Job Description

Vice Dean, Population Health (Professor, Tenured) (PhD), College of Medicine – Phoenix Posting Number
req26530 Department
COM Phx Campus Administration Department Website Link College of Medicine-Phoenix Location
Greater Phoenix Area Address
Phoenix, AZ USA Position Highlights
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix seeks an accomplished and collaborative scientist to serve as Vice Dean for Population Health – Cancer and Deputy Director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC). This senior leadership role offers a unique opportunity to shape a growing cancer enterprise while advancing population health initiatives across Arizona.

Serving on both the College of Medicine – Phoenix Dean’s Leadership Team and the UACC Executive Leadership Team, the Vice Dean/Deputy Director provides strategic leadership to reduce the burden of cancer through prevention, early detection, equitable access to care, research, education, and community engagement. The individual will align academic, research, clinical, and community priorities across the University of Arizona cancer enterprise to improve cancer outcomes for diverse populations throughout the state.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix for academic responsibilities and serving as Deputy Director in partnership with the UACC Director, the successful candidate will provide strategic leadership to advance population health, cancer prevention, screening, survivorship, and health equity across Arizona. Working closely with university, cancer center, healthcare, and community partners, the Vice Dean/Deputy Director will advance the strategic priorities of UACC, an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, by strengthening integration across research, clinical, education, and community programs; expanding access to clinical trials and evidence-based cancer care; advancing translational and implementation science; and developing sustainable partnerships and resources that improve cancer outcomes enterprise-wide.

The successful candidate will hold a tenured faculty appointment at the Full Professor level in an academic unit appropriate to their expertise and research focus and will be expected to maintain an active, externally funded research program aligned with the Center’s mission.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic and Enterprise Leadership

• Provide
  strategic leadership for population health, cancer prevention,
  screening, survivorship, health equity, and enterprise-wide cancer
  initiatives.
• Collaborate
  with university, college, and cancer center leadership to develop and
  implement institutional priorities and major initiatives, including
  Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) planning.
• Represent
  the Dean and UACC Director in internal and external engagements,
  advancing the mission and visibility of the College of Medicine–Phoenix
  and University of Arizona Cancer Center.
• Promote leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and succession planning across the cancer enterprise.

Population Health, Community Engagement, and External Partnerships

• Lead
  enterprise-wide efforts to reduce cancer incidence, mortality, and
  disparities through evidence-based prevention, screening, early
  detection, survivorship, and health equity initiatives.
• Expand
  access to clinical care, clinical trials, and cancer services,
  particularly in rural, tribal, and underserved communities.
• Build
  and strengthen partnerships with healthcare systems, public health
  agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, governmental
  entities, and other stakeholders.
• Advance innovative, scalable, and technology-enabled approaches that improve cancer outcomes and enterprise-wide impact.

Cancer Enterprise Integration and Research Excellence

• Foster collaboration and alignment across research, clinical operations, education, and community outreach activities.
• Advance
  interdisciplinary and team science initiatives spanning basic,
  translational, clinical, and population sciences, consistent with
  National Cancer Institute priorities.
• Identify and implement opportunities for growth through strategic partnerships,
  collaborative programs, and external funding opportunities.
• Maintain an active, externally funded research program appropriate to faculty rank and expertise.

Faculty Development, Education, and Advancement

• Support
  recruitment, retention, advancement, mentorship, and professional
  development of faculty, investigators, and program leaders.
• Promote interdisciplinary education, workforce development, and training programs across the University of Arizona.
• Advance a high-performing cancer research and healthcare workforce.
• Partner
  with institutional leadership and Advancement to support philanthropy,
  donor engagement, and resource development activities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire faculty, staff, and trainees.
• Develops
  processes to ensure wide-spread faculty involvement in planning,
  decision-making, and implementation of programmatic initiatives of the
  Center.
• Effective communicator with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with operational insight in complex academic and clinical environments.
• Partner oriented, thriving in a matrixed structure across the university, medical school, and health system.
• Strong track record, or clear evidence of the ability, to work cooperatively in enterprise expansion efforts.
• Ability
  to foster trust across institutional boundaries, build consensus among
  diverse stakeholders, and translate opportunity into action.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in a cancer relevant discipline.
• Nationally
  recognized record of achievement in cancer research, population
  sciences, prevention, clinical research, or related fields.
• Demonstrated
  leadership experience in an academic medical center, research intensive
  university, National laboratory, NIH or other comparable funding
  agency, or NCI designated cancer center.
• Strong record of extramural or peer reviewed funding and scholarly productivity.
• Evidence of success working cooperatively across institutional and enterprise structures to achieve shared goals.
• Demonstrated commitment to faculty mentorship and leadership development.
• Eligibility for a faculty appointment at the Professor level in an appropriate academic unit at the University of Arizona College of Medicine- Phoenix.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated excellence in senior leadership roles within a cancer center or large research enterprise.
• Leadership experience within an NCI designated cancer center or at the NCI or NIH.
• Ability to serve as Acting Director in the Director’s absence.
• Successful track record of developing and sustaining complex research or clinical research programs.
• Lead or senior authorship on publications in high impact peer reviewed journals.

FLSA
Exempt Full Time/Part Time
Full Time Number of Hours Worked per Week
40 Job FTE
1.0 Work Calendar
Fiscal Job Category
Faculty Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits Rate of Pay
DOE Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE) Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive) Number of Vacancies
1 Target Hire Date
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates

Office of Talent Acquisition

talent@arizona.edu

Open Date
7/15/2026 Open Until Filled
Yes Documents Needed to Apply
Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter Special Instructions to Applicant

Application: The online application should be completed in its entirety. Blank or missed information may be considered an incomplete submission.

Cover Letter: Should clearly indicate how your skills and professional employment experience meet the Minimum and the Preferred qualifications (if applicable).

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.