The Chair of Health Policy ensures the growth and quality of the Department’s programs. Reporting directly to the Dean of the School of Public Health, the Chair serves as the primary administrator for the department and is responsible for implementing and enforcing the policies and procedures of the Department, School, and University. As a member of the School’s Executive Committee, the Chair collaborates with the Dean’s Office and other Department Chairs to coordinate activities and to promote the mission of the School throughout the University and the public health sector. The Chair is responsible for maintaining educational excellence in the department’s teaching programs and supporting faculty extramural research and scholarship. Additional responsibilities include growing enrollment, developing relationships with alumni, representatives, and key leaders of the public health industry, mentoring faculty development, and securing resources for future growth, including working with the Dean’s Office to foster philanthropic engagement and support. This is a 12-month tenure-track position, open to candidates at the ranks of Associate Professor or Professor.
Key Responsibilities
Teaching The Chair will advance the education and research training missions in the VCU School of Public Health, and the Department of Health Policy, promoting student success, and facilitating the training of the next generation of public health professionals.
Research The Chair will define and lead the Department’s research strategy by conducting, expanding, and promoting rigorous, policy-relevant, data-driven health policy and health services research in partnership with state agencies and community stakeholders. Additionally, they will lead philanthropic activities to support and expand Departmental research and training initiatives.
Service The Chair will provide the vision and leadership to support superior academic and research programs, will serve on School and University committees, grant study sections, academic societies, and serve as journal editor and/or on editorial boards. The Chair will set the standard for commitment to the public and service within the community, helping to develop relationships with key community partners and stakeholders.
Administrative Duties & Responsibilities
Financial Management The Chair will prepare, oversee and implement the Health Policy departmental budget that encompasses all funding and cost sources, and ensure compliance with grant, legislative, and institutional guidelines. The Chair will effectively manage available resources and minimize unnecessary costs, promoting and modelling ethically and fiscally responsible best practices within the Department. The Chair will be a highly visible and collaborative leader in supporting the VCU School of Public Health strategic direction in partnership with School and University leadership.
Leadership The Chair will provide a strong and impassioned vision for building a culture of excellence in the Department. The Chair will prepare for current and future trends in health policy and practice, and will help develop a vision for the rigorous research and innovative experiential training needed to create the next generation of public health researchers and professionals.
Relationship Building The Chair will foster an atmosphere of support, collaboration and innovation in the Department, and will build strong relationships with other health sciences and academic partners across VCU. The Chair will collaborate with state and local health agencies to build teaching, research and practice-based relationships. The Chair will also work with the Dean of the School of Public Health to foster philanthropic engagement and support.
Mentorship The Chair will mentor both trainees and faculty, will commit to and actively participate in the Departmental training mission, and will recruit, hire, develop and retain an outstanding faculty.

Minimum Qualifications

• Unimpeachable integrity and personal ethics
• Demonstrated excellence in health policy research with an extramurally-funded grant portfolio appropriate to complement and expand existing expertise in the department
• Successful administrative and leadership experience with a public health or academic institution (ex: Department or Division Chair, Center or Program Director), especially with respect to building or growing a program, center, or department
• Experience and success in mentoring faculty, early-stage investigators, researchers, and/or graduate students
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
• PhD in Health Policy, Health Services Research, or a field relevant to Public Health and Health Policy
• Academic rank of Associate Professor or Professor
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
  Applications for initial consideration due on or before 03/01/2026.

About VCU Department of Health Policy

The VCU Department of Health Policy is a team of scholars, educators, and community leaders working together to conduct and disseminate rigorous health policy and health services research to tackle pressing public health challenges, eradicate health disparities, and promote health in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as nationally and internationally.

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