"Chair of Health Policy"

Job Details

About Virginia Commonwealth University

Work Life @ VCU
At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we are UNCOMMON and UNLIKE any other university. We are a premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers in Virginia. VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity where your success is supported and your career can thrive.

A few reasons to consider choosing VCU as your next best place to work…

• UNSTOPPABLE commitment to growth and development - we want to help you take your career to the next level!
• UNDERSTANDING culture of care and appreciation - the university is dedicated to providing you with the resources and support you need to achieve a healthy work- life integration!
• UNEQUALED resolve to help employees thrive - from health plans and retirement savings, to tuition benefits and employee discounts, to short-term and long-term disability and maternity leave, our benefits support VCU employees with a wide range of needs and lifestyles!

Research @ VCU
VCU is a leading public research institution committed to serving both its students and the broader community. Energized by its urban setting in Richmond, VCU is a hub of innovation—pushing boundaries, challenging convention, and embracing bold, forward- thinking ideas. As a Carnegie ranked - R1 institution ranked among the top 50 public research universities nationwide, VCU secured more than $506 million in sponsored research funding from federal and other sources in FY2024, a nearly 50% increase since FY2020. We strive to provide research opportunities at all levels of learning as One VCU with opportunities in undergraduate and graduate programming - we believe that every VCU Ram is a Researcher! The central heart of research innovation and infrastructure at VCU is the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation (OVPRI), whose mission is to foster transformative research, discovery and innovation through excellence in service. In addition to supporting schools and departments throughout the research lifecycle.

OVPRI leads the Research Development Advisory Council (ReDAC), which brings together Associate Deans for Research across the University to ensure strong communication about research related infrastructure and needs, as well as to make policy recommendations to the VP for Research and Innovation, Dr. Srirama Rao.

Community Engagement @ VCU
As a Carnegie Classified Community Engaged University since 2005, VCU fosters a deeply collaborative environment, leveraging cross-disciplinary partnerships across its schools and departments to drive discovery and deliver real-world impact. Through our Division of Community Engagement, led by Vice Provost and School of Public Health faculty member Dr. Maghboeba Mosavel, we strive to build collaborative community partnerships that support shared goals and contribute to transformative learning, impactful research, and mutually beneficial outcomes for the community. As part of VCU’s engaged mission, the division supports two place-based sites: the Mary and Frances Youth Center providing programming and training to enhance the lives of youth in the Richmond metro area, and the VCU Health Hub at 25th, an education and wellness and activity center located in the East End of Richmond with the goal of providing activities that promote community health and well-being while learning together.

About the School of Public Health
The School of Public Health at VCU was established in July 2023 and offers four doctoral degrees in biostatistics, epidemiology, healthcare policy, and social and behavioral sciences, as well as a Master’s of Public Health (in-person & online), and a Master’s of Science in Biostatistics. Our 54 full-time faculty provide our 138 students with the opportunity to engage in developing real-world solutions to overcome long-standing local, regional and national health inequities. Faculty and students conduct research focused on improving the quality of life among populations in Virginia, the broader region and also internationally. The School of Public Health is a member of the thriving academic and research communities within VCU and is tied to an academic health system with a teaching hospital, children’s hospital, NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center and an NIH-funded center for clinical translational science. VCU Health is also the largest safety net health system in Virginia, and its robust health sciences campus – with programs in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and health professions – offers an ideal setting for the School of Public Health’s commitment to interdisciplinary public health education and scholarship.

The School of Public Health supports VCU’s mission of “research that promotes translational applications to improve the quality of human life” by strengthening and expanding academic programming and collaborative research in public health.

Vision: Health, well-being, and longevity for all.
Mission: VCU School of Public Health is committed to improving health, well-being and longevity for all populations through education, discovery, dissemination and co-learning with the community.

Position Summary
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 experience working in and fostering 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 01/03/2026.

Salary Range: Commensurate

Benefits : All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Restricted Position: No
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Rank: Open - Associate Professor / Professor
Tenure: Tenure Track
Months: 12 Months

Contact Information: Contact Name: Roy Sabo Contact Email: rsabo@vcu.edu