Senior Administrator

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Description

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Administrator to lead the Department of Ophthalmology through a period of significant transition and strategic growth. This is a high-impact leadership role within an academic health system, offering a unique opportunity to build and scale clinical operations, optimize our research and enhance our education prominence. The successful candidate will partner closely with the physician dyad leader to shape the department’s business strategy, oversee clinical, research and teaching operations and support administrative functions, and position the department for long-term success in a competitive, rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

The Senior Administrator for Ophthalmology oversees and manages the operational, financial, and strategic functions of the department across Emory Healthcare and Emory University School of Medicine and plays a key leadership role in advancing departmental goals, optimizing resources, and ensuring operational excellence, including financial performance, regulatory compliance, and staff development.

• This leader acts as a liaison between clinical, academic, and administrative entities to facilitate coordination and communication.
• The responsibilities span multiple clinical locations across all Emory Healthcare facilities, as well as those of our system partners, including the Emory Pediatric Institute, Grady Health System, and Atlanta VA  Medical Center.
• This leader has responsibility for the three missions of academic medicine (clinical care, research and discovery, education and training), serving as an autonomous leader with departmental decision-making authority, oversight of research portfolio management, , teaching program execution, as well as overall budget development and leadership presentation and responsibility.
• Critical accountability for research compliance including, but not limited to effort certification, lab related certifications and other funding source driven policies and requirements.
• Oversight of the alignment and adherence to SOM and accrediting body requirements on teaching activities including LCME, ACGME and others as needed.
• This position reports directly to the Chair of Ophthalmology, with additional direct reporting to the President, Physician Division Emory Healthcare and Chief Business Officer of the School of Medicine.
• Accountability for clinical business functions for Emory Healthcare is through the Chief Financial Officer for budgeting and Senior VP for Physician Services for all clinical operations.
• The Senior Administrator for Ophthalmology develops long-term and short-term strategic goals and objectives and ensures that the department operates effectively and efficiently.  This individual works closely with the Chair to plan and develop comprehensive Emory Healthcare and Emory University School of Medicine budgets; direct financial planning and analysis; oversee compensation and deployment; prepare and submit capital requests; and direct overall operations. 

The Department of Ophthalmology offers a unique opportunity for an experienced administrator.  The largest clinical practice site (main Emory Clifton campus) will be relocating and expanding to a neighboring campus.  The Senior Administrator will play a central role in this transition - leading facility design, ensuring effective utilization of clinical spaces, and executing the planned relocation initiative of the clinical services to a new building. This leader will partner with physician leadership to ensure patient demand and patient flow needs are achieved through process improvement and growth strategies.  Working closely with executive leadership, this key leader ensures financial success, including managing revenue optimization and implementing responsible control of expenses.  He/she addresses human resources issues and is accountable for effectively managing employee performance and providing feedback on an ongoing basis.  This individual is a content expert and internal consultant for physician leadership and clinical faculty, and administrators across the physician practices regarding clinical activities, strategic planning and implementation, quality, integration of information technology, and operational tactics.  

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Lead the strategic development and operational transformation of the ophthalmology department during a key growth phase.
• Build and scale clinical operations, including the development and optimization of new physical space for   eye care services.
• Develop and execute clear, measurable business plans that align with the department’s clinical, academic, and financial goals.
• Identify and pursue new service lines, referral networks, and business development opportunities to expand access and patient volume.

Operational & Financial Management:

• Has responsibility for both academic and clinical missions.
• Working with Chair and SOM Compensation team manages adherence to approved departmental compensation plans and SOM compensation policies.
• Oversee daily clinical operations, ensuring the highest levels of patient care, safety, and service.
• Develop and manage department budgets, forecasting, and resource allocation (including managing space utilization to meet institutional metrics and requirements)
• Utilize data and analytics to drive operational efficiency, access, and performance metrics.
• Lead initiatives to streamline workflows, enhance patient throughput, and optimize cost per unit of service.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Partner effectively with the physician dyad leader, faculty, and other stakeholders to ensure aligned goals across clinical care, research, and education.
• Lead, mentor, and develop administrative and clinical staff, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Work cross-functionally with other clinical departments, ambulatory leadership, surgical services, and health system partners.

Program Development

• Implement and champion best practices in ophthalmology and ambulatory eye care delivery.
• Stay current with industry trends, regulatory updates, and innovative care models within ophthalmology and eye health.
• Assist in planning and oversight of ambulatory surgery services related to ophthalmic procedures.
• Manage grants, contracts, and coordinate with academic and clinical partners.
• Build and support diversified research portfolio across basic translational science, clinical trials and other patient centered research.
• Acts as a liaison between management and other schools/departments concerning clinical activities and issues.

Regulatory and Compliance Oversight:

• Ensure clinic and office facilities comply with safety standards, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Oversee research portfolio management in alignment with EU and external compliance requirements.
• Maintain accurate records and implement auditing procedures to ensure compliance.
• Comply with applicable research rules and regulations, ACGME standards and LCME expectations

Staffing and Human Resources:

• Supervise and evaluate staff performance; provide ongoing feedback, training, and development opportunities.
• Implement staff orientation, safety, infection control, and core training programs.
• Develop initiatives to enhance team skills and departmental effectiveness.
• Support faculty adherence to EU and relevant SOM policies including promotion and tenure, COI and disclosure requirements.

Quality and Safety:

• Monitor service levels and quality performance metrics.
• Ensure safety protocols and infection control standards are maintained throughout the facilities.
• Ensure compliance with all research monitoring procedures for staff and space.

Other Duties:

• Perform related responsibilities as needed to support organizational objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree, preferably in business, finance, or related science field.
• Eight (8) years of professional business or management experience which includes experience in a clinical or healthcare environment with specific experience in related service line preferred.
• An equivalent combination of experience, education, and training will be considered.
• Previous supervisory experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets, contracts, and revenue growth strategies.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of healthcare regulations, safety standards, and accreditation processes.
• Excellent communication, strategic planning, and organizational skills.
• Experience in an academic medical center setting with matrixed reporting relationships, shared services models and physician practice management is highly preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills and strong interpersonal skills are required.  
• Attention to detail and strong computer software skills are necessary to develop and present critical, confidential information.  
• Exceptional integrity, intelligence, maturity and successful experience navigating complex organizational settings. 
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, make sound judgments, handle confidential information and be a creative, energetic problem solver.

NOTE: Position tasks are generally required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location. Remote work from home day options may be granted at department discretion. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.

Additional Details

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities). Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone: 404-727-9867 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD).

Emory University is committed to ensuring equal access and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to seek a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at [email protected] or call 404-727-9877 (Voice) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). We kindly ask that requests be made at least seven business days in advance to allow adequate time for coordination.