Dept Admin/Surgery/UKHC

University of Kentucky; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 112,000 - 222,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine seeks a strategic Department Administrator for the Department of Surgery in Lexington, KY. This senior administrative leader will oversee financial management, operations, human resources, faculty affairs, research administration, and strategic planning to advance clinical, educational, and research missions.

Reporting to the Department Chair, the role emphasizes sound fiscal stewardship, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance, requiring

Qualifications

• Strong financial and analytical skills, strategic thinking, organizational leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Experience with Epic, Tableau, or Axiom preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct the department’s financial and business operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and resource allocation.
• Develop and implement strategic priorities with the Department Chair and leadership team.
• Lead HR, faculty affairs, recruitment, onboarding, performance management and professional development.
• Provide administrative leadership for clinical, research, and educational support functions.

Skills

Financial analysis

Strategic thinking

Organizational leadership

Collaboration

Education

BA

Tools

Epic

Tableau

Axiom

Job description

Posting Details

Job Title Dept Admin/Surgery/UKHC

Requisition Number RE56075

Working Title Department Administrator — Department of Surgery

Department Name MG375: Surgery

Work Location Lexington, KY

Grade Level 16

Salary Range $111,634-222,352/year

Type of Position Staff

Position Time Status Full-Time

Required Education BA

Click here for more information about equivalencies: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies

Required Related Experience 8 yrs

Required License/Registration/Certification None

Physical Requirements The successful candidate must be able to utilize a computer for extended periods of time and have the ability to travel to meetings across campus.

Shift This position will primarily work Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Additional hours or early or late meetings may be required based on business needs.

Job Summary

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine seeks a strategic and collaborative leader to serve as Department Administrator for the Department of Surgery. Reporting directly to the Department Chair, the Department Administrator serves as the department’s senior administrative leader and provides leadership for financial management, operations, human resources, faculty affairs, research administration, strategic planning, and the development of administrative talent and organizational capabilities.

As a key member of the department’s leadership team, the Department Administrator partners with faculty, staff, and institutional leaders to advance the department’s clinical, educational, and research missions while ensuring sound fiscal stewardship, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance.

Position Overview

The Department Administrator is responsible for the overall administration of a large and complex academic department and serves as a principal advisor to the Department Chair. This position provides leadership and oversight for departmental finances, operations, human resources, faculty affairs, and business planning activities while supporting the department’s strategic priorities and long-term growth.

Financial Leadership & Business Operations

• Direct the department’s financial and business operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and resource allocation.
• Monitor financial performance and operational metrics to support departmental goals and long-range planning.
• Ensure compliance with University, College of Medicine, UK HealthCare, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.

Strategic Planning & Administration

• Partner with the Department Chair and leadership team to develop and implement strategic priorities.
• Identify opportunities to improve operations, enhance efficiency, and support departmental growth.
• Lead special initiatives and provide recommendations related to organizational structure, staffing, and resource management.

Human Resources & Faculty Affairs

• Provide leadership and oversight for faculty and staff affairs.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and professional development activities.
• Coordinate faculty recruitment, appointment, retention, and advancement processes.

Operations, Research & Educational Administration

• Provide administrative leadership for the department’s clinical, research, and educational support functions.
• Support research administration, sponsored projects, and operational infrastructure that advance the department’s research mission.
• Support residency, fellowship, and other educational programs through effective operational management.
• Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture focused on continuous improvement.

About the Department

The Department of Surgery is one of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s largest and most complex academic departments. The department includes 13 clinical and academic divisions, approximately 80 faculty members, 115 advanced practice providers, and supports approximately 88 residents and fellows across its residency and fellowship training programs. The department manages an annual operating expense budget of nearly $74 million.

Department faculty provide advanced surgical care across a broad range of specialties while supporting nationally recognized programs in patient care, education, research, and innovation. Faculty contribute to multidisciplinary programs through the Markey Cancer Center, UK Transplant Center, Lung Service Line, Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, and Gill Heart & Vascular Institute. The department also supports robust residency and fellowship training programs that prepare the next generation of surgical leaders.

As a key member of the department’s leadership team, the Department Administrator will partner closely with the Department Chair, division chiefs, and faculty leaders to support continued growth, strengthen operations, and advance the department’s strategic priorities.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

The successful candidate will possess strong financial and analytical skills, strategic thinking, organizational leadership, and the ability to build collaborative relationships across different constituencies. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications is required. Experience with Epic, Tableau, Axiom, or similar healthcare and financial reporting systems is preferred.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Yes

Preferred Education/Experience

• Progressive leadership experience in academic medicine, healthcare administration, higher education administration, or a similarly complex organization.
• Experience supporting an academic clinical department, faculty practice, health system, or healthcare enterprise.
• Demonstrated success in financial management, strategic planning, operational oversight, and organizational leadership.
• Experience leading administrative teams and managing human resources functions.
• Knowledge of faculty affairs, graduate medical education, research administration, and healthcare operations.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with physicians, faculty leaders, administrators, and other stakeholders.
• A master’s degree in business administration, healthcare administration, public administration, higher education administration, or a related field.

Deadline to Apply

11/09/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.