Chief Administrative Officer, Faculty Practice

University of Chicago; United States; On-site; USD 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago seeks a Chief Administrative Officer for the Faculty Practice, the senior administrative leader of UCFP and BSD/UCFP partner to the physician leadership. The CAO translates enterprise clinical strategy into faculty‑practice execution while safeguarding the academic mission and financial stewardship.

The role leads a broad administrative team and reports to senior university leadership. Employment is contingent on grant funding and satisfactory performance.

Qualifications

• College or university degree required.
• 10+ years of related work experience.
• MBA, MHA, or related graduate degree preferred.
• Experience in academic healthcare environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Translate enterprise clinical strategy into faculty-practice execution.
• Own faculty-practice governance, committees and decision rights.
• Lead and align administrative policies and standards for the faculty practice.
• Direct, through leadership, the practice's growth, workforce, and operations.

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

MHA

Job description

Department BSD ADM - Administration

About the Department

The University of Chicago biomedical enterprise comprises three entities — the Biological Sciences Division (BSD), the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM), and the Pritzker School of Medicine — one of the nation’s leading academic medical institutions and at the forefront of discovery, education, and clinical care since 1927. The BSD is the largest academic unit within the University: a $1.6B+ division of ten basic science departments, fifteen clinical departments, and numerous centers and institutes, with over 1,300 faculty and 3,000 staff across the research, education, and clinical missions. The Division’s clinical enterprise is delivered through the University of Chicago Faculty Practice (UCFP).

Job Summary

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Faculty Practice is the senior-most administrative leader of the University of Chicago Faculty Practice (UCFP) and the administrative partner to the physician leadership of the practice. Reporting to the Vice Dean for Academic Finance & Administration and working in a formal dyad with the President of the Faculty Practice & Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs and the Vice President of the Faculty Practice, the CAO leads the administrative and operational execution of the physician enterprise across the UCFP and, in partnership with UCM, the ambulatory and physician-network agenda. As the physician enterprise consolidates under the UCM Chief Clinical Officer (CCO), the CAO is the BSD/UCFP administrative counterpart in that dyad — translating enterprise clinical strategy into faculty-practice execution while safeguarding the academic mission, faculty governance, and the Division’s financial stewardship. A defining feature of the role is that much of its mandate is exercised through influence rather than direct control: substantial portions of clinical operations, revenue cycle, managed care, and enterprise analytics are owned by Central Finance, the Health System, or BSD central. The CAO leads by convening, aligning, and holding the enterprise to shared goals. The CAO leads a team spanning clinical operations and physician compensation administration, practice transformation, program administration and workforce management, and advanced practice provider (APP) leadership, and co-chairs the standing Joint Finance–Operations Operating Review with the CFO. This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

Physician-Enterprise Administrative Leadership

Serve as the senior administrative leader of the UCFP and the BSD/UCFP administrative partner to the CCO, jointly accountable for translating enterprise clinical and ambulatory strategy into faculty-practice execution. Represent the faculty practice in enterprise governance; prepare and lead UCFP Board and Committee agendas, materials, and discussions. Lead through influence across functions owned by Finance, the Health System, and BSD central — convening stakeholders, aligning priorities, and holding the enterprise to shared goals and metrics.

Governance, Policy & Strategy

Own the faculty-practice governance structure, committees, and decision rights, in partnership with the UCFP President, Vice-President and faculty leadership. Advise UCFP President, Vice President and BSD Vice Dean for Finance and Administration on key priorities, opportunities, barriers and risks. Develop and maintain administrative policies and standards for the faculty practice; lead succession planning and contribute to the definition of system chair roles with the Dean’s office and UCM. Serve as the faculty-practice interface to philanthropy and development for clinical programs.

Operations, Growth & Workforce

Direct, through the ED, Clinical Operations & Physician Compensation, the administrative operation of the practice, provider capacity and utilization, physician compensation plan design and administration, and clinical effort allocation. Engage physicians, departmental leaders, and system partners to design and implement modernized practice models, elevating the physician voice in operational decisions. Direct, through the SD, Physician Strategy & Practice Integration, the practice’s growth, care-model transformation, digital and AI-enabled ways of working, and the operationalization of new hires. Ensure, through the ED, Clinical Operations & Physician Compensation and its Program Administration function, that provider recruitment management aligns planned expansions with UCM strategy and operations (clinic and operating-room deployment). Provide executive leadership for the Allied Health and APP workforce through the dual management of the Chief of Advanced Practice including workforce expansion, establishing role expectations, compensation and incentive structure and evaluation and benchmarking of productivity. Partner with UCM’s Ambulatory Care Division on daily operations, access, and throughput optimization leveraging a continuous improvement approach and the define CARES platform. Facilitate alignment with UCM Strategy on space allocation, market/site expansion, provider business development, etc.

Financial Partnership

Co‑chair, with the CFO, the standing monthly Joint Finance–Operations Operating Review governing the shared swim lanes: revenue cycle optimization, business‑plan development, growth planning and performance, benchmarking, and compensation & incentive and UCM funds flow. Ensure operational decisions are financially grounded, and financial plans reflect operational reality; keep physician compensation design (owned by Operations) tightly linked to funding and payouts (owned by Finance).

People Services Partnership

Advising and ensuring Provider specific needs are addressed in BSD wide wellness & engagement (Faculty Affairs & Chief Wellness Officer) to engage on going retention and satisfaction among our clinicians. Advising and ensuring Provider specific needs are addressed in leadership development & programming (Faculty Affairs & Community & Divisional Values). Work closely with people services team to design optimal processes to ensure a seamless end to end experience for our clinician hires in search, recruitment (OFPRO), faculty appointment (OAA), credentialling (MSO) and onboarding (OFPRO).

Talent & Organizational Effectiveness

Build and lead a high‑performing administrative team; recruit, develop, and retain talent consistent with UChicago Medicine’s Mission Vision and Values. Establish an effective organizational structure and clear accountabilities across the faculty‑practice administrative functions. Directs department priorities, allocates resources and executes strategic plans. Oversees non‑medical activities of the department(s). Manages policy development and implementation in various departmental areas. Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 10+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: MBA, MHA, or related graduate degree.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive administrative leadership in a physician group, faculty practice, or academic health system, including at least 5 years in an academic healthcare environment.
• Demonstrated success leading in a matrixed structure with dual academic and health‑system accountabilities.
• Experience with faculty compensation, funds flow, ambulatory operations, and value‑based care.
• Track record building and leading multidisciplinary administrative teams.

Preferred Competencies

Ability to lead a large, complex physician enterprise through influence in a highly matrixed academic–health-system structure. Skill in navigating competing academic and health‑system priorities and brokering durable, mission‑aligned solutions. Strong financial and operational acumen; able to partner effectively with a CFO and physician leaders. Politically astute, collaborative, and highly credible with faculty, administrators, and health‑system executives.

Working Conditions

Office environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

Job Family

Administration & Management Role Impact People Manager Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary FLSA Status Exempt Pay Range $350,000.00 - $450,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible Yes. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637. The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world. We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the College develop critical, analytic, and writing skills in our rigorous, interdisciplinary core curriculum. Through graduate programs, students test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government.