Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs

The University of Georgia (UGA), chartered in 1785, is the birthplace of public higher education in America and Georgia’s flagship university. Ranked among the top 20 public universities by U.S. News & World Report, UGA enrolls over 41,000 students and employs approximately 3,100 faculty and 7,700 full-time staff across its main campus in Athens and extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton.

The UGA School of Medicine, established in 2024 and accredited in 2026, addresses Georgia’s critical physician shortage. With a population of 11 million, Georgia ranks 39th in active patient care physicians per capita and 41st in public medical students per capita. The School of Medicine, located on UGA’s Health Sciences Campus in Athens, will initially enroll 60 students per class, with plans to expand to 120 students per class following the completion of a new $100 million medical school building.

About the Role

The Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs is a key leadership role within the UGA School of Medicine (UGA SOM), providing professional support and guidance to faculty across three interrelated domains: faculty affairs and academic advancement, faculty well-being, and career success.

Responsibilities

• Faculty Onboarding
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive onboarding experience for newly appointed faculty, including standardized protocols, orientation materials, and a new faculty career success series.
  • Serve as a point of contact for new faculty, connecting them to institutional policies, resources, and key personnel.
  • Collaborate with Department Chairs, Human Resources, and administrative offices to ensure timely credentialing and completion of institutional requirements.
  • Solicit and act on feedback from new faculty to improve the onboarding experience.
• Academic Advancement and Promotion
  • Advise faculty on promotion pathways, timelines, criteria, and portfolio preparation in collaboration with department chairs.
  • Provide individual consultations for faculty at critical career junctures, including CV reviews, scholarship development, and career challenges.
  • Offer workshops to support faculty in building competitive promotion packets.
  • Serve as a conduit to UGA Faculty Offices for clarification or mediation of promotion/tenure applications.
  • Advocate for faculty career opportunities within and outside UGA SOM.
• Faculty Well-Being
  • Champion programs and initiatives that sustain faculty engagement, belonging, and well-being across all career stages.
  • Foster a culture of faculty recognition by celebrating achievements and contributions to the school’s mission.
  • Partner with the UGA SOM Office of Personalized Health & Well-Being and UGA Office of Faculty Affairs to promote wellness activities and resources.
• Faculty Success Career Services
  • Serve as a resource to faculty, department chairs, and HR to help faculty develop habits for career success and manage career obstacles.
  • Coordinate mentorship pairing and peer integration to promote early engagement and belonging.
  • Provide faculty vitality programming, including career development workshops, leadership development, and mid- and late-career resources.
  • Coordinate with HR on exit interviews and use data to inform retention improvements.
  • Develop and promote programs supporting volunteer adjunct clinical faculty in collaboration with relevant offices.
  • Offer unit-level mediation services and conflict resolution support to faculty members.
  • Advise leadership on updated faculty policies, particularly regarding academic productivity and professionalism.
  • Analyze reports on faculty success milestones and report findings to the Dean and faculty.
  • Serve as an ad hoc (non-voting) member of the Faculty Honors and Awards Committee.
  • Provide educational programming on career success best practices and professionalism, including communication, conflict resolution, and inclusive conduct.
• Other Duties
  • Lead LCME accreditation work for standards involving faculty affairs issues.
  • Collaborate with offices responsible for evaluation and continuous quality improvement to measure program effectiveness.

Requirements

• MD, DO, PhD, or other terminal degree in a health professions or related field.

Qualifications

• Established record of providing consultation and guidance to faculty and academic leaders regarding promotion, tenure, career progression, performance improvement, and professional development.
• Knowledge of faculty affairs policies, procedures, and best practices in academic medicine and higher education, including promotion, tenure, and academic advancement processes.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to establish credibility and trust with faculty, department chairs, senior leadership, and administrative partners.
• Strong consultation, coaching, and advising skills to support faculty career development, advancement, and professional success.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments, disciplines, and administrative units to achieve institutional goals.
• Commitment to promoting faculty well-being, engagement, and belonging.
• Ability to use data and assessment measures to evaluate program effectiveness and recommend continuous improvements.

This is a full-time, non-tenure track faculty position with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026. Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.