Senior Department Administrator - MCOM Surgery

University of South Florida in; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of South Florida in Tampa is seeking a Senior Department Administrator for MCOM Surgery (Finance). This role oversees the department's financial affairs, including business development, and directs its clinical, educational, and research programs in collaboration with the department chair and college leadership.

Required are a relevant Bachelor's degree with seven years of senior business management experience in an academic setting, or a Master's with five years, including

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration or other field directly related to the position's responsibilities and seven years of professional business management experience (to include clinical operations) in an academic department.
• OR a Master's degree and five years of professional business management experience (to include clinical operations) in an academic department.
• Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the department's finance and accounting practices and its financial relationships with affiliated hospitals/other external groups.
• Prepare and present the departmental budget and monitor compliance of each cost center within the approved budget.
• Meets fiduciary responsibility for financial controls and complies with all audit requirements.
• Collaborate with the Dean's office and Executive Vice President for USF Health Senior Leadership to coordinate efforts and advance strategic priorities.
• Assist with the formulation of strategic plans for the department and establish business and administrative plans and goals.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration

Master's degree

Job description

Senior Department Administrator - MCOM Surgery (Finance)

The Senior Department Administrator for the Department of Surgery reports to the Chair, with a secondary reporting relationship to the MCOM Dean's Office, and serves as a member of the department's senior management. The Senior Department Administrator (Sr. DA) is responsible for planning and organizing the department's financial affairs, including business development, and for administering its clinical, educational and research programs. In collaboration with the chair of the department, the Senior Department Administrator sets goals and objectives for the department and manages its relationship with the college(s), the university, affiliated hospitals and health systems, and other external entities.

This position requires a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration or other field directly related to the position's specific responsibilities and seven years of professional business management experience (to include clinical operations) in an academic department; OR a Master's degree and five years of professional business management experience (to include clinical operations) in an academic department.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.

• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:

• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree

• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws :

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the department's finance and accounting practices as well as its financial relationships with the affiliated hospitals/other external groups.
• Prepare and present the departmental budget and monitors compliance of each cost center within the approved budget. Monitors, reports and explains budget variances; addresses variances and presents alternatives for achieving goals.
• Meets fiduciary responsibility for financial controls and complies with all audit requirements
• Collaborate with Dean's office and Executive Vice President for USF Health Senior Leadership to coordinate efforts and advance strategic priorities. Actively participate in developing strategies to achieve organizational goals and strategic priorities. Participates in special initiatives and committee assignments as requested by Senior Leadership.
• Assist with the formulation of strategic plans for the department; establish business and administrative plans and goals that support the department's and the college's academic, research and clinical programs, activities and services.
• Provides oversight and administrative direction for all grant management activities and clinical research compliance in the department
• Maintains strong working relationship with Research Office and Contracts and Grants office to expedite processing of information
• In partnership, manages the clinical operations of the department, including accounts payable and receivable, billing, collection, productivity, managed care opportunities, and contractual arrangements with Hospitals and other outside entities.
• Work with the Chair and the Dean's Office regarding resources available or needed to support students and education programs. Oversee management of student, fellow and residency related activities. Oversee graduate program administration
• Provide guidance and education to faculty and staff concerning financial and administrative operations of an academic department; assure that all faculty and staff participate in required compliance or other training
• Lead departmental strategic planning for staffing; manage department administrative staff.
• Determine the appropriate organizational structure and mix of staff to maximize operations and minimize expenses
• Provide guidance to the Chair as well as analyses, financial projections and other information to support recruitment and retention of faculty, including evaluation and assessment of need for faculty and program administrative and business support
• Participate in the faculty recruitment process and work with the Chair and the Dean's Office to identify available resources to support faculty position requests including research start-up packages, space, etc.
• Work with the business office to manage the faculty compensation and incentive plans, utilizing compensation strategies that comply with and further the mission of the department, the college and the university; advise on starting salaries; provide Chair with appropriate information to maintain academic salary equity through the raise process
• Review and analyze requests for space including financial impact, cost benefits, trade-offs and long-range implications; recommend space allocation or reallocation to the chair in compliance with department, college and university space policies and procedures
• Maintain capital equipment inventory and develop and monitor a capital equipment plan for the department (including research labs)
• Assist/advise the chair and, when necessary, represent the Chair as an advocate of the department's needs and goals in budget, space or other negotiations with management and committees at the college or university level as well as with external organizations.