Description
University of Colorado | CU Anschutz Medical Campus

The Center for Health Equity

Executive Director

Position #795958 – Requisition #25770

Applications for this position will NOT be accepted on this website or via email to Human Resources. Please direct ALL inquires, nominations and questions to the website: https://www.imsearch.com/8401.

Issacson, Miller is assisting CU Anschutz Medical Campus in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by DATE.  Application materials should be submitted using Issacson Miller’s candidate portal. For more information about this search please click on the link: https://www.imsearch.com/8401

The Center for Health Equity has an opening for a full-time University Staff (unclassified) Executive Director position.

Department Summary:

As a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative education, science, medicine and healthcare, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus aims to solve the biggest health challenges today and advance the life-changing discoveries of tomorrow. Integral to that mission is CU’s efforts in identifying and addressing systemic health inequities in the Aurora community and across the country. Now, in partnership with community leaders across Aurora, CU Anschutz has established the Center for Health Equity (CHE) to address the health and wellness needs of its community, and seeks a dynamic and innovative leader to serve as the Center’s inaugural executive director (ED).

The CHE represents a shared vision and partnership between the Aurora community and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and will serve as a hub for cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration to provide holistic solutions to systemic health equity issues. This is a unique opportunity for an entrepreneurial and catalytic leader to guide the development of the CHE and advance its mission at the intersection of health equity and community engagement.

With a 5-year, $10 million start-up investment and the support of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs, the CHE will leverage the resources of one of the world’s newest, state of the art academic medical campuses to promote health equity. The CHE’s mission is bold and unequivocal: to advance community health, wealth, and well-being by dismantling racism, oppression, and other systemic drivers of inequity to create equitable opportunities through learning, service, research, and advocacy.

Job Summary:

Providing executive and operational leadership, the Executive Director will lead a multidisciplinary and inter- professional strategic effort between CU Anschutz and the Aurora community to build and develop the CHE. Working closely with an Advisory Board of internal and external stakeholders, the ED will gain a deeper understanding of the health disparities and needs of the community to guide the development, implementation, and oversight of the center’s strategic plan. They will also ensure it is in alignment with the goals set by the DEICE office, the Office of Strategic Initiatives, and the AWC. As a dynamic and innovative thought leader and collaborator, the ED will cultivate trust with those communities most impacted by health inequity as well as with a diverse community of stakeholders across academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, community coalitions, health care institutions, and governmental agencies. Additional members of the leadership team will include an Associate Director who will chair the Scientific Council and a Managing Director who will oversee the Center’s budget. All three directors will bring considerable and complementary expertise in shaping the direction of the center.

The CHE will serve as a hub for ongoing and future health equity efforts and partnerships across CU Anschutz and the Aurora community. Developing the research and evaluation infrastructure that guides the Center’s strategic health equity goals will be a critical role for the ED. In partnership with leadership across CU Anschutz, the ED will focus on growing the center and building its fundraising efforts to support cutting edge research, recruitment efforts, policy work, community-based programming, and the overall operations of the Center. Fundraising efforts will also support the CHE’s plans to incrementally build capacity to reach new populations regionally and nationwide over time.

Reporting to and collaborating with the CU Anschutz Medical Campus Chancellor and chair of the Executive Committee, the ED will work with and be accountable to university, medical center, and advisory board leadership to support, guide, and execute the CHE’s strategic plan. The ED will engage with a broad spectrum of internal and external partners to ensure that all of the CHE’s efforts are aligned. Through leading this ambitious collaborative effort, the ED will serve as a catalyst and create innovative solutions to glaring health disparities in the region while changing the landscape of the field.

Eager to build and develop the new center, this leader will bring a deep understanding and commitment to addressing issues inherent to health equity through community and people-centered solutions. The successful candidate will bring a track record of entrepreneurial success and effective leadership in building a multi-disciplinary center or similar infrastructure, as well as building trust in diverse communities and cultivating strong community partnerships. Additionally, the Center’s ED will embody and champion the CHE’s mission, vision, and values.

Opportunities & Challenges:

To develop and build a local, regional, and national model for improving health equity, the CHE’s inaugural executive director will address the following key challenges and opportunities:

Provide leadership and strategic vision for health equity research, pedagogy, and advocacy at the Center

In alignment with the five year strategic plan, the ED will collaborate with senior leadership to clearly define CU Anschutz’s and external community stakeholders’ health equity objectives. They will work to identify and eliminate any silos or gaps and promote synergy in existing health equity initiatives across CU Anschutz as well as seek opportunities to expand the scope of their work and amplify their impact. This will include supporting the development of a robust curricula, a thriving research and training program, and enriching programmatic opportunities for CHE students, faculty, practitioners, and community stakeholders to advance the Center’s health equity objectives.

Leverage, center, and strengthen community engagement to provide holistic, people- and community- informed solutions to systemic health equity issues impacting Aurora and the nation

With a deep appreciation of the relationship and partnerships between Aurora and CU Anschutz, the ED will engage with and learn about the unique needs of the Aurora community and ensure those perspectives are reflected in the CHE’s strategic plan. This will include working closely with the CHE’s advisory board of key internal and external leaders across Aurora. The ED will garner trust and credibility in the communities the CHE hopes to serve as well as with its partners such as research centers, hospitals, and community-based organizations. The ED’s leadership and praxis will be informed by their lived experiences as well as those of the community members the CHE will serve.

Strengthen the CHE’s partnership with the Aurora Wellness Community

Key to the success of the ED and the CHE is the center’s relationship with the Aurora Wellness Community. The ED will provide guidance and leadership on defining their joint strategic priorities and support the Aurora Wellness Community as the initiative gets off the ground. They will shape a mutually beneficial partnership that harnesses the strengths of both entities to advance a shared goal of health equity in Aurora. This can include collaboration on community engagement and outreach efforts, programming, educational enrichment opportunities, and fundraising.

Develop and lead the management, operations, and finances of an inaugural center

The ED will provide operational leadership and managerial support to build and develop the inaugural center. In collaboration with the Managing Director and Associate Director as well as other members of the executive committee, the ED will guide the implementation of the center’s strategic plan; develop, execute, and monitor the CHE fund deliverables; recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented staff; enhance the quality of interdisciplinary health equity education at CU Anschutz; identify and address any structural challenges or barriers to success; and oversee other administrative and operational responsibilities required to build a new center.

Help secure funding to sustain the CHE and support its growth in the coming years; represent the CHE to a wide variety of external stakeholders and partners

The ED will develop and execute a fundraising strategy to sustain the operations of the CHE, support cutting-edge research, and expand the center’s reach and impact. Building on the momentum of the center’s $10 million start up investment, the ED will work with the development offices at CU Anschutz and the School of Medicine to build sustainable partnerships and identify diverse funding sources including corporations, foundations, and individual donors. The ED will also collaborate with the Marketing & Communications team on media opportunities to enhance on- and off-campus visibility and act as a spokesperson on issues of health equity and training at conferences, community meetings, trainings, and other events.

This description is a summary only and is describing the general level of work being performed, it is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties of this position may change from time to time and/or based on business need. We reserve the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the supervisor and/or hiring authority.

Diversity and Equity:

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ+ community and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Salary and Benefits:

• The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $160,000 to $220,000.  
• The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
• The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
• This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
• Here is a link to an overview of the benefits package
• Here is a link to a Total Compensation Calculator

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience, preferably in health care, public health, or social services
• A terminal degree in health sciences, public health, social services, social and behavioral sciences, or equivalent
• Experience developing and managing a team with high standards for excellence and large work output
• Experience with strategic planning and launching cross-disciplinary health equity programs, centers, or institutional units in academic health organizations
• Experience developing and implementing new programs, systems or institutional units a plus

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Competencies:

• Proven ability to lead, inspire, grow, and manage a diverse team of faculty, staff, practitioners, and community stakeholders
• Demonstrated skill at raising significant funds from a variety of sources, including corporations, foundations, and individual donors
• Ability and commitment to build social capital, garner trust, and engage partners like community members, activists, funders, partners, and key decision-makers to accomplish health equity goals
• Strong knowledge and experience implementing best practices for diversity, inclusion, and equity in health care
• A track record and deep commitment to working with underserved communities
• Demonstrated experience in building a positive and collaborative environment of continuous learning and improvement
• Skilled in using a data-driven approach to evaluate progress, identify and address challenges, and improve performance
• Proven work experience with budget and resource allocation
• Excellent interpersonal and public communication skills, including effective messaging to multiple and diverse audiences, through multiple media formats
• Embodiment of CU Anschutz’s mission, vision, and values

Conditions of Employment:

• The University of Colorado has a requirement for COVID-19 vaccinations and full completion thereof by 9/1/21 or upon start date.  Information regarding this requirement, and exemptions can be found at: https://www.cu.edu/vaccine-requirement

Vaccination Statement:

The University of Colorado has a requirement for COVID-19 vaccinations and full completion thereof by 9/1/21 or upon start date.  Information regarding this requirement, and exemptions can be found at: https://www.cu.edu/vaccine-requirement

Exemptions vary by campus location/department.

Campus/Unit-Specific Exemptions:

Anschutz Campus – Accommodations may be granted for medical or religious reasons.

The University of Colorado Denver l Anschutz Medical Campus seeks individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment.  We value the ability to engage effectively with students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds.

Job Category: Executive
Primary Location: Aurora
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Apr 28, 2022
Unposting Date: Ongoing