Dean, School of Dental Medicine

University of Colorado System; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 300,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan 401(a)

Paid time off

Tuition benefit

ECO Pass

Job summary

The University of Colorado Anschutz School of Dental Medicine seeks a Dean to provide visionary leadership, advance academic excellence, and drive growth across education, research, and clinical care. The Dean will collaborate with CU Anschutz leaders to elevate partnerships, fundraising, and community impact on a campus renowned for innovation.

Located on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, this role requires a distinguished leader with strong credentials in dental education, research, and

Qualifications

• DDS, DMD, or equivalent dental degree from an accredited institution.
• Progressive senior leadership experience (e.g., department chair, division head, dean).
• Demonstrated leadership in dental education, clinical operations, research, and administration.
• Experience with strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management.
• Demonstrated success in faculty recruitment, development, retention, and performance management.
• Experience overseeing financial planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and operational performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction that advances the School of Dental Medicine's mission and strengthens its national reputation.
• Lead and enhance academic programs ensuring educational excellence, innovation, student success, and accreditation compliance.
• Oversee clinical operations and patient care delivery with emphasis on quality and access.
• Advance a thriving research enterprise by growing funding and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional faculty and staff while fostering a collaborative culture.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship through strategic planning, budgeting, and resource management.
• Serve as chief ambassador, building relationships with alumni, donors, partners, industry leaders, and government stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Academic administration

Fundraising

Communication skills

Education

DDS/DMD or equivalent dental degree

Advanced degree (PhD/MPH/MBA/MHA)

Job description

University of Colorado Anschutz

School: School of Dental Medicine

Job Title: Dean, School of Dental Medicine

Position #: 00852412 – Requisition #: 40866

Job Summary:

Join one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions andhelp shape the future of oral health education, research, clinicalcare, and community impact. The University of Colorado Anschutzseeks a visionary, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve asthe next Dean of the School of Dental Medicine.

As the chief academic officer of the school, the Dean will lead anationally respected institution known for innovation in dentaleducation, interdisciplinary clinical care, groundbreakingresearch, and service to communities across Colorado and beyond.Positioned within the CU Anschutz academic health center, the Deanwill collaborate closely with leaders from the Schools of Medicine,Pharmacy, Public Health, Graduate School, and the College ofNursing to advance transformative education, expand researchopportunities, and strengthen clinical excellence.

Located on the dynamic CU Anschutz Medical Campus—adjacent to theFitzsimons Innovation Community and nationally recognized partnersincluding University of Colorado Hospital and Children's HospitalColorado—the School of Dental Medicine offers a unique environmentwhere discovery, innovation, and patient care converge.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an accomplished leader tobuild on a strong foundation, inspire faculty, staff, and students,foster strategic partnerships, advance fundraising and communityengagement efforts, and drive the next era of growth and impact forone of the region's premier dental schools.

If you are passionate about advancing academic excellence, leadinginnovation, and improving oral health outcomes for futuregenerations, we invite you to apply.

Core Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction thatadvances the School of Dental Medicine's mission, aligns withcampus and system priorities, and strengthens its nationalreputation in education, research, clinical care, and communityengagement.
• Lead and continuously enhance academic programs, ensuringeducational excellence, innovation, student success, accreditationcompliance, and interprofessional collaboration.
• Oversee clinical operations and patient care delivery, promotingquality, innovation, operational sustainability, regulatorycompliance, and expanded access to oral healthcare.
• Advance a thriving research enterprise by growing researchfunding, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, strengtheningscholarly activity, and translating discoveries into meaningfulimpact.
• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional faculty and staff whilefostering a culture of collaboration, engagement, professionalgrowth, inclusion, and organizational excellence.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship through strategic planning,budgeting, resource allocation, revenue generation, and managementof facilities and infrastructure.
• Serve as the chief ambassador for the school by buildingrelationships with alumni, donors, community partners, industryleaders, professional organizations, and government stakeholders toenhance visibility, fundraising, and community impact.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across CU Anschutz andits partners to advance integrated education, research, clinicalcare, and innovation.
• Maintain effective governance, accreditation, compliance, riskmanagement, and accountability practices that support institutionalexcellence and continuous improvement.

To view more details on this role, review the job prospectus.

Why Join Us:

The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine stands at theforefront of dental education, clinical innovation, research, andcommunity impact. As part of the nationally renowned CU Anschutz,the school offers an extraordinary environment whereinterdisciplinary collaboration, scientific discovery, andpatient-centered care converge. With a strong foundation ofacademic excellence, a commitment to advancing oral health, andstrategic partnerships across healthcare, research, and industry,the School of Dental Medicine is uniquely positioned for continuedgrowth and influence.

To learn more about the School of Dental Medicine, click here.

Why work for the University?

We offer amazing benefits and exceptional holiday, vacation, andsick leave. The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefitspackage including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your grosspay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 15/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on allCU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage .

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• DDS, DMD, or equivalent dental degree from an accreditedinstitution.
• The dean must have a record of research, scholarship, teaching,and service/leadership sufficient to be appointed at the rank offull professor with tenure at the University of Colorado AnschutzSchool of Dental Medicine.
• Progressive senior leadership experience, such as service as adepartment chair, division head, associate dean, assistant dean,dean, or equivalent leadership role, within an academic dentalinstitution, academic health center, healthcare organization, orsimilarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in dental education, clinicaloperations, research, and administration.
• Experience with strategic planning, organizational leadership,and change management.
• Demonstrated success in faculty recruitment, development,retention, and performance management.
• Experience overseeing financial planning, budgeting, resourceallocation, and operational performance.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships acrossacademic, clinical, community, and professionalconstituencies.
• Experience working with institutional leadership, governingbodies, community organizations, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing excellence in education,patient care, research, and community engagement.
• Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time ofhire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a related field (e.g., PhD, MPH, MBA, MHA, MS,or equivalent).
• Significant experience serving in a dean, associate dean,department chair, chief executive, or other senior executiveleadership role within a dental school or academic healthsystem.
• Demonstrated record of achievement as an educator, mentor, andacademic leader with a commitment to student success andprofessional development.
• Established record of scholarly accomplishment, researchleadership, and success in expanding research funding andinnovation initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformational initiatives whilesustaining and advancing existing strategic priorities.
• Experience fostering interdisciplinary education, research, andclinical collaboration across health professions.
• Proven success securing, stewarding, and deploying institutionalresources to support strategic growth and operationalexcellence.
• Demonstrated experience engaging donors, alumni, industrypartners, and other constituents in fundraising and philanthropicinitiatives.
• Experience advocating effectively with state, federal,professional, and regulatory organizations.
• Experience leading within a large public research university oracademic health center and navigating complex organizational,political, regulatory, and fiscal environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting a collaborative andhigh-performing culture that supports faculty, staff, students, andpatients.
• Record of innovation in dental education, clinical care delivery,research, or organizational effectiveness.
• Experience strengthening community partnerships and expandingaccess to oral healthcare through service, outreach, and populationhealth initiatives.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the UnitedStates without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide workvisa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position nowor in the future.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of dental education accreditation standards andexperience supporting accreditation reviews and complianceprocesses.
• Deep understanding of emerging trends and challenges in oralhealth, healthcare delivery, dental education, and academic healthsystems.
• Ability to provide visionary leadership in dental education,clinical care, research, and administration.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, organizational leadership, andchange management principles.
• Knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, resource allocation,and operational performance management.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, andconsensus-building skills.
• Knowledge of the organizational, political, regulatory, andfiscal environments of public research universities and academichealth systems.
• Skill in building collaborative relationships across academic,clinical, community, and professional constituencies.
• Skill in leading complex organizations through strategicplanning, organizational growth, and transformational change.

Notes:

This section includes information such as screening dates and pay ranges that are not actionable instructions for applicants and should be handled as content in the post itself. The candidate should review the above for a comprehensive understanding of the role and its requirements. The specifics of application deadlines and compensation are included elsewhere in this listing.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicantswith disabilities throughout the employment application process. Torequest an accommodation pursuant to the Americans withDisabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADACoordinator at [e-mail].

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safeand secure environment for our faculty, staff, students andvisitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct backgroundinvestigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteerin healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliatedhospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will berequired to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillancepolicies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, orvolunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certainresearch areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, youmust enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.