Dean, School of Dental Medicine

CU Denver; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 380,000 - 480,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical: Multiple plan options

Dental: Multiple plan options

Retirement 401(a): Employer contrib.

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz seeks a visionary Dean for the School of Dental Medicine. As chief academic officer, lead education, research, and clinical care; advance partnerships and fundraising; drive strategic growth and community impact across Colorado and beyond.

Located on CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the Dean will collaborate with multiple schools and partners, shaping a dynamic, innovative environment for faculty, students, and patients.

Qualifications

• DDS, DMD, or equivalent dental degree from an accredited institution.
• Record of research, scholarship, teaching, and service/leadership sufficient for full professor with tenure.
• Progressive senior leadership experience within an academic dental institution or health system.
• Leadership in dental education, clinical operations, research, and administration.
• Experience with strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management.
• Success in faculty recruitment, development, retention, and performance management.
• Experience overseeing financial planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and operations.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across academic, clinical and community constituencies.
• Experience with institutional leadership, governing bodies, and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to excellence in education, patient care, research, and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for the School of Dental Medicine.
• Lead and enhance academic programs, ensure educational excellence and interprofessional collaboration.
• Oversee clinical operations, patient care, quality, sustainability, and access.
• Advance a thriving research enterprise with funding and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional faculty and staff; foster inclusion.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship through planning, budgeting, and facilities management.
• Serve as chief ambassador, building relationships with alumni, donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across CU Anschutz and partners for education, research, and care.
• Maintain governance, accreditation, compliance, risk management, and accountability.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Organizational leadership

Change management

Faculty recruitment

Financial planning

Relationship building

Education

DDS, DMD, or equivalent dental degree

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 and help shape the future of oral health education, research, clinical care, and community impact. The University of Colorado Anschutz seeks a visionary, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as the next Dean of the School of Dental Medicine.

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

Located on the dynamic CU Anschutz Medical Campus-adjacent to the Fitzsimons Innovation Community and nationally recognized partners including University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado-the School of Dental Medicine offers a unique environment where discovery, innovation, and patient care converge.

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

If you are passionate about advancing academic excellence, leading innovation, and improving oral health outcomes for future generations, we invite you to apply.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction that advances the School of Dental Medicine's mission, aligns with campus and system priorities, and strengthens its national reputation in education, research, clinical care, and community engagement.
• Lead and continuously enhance academic programs, ensuring educational excellence, innovation, student success, accreditation compliance, and interprofessional collaboration.
• Oversee clinical operations and patient care delivery, promoting quality, innovation, operational sustainability, regulatory compliance, and expanded access to oral healthcare.
• Advance a thriving research enterprise by growing research funding, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening scholarly activity, and translating discoveries into meaningful impact.
• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional faculty and staff while fostering a culture of collaboration, engagement, professional growth, inclusion, and organizational excellence.
• Ensure sound financial stewardship through strategic planning, budgeting, resource allocation, revenue generation, and management of facilities and infrastructure.
• Serve as the chief ambassador for the school by building relationships with alumni, donors, community partners, industry leaders, professional organizations, and government stakeholders to enhance visibility, fundraising, and community impact.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration across CU Anschutz and its partners to advance integrated education, research, clinical care, and innovation.
• Maintain effective governance, accreditation, compliance, risk management, and accountability practices that support institutional excellence 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 the forefront of dental education, clinical innovation, research, and community impact. As part of the nationally renowned CU Anschutz, the school offers an extraordinary environment where interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific discovery, and patient-centered care converge. With a strong foundation of academic excellence, a commitment to advancing oral health, and strategic partnerships across healthcare, research, and industry, the School of Dental Medicine is uniquely positioned for continued growth 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, and sick leave. The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• 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 all CU 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 accredited institution.
• The dean must have a record of research, scholarship, teaching, and service/leadership sufficient to be appointed at the rank of full professor with tenure at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Dental Medicine.
• Progressive senior leadership experience, such as service as a department chair, division head, associate dean, assistant dean, dean, or equivalent leadership role, within an academic dental institution, academic health center, healthcare organization, or similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience 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.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across academic, clinical, community, and professional constituencies.
• Experience working with institutional leadership, governing bodies, 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 of hire.

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 executive leadership role within a dental school or academic health system.
• Demonstrated record of achievement as an educator, mentor, and academic leader with a commitment to student success and professional development.
• Established record of scholarly accomplishment, research leadership, and success in expanding research funding and innovation initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformational initiatives while sustaining and advancing existing strategic priorities.
• Experience fostering interdisciplinary education, research, and clinical collaboration across health professions.
• Proven success securing, stewarding, and deploying institutional resources to support strategic growth and operational excellence.
• Demonstrated experience engaging donors, alumni, industry partners, and other constituents in fundraising and philanthropic initiatives.
• Experience advocating effectively with state, federal, professional, and regulatory organizations.
• Experience leading within a large public research university or academic health center and navigating complex organizational, political, regulatory, and fiscal environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting a collaborative and high-performing culture that supports faculty, staff, students, and patients.
• Record of innovation in dental education, clinical care delivery, research, or organizational effectiveness.
• Experience strengthening community partnerships and expanding access to oral healthcare through service, outreach, and population health initiatives.

Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

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

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [e-mail].

Background Check Statement

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.

Anticipated Pay Range

The starting salary range for this position has been established at$380,000-$480,000 annually.

The above salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator

Job Category: Executive

Primary Location: Aurora

Department: U0001 -- Anschutz Med Campus or Denver - 20412 - SDM- Administration

Schedule: Full-time

Posting Date: Sep 15, 2026

Unposting Date: Ongoing

Position Number: 00852412