Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

$105,900 - $206,300/Yr

University of California - San Francisco, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

San Francisco, CA

Educational Services

About the position

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is a pivotal role responsible for managing the administrative operations of an academic department, several small departments within a college, or a medium to large non-academic department. The CAO oversees all activities related to departmental administration, which includes IT, facilities, student services, contracts and grants, budgetary financial management, and human resources. This position requires a strong leader who can manage a professional staff comprising professionals in various fields, ensuring that all operations run smoothly and efficiently. The CAO assumes accountability for decisions made by subordinates and is responsible for both long-term and short-term planning for the function. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve goals can result in additional costs, personnel issues, and serious delays in overall schedules. The Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, which the CAO will oversee, participates in research and teaching activities within the School of Dentistry and broadly within other schools and graduate divisions at UCSF. With a total revenue of approximately $16 million for the fiscal year 2024, the CAO plays a crucial role in promoting the goals of the department and maximizing the utilization of available resources. Reporting directly to the Chair and indirectly to the School of Dentistry Finance Director, the CAO serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee, faculty, and members of the department. This role involves establishing and implementing effective management systems to ensure compliance with university policies and regulations, as well as maintaining timely reporting mechanisms for fiscal, personnel, and other critical management areas. Additionally, this is a hybrid role requiring the CAO to be on-site three days per week, allowing for flexibility while ensuring that the administrative needs of the department are met effectively. The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy, with a salary range of $105,900 - $206,300 annually, depending on work experience and internal equity within the position classification at UCSF.

Responsibilities

• Manage the administrative operations of an academic department or several small departments within a college.
• Oversee activities related to IT, facilities, student services, contracts and grants, budgetary financial management, and human resources.
• Manage a professional staff comprising professionals in various fields.
• Assume accountability for decisions made by subordinates.
• Perform long and short term planning for the function.
• Ensure compliance with university and other applicable policies and regulations.
• Establish and implement effective management systems to meet University and department goals.
• Serve as a liaison between department members, other departments, the Dean's Office, campus offices, and external agencies.
• Establish and maintain timely reporting mechanisms for fiscal, personnel, and other critical management areas.

Requirements

• Proven experience in managing administrative operations in an academic or similar environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage a diverse professional staff.
• Experience in budgetary financial management and human resources.
• Ability to perform long and short term planning effectively.
• Strong understanding of compliance with university policies and regulations.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a higher education environment, particularly within a university setting.
• Familiarity with contracts and grants management.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan options.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Tuition reimbursement for further education.
• Professional development opportunities.