Dept Administrator C1

University of New Mexico; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 55,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Tuition remission

Job summary

University of New Mexico School of Medicine seeks a Department Administrator to lead the Department of Dental Medicine's education, clinical care, and research operations in partnership with the Chair and faculty. You will oversee business, finance, HR and communications to advance patient care and program goals.

This senior staff role emphasizes strategic planning, performance management, and an inclusive culture aligned with UNM missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; at least 2 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the Chair and Division Chiefs to develop priorities and executable plans; represent the department with key stakeholders.
• Operational Leadership: Oversee clinical, business and academic operations; monitor KPIs, scorecards and financial reports.
• Cultural Leadership: Model UNM/SOM missions and values; foster engagement and continuous pursuit of excellence.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Operational Leadership

Cultural Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's in Business Administration or Healthcare Administration

Job description

The Department of Dental Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine is dedicated to advancing oral health through excellence in education, clinical care, research, and community service. Serving communities across New Mexico, the department supports a diverse portfolio of academic and clinical programs and plays a vital role in improving access to oral healthcare throughout the state. As a member of the department's leadership team, the Department Administrator partners with faculty and staff to support strategic initiatives, enhance operational effectiveness, and advance the department's mission in patient care, education, and research.

The Department Administrator serves as the senior administrative leader for the Department of Dental Medicine and oversees programs, strategies, and initiatives that support the department's educational, clinical, research, and service missions. The position provides leadership for clinical practice management, business operations, finance, budgeting, grant administration, human resources, faculty affairs, and departmental administration. The Department Administrator serves as a strategic partner to the Department Chair and departmental leadership and participates in operational and strategic decision-making to advance departmental goals and priorities.

Key components to this position are:

• Strategic Leadership - Partner with the Chair and Division Chiefs in the development of priorities, goals, and change initiatives; successfully implement short and long-term strategic plans for the Department; represent the department with skill and professionalism in discussions and negotiations with partners and key stakeholders, including the medical group, hospital, and SOM/HSC; develop rational, data-based and realistic financial models of proposed initiatives to ensure sustainable investment of resources.
• Operational Leadership - Oversees clinical, business and academic operations including implementation efforts; works collaboratively with faculty and administrative leadership to achieve operational results including adherence to policies and procedures, productivity and quality goals; provide oversight and monitor key performance indicators, scorecards, and financial reports at a departmental and individual level to ensure that the Department remains on course to meet or exceed operational goals; work with managerial staff to insure adequate feedback and data is available to the Chair and divisional leadership before any potential corrective actions is undertaken; develop and oversee the internal/external communications for the department utilizing intranet, internet web services, social media, newsletters and other forms of communications; monitor staff recruitment, physician recruitment, retention efforts, compensation and equity and performance management.
• Cultural Leadership - Implements policies, practices and standards that model and reinforce the UNM/SOM missions, vision and values; ability to remain optimistic and to lead with the spirit of continuous pursuit of excellence in a climate of continual change; monitor faculty and staff engagement and make recommendations to improve work culture as necessary.

See the Position Description for additional information.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree; at least 2 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Business Administration or Healthcare Administration
• Five (5) years of leadership experience in dental, healthcare, or academic administration.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans
• Demonstrated experience in senior level financial management including overseeing the flow of cash and financial reporting; collecting, interpreting, and reviewing financial information; predicting future financial trends in the industry; and producing financial reports related to budgets and projections.
• Demonstrated experience in all phases of personnel management, including hiring, performance reviews, performance management, team leadership and training.
• Demonstrated ability to research, collect, analyze and compile data and develop management reports, to include trend analysis and business planning.
• Knowledge of healthcare compliance, accreditation standards, and clinical operations.

Campus: Health Sciences Center (HSC) - Albuquerque, NM

Department: School of Medicine Administration (043C)

Employment Type: Staff

Staff Type: Regular - Full-Time

Status: Exempt

Pay: Monthly: $4,924.40 - $7,046.00

Benefits Eligible: This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.

ERB Statement: As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.

Background Check Required: Yes

For Best Consideration Date: 9/2/2026

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.