Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost

Position Description

The Medical University of South Carolina seeks a dynamic and forward-thinking academic leader to serve as its next Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. The desired candidate will have a proven track record of delivering results, implementing innovative solutions, developing their team, and working collaboratively across a complex organization and a broad range of community partners.

Overview

As the Chief Academic Officer reporting directly to the President, the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) and Provost is responsible for institutional vision setting, strategic planning, oversight and investment for education and biomedical research. Along with other senior leadership, the Provost has the responsibility of appropriately balancing the resources, personnel and investments required to help assure the current and future integrity of the University. The EVPAA and Provost works closely with senior leadership to ensure that the strategic directions and policies of the university are aligned with the academic mission and is expected to partner strategically and operationally with the Health System. In the absence of the President, the Provost acts as the Chief Executive Officer for the University.

Direct reports to the EVPAA and Provost include the following; deans of all 6 colleges, chair of academic affairs faculty, Vice-President for Research, Associate Provost for Education Innovation and Student Life, Associate Provost for Educational Planning and Effectiveness, Assistant Provost for Finance and Administration, Assistant Provost for Data Sciences and Informatics, Director of Libraries, Director of Special Projects and Communications, Executive Director of Global health, and Director of the Office of Humanities. The EVPAA and Provost shares three dual direct reports with the CEO of the health system; Chief Innovation Officer, Director of the Hollings Cancer Center, and Chief Wellbeing Officer.

The University

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates over 3,100 students in six colleges and trains 950+ residents and fellows across its health system. MUSC leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health and research funding.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. In 2024, for the 10th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $7.1 billion. The 31,000 MUSC members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, contract employees, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.

Candidate Education and Required Experience

An earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution and at least 5 years of experience as a senior academic administrator in an academic health science center, preferably at the level of dean. The successful candidate must have an advanced degree and demonstrated achievement in scholarship and teaching for an appointment as tenured full professor. Preference will be given to candidates with a record of accomplishment in an academic leadership position who demonstrate vision, innovation, and skill in negotiating the complexity of the academic health center enterprise, and an ability to represent the University effectively to both internal and external constituents.

Candidate Qualifications

The preferred candidate should have the following:

• Demonstrated leadership in positions of increasing responsibility at institutions of higher education.
• Successful experience in developing and executing academic strategies in a complex health sciences university that includes graduate and professional programs, and research across disciplines.
• Superior communication skills; the ability to articulate a compelling message and vision to all audiences; good listening skills; assertive and encouraging to motivate and inspire others.
• Innovative and entrepreneurial spirit willing to take calculated risks.
• A proven track record of creating innovative research and professional educational partnerships with industry and other institutions of higher learning.
• Ability to develop and enable strong teams and positive relationships with board leadership, key legislative leaders, and senior institutional leadership.
• Strong political acumen and emotional intelligence necessary to orchestrate, optimize and constructively balance the interests of diverse stakeholders and navigate political issues that may arise as a public, state institution.
• Shows a broad understanding of emerging academic and healthcare issues, regional and national trends, and regulatory and legislative changes.
• Knowledge of responsibility centered fiscal management decision-making and a proven ability to excel in a leadership position with an emphasis on innovation and growth.
• Demonstrates competence in seeking and using data to inform and drive decisions.
• Skills and acumen necessary to facilitate the allocation of resources effectively and efficiently among competing needs of the institution in ways consistent with the University’s mission.
• Decisive management skills exemplified by a record of excellence in delegation, responsibility, and accountability.
• Experienced multi-disciplinary collaborator across colleges/academic units and preferably with health system teams; consensus building abilities to bring together a diverse group of constituents.
• Proven ability to deal with complex student and faculty issues that involve legal and/or regulatory implications.
• A demonstrated ability to serve as a public advocate for the academic mission of the university at the local, state, and national level.
• Experience with institutional accreditation and/or professional accreditation.

 Candidate Skills and Competencies

• Leadership: Demonstrate leadership in all personal actions, vision, personal commitment, and ethical values. Build trust and influence decisions by virtue of personal style, timely achievement of goals and expertise.
• Compassion: An innate ability to understand, empathize with, and respond to others’ emotions and needs, demonstrating genuine concern and kindness. Candidates should exhibit a deep awareness of the emotional dynamics present in various situations and interact with individuals in a manner that fosters trust, understanding, and positive engagement.
• Business Acumen: Possess a keen business acumen, the ability to think innovatively to increase revenue, foster relationships, and develop strategic partnerships are highly valued. A leader who can inspire and empower others while addressing the pressing needs of the institution are sought after.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Demonstrate the ability to change plans and behaviors to meet rapidly changing or competing job demands and adapt to the evolving higher education landscape.
• Change Agent: Drive transformational change that enhances the growth and advancement of the academic mission at MUSC.
• Planning and Organizing: Establish courses of action for self and others to accomplish specific goals. Make effective and efficient use of personnel and other resources. Establish objectives, schedules, and priorities.
• Interpersonal Skills: Develop and maintain rapport with others. Vary approach with others to respond to each individual’s style. Demonstrate effective listening skills.
• Communication (Written and Oral): Clearly and effectively communicate ideas and requests to others. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a variety of groups, including students, faculty, senior leaders, members of the Board of Trustees and employees.
• Problem Solving: Apply common sense, comprehension of all relevant factors, consensus, and anticipation of consequences in arriving at conclusions or decisions.
• Results Oriented: Exhibit persistence in seeing tasks and assignments to conclusion. Achieve results and take responsibility for actions and plans.
• Developing Others: Recognize the developmental needs of self and others. Seek and provide ongoing candid coaching. Share knowledge and information freely. Ensure development plans are written and achieved.
• Technical Knowledge: Exhibit deep knowledge of rules and regulations governing graduate education, accreditation standards, fiscal management, computer-based student information systems, human resources, and personnel management.

Application Process

The Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs and Provost Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, complete CV, and references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted before Friday, February 14th, 2025. For more information, please contact Parker Executive Search:

Laurie Wilder, President
Porsha Williams, Vice President
Jacob Anderson, Senior Principal
Jack McGrew, Associate
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875 Atlanta, GA 30328
lwilder@parkersearch.com || pwilliams@parkersearch.com || janderson@parkersearch.com || jmcgrew@parkersearch.com
(678) 775-4564

Parker Executive Search accepts, without reservation, the principles of equal opportunity in employment. Parker Executive Search does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin or ancestry, parental status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected basis.