"College of Optometry Associate Dean of Clinical Operations"

Hiring Department

College of Optometry

Job Description

The University of Missouri – St. Louis College of Optometry is seeking a dynamic and collaborative leader for the position of Associate Dean of Clinical Operations. The Associate Dean of Clinical Operations serves as a senior leader within the College of Optometry, responsible for overseeing clinical education, patient care services, and operational management of the college’s clinical enterprises. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based optometric care while fostering an optimal learning environment for students and supporting faculty development. The Associate Dean collaborates closely with internal and external stakeholders to advance the college’s mission of excellence in clinical education, service, and community engagement. This is a non-tenure track (NTT) position and clinical or teaching assignments up to 0.2 FTE each semester will be assigned. The academic rank will be determined based on the candidate’s professional experience, duration of service in academic settings, current academic rank at their home institution, and alignment of their qualifications with the College of Optometry’s established promotion criteria.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all clinical operations, including patient care delivery, clinic administration, compliance with regulatory standards and budgetary resource allocation.
• Supervise and support clinical faculty and staff, promoting excellence in teaching, mentorship, and clinical service.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to enhance clinic efficiency, patient satisfaction, and student learning outcomes.
• Foster partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and alumni to expand clinical opportunities and outreach.
• Work with college administration to facilitate quality assurance initiatives, including clinical audits, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Serve as a member of the Dean’s leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and institutional advancement.

Qualifications

Required:
Hold the O.D. degree or its equivalent.
Qualified for license to practice Optometry within the State of Missouri.
Clinical and administrative experience in clinical education, operations, and team management in an academic or healthcare setting.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others.
High degree of self-motivation and organization.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
Evidence of skills collaborating with interprofessional colleagues.

Preferred:
Ph.D., post-professional residency or other advanced academic degree.

Application Materials

Application materials should include a letter of interest, curriculum vita, statement related to experience with and commitment to clinical education, patient care services, and clinical operations, and list of at least three contacts who can provide a letter of recommendation. If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Jule L. DeKinder, OD, FAAO, FSLS, Associate Dean of Academic Programs at dekinderj@umsl.edu.

Application Deadline

Applications will be reviewed beginning January 5, 2026, but will be accepted until the position is filled.