bold, shared goals. As a key advisor to the Dean, the COO will play a central role in advancing the school’s strategic priorities through operational excellence, long-range financial planning, and the thoughtful stewardship and deployment of institutional resources. This is a rare opportunity to shape the next era of growth, impact, and excellence at one of the nation’s leading public medical schools throughout a newly created leadership role.
The creation of this COO role reflects SMPH’s commitment to strengthening the administrative, financial, and operational capabilities needed to support its next phase of growth and impact. The COO will join SMPH at a transformative moment, helping to strengthen operational excellence, modernize administrative systems, and align resources with the school’s strategic direction. Ultimately, this leader will play a pivotal role in shaping how SMPH evolves, grows, and delivers on its mission of advancing health and health equity in the years ahead.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is one of the world's leading public research universities and among the most comprehensive institutions of higher education in the nation. As Wisconsin's flagship land-grant university, UW–Madison combines exceptional academic breadth with a longstanding commitment to research, innovation, and public service. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is an internationally recognized leader in academic medicine and the nation's first school to integrate the fields of medicine and public health, which is central to its identity and impact. Consistently ranked among the country's top medical schools, SMPH advances a distinctive mission that integrates education, research, clinical care, and public health to improve the health and well-being of communities across Wisconsin and beyond. The school houses 28 academic departments, numerous research centers and institutes, and a broad portfolio of degree programs spanning the health professions and biomedical sciences.
School of Medicine and Public Health, Dean's office
Negotiable, 12 month
Master's degree in relevant field required, terminal degree preferred.
At least 5-10 years of experience working within higher education.
10 or more years of significant senior operational leadership experience in an academic medical center, integrated health system, research-intensive university, or similarly complex organization.
Education:
Master’s degree in a relevant field required; terminal degree preferred.
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process with a priority application date of October 3, 2026. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters (addressed to the search committee) should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: Vice Dean for Administration & Finance/Chief Operating Officer | Isaacson, Miller .
Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected. Electronic submission of materials is required.
University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN
visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.
The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you choose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position, neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees.
Deb Gugel, [email protected], 608-445-3224
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
Job details are sourced from the employer's original posting.
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The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin.