Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Department Administrator II
Job Summary:
The Department of Medical Physics is seeking a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to join its leadership team. The CAO provides executive leadership and operational oversight for the department’s research, education, clinical support, and service missions, while directly supervising a dedicated team of six administrative staff. Reporting directly to the Department Chair, the CAO leads strategic planning, financial management, operational administration, and organizational development across all aspects of the department.
The Department of Medical Physics is internationally recognized for excellence in imaging science, radiation sciences, artificial intelligence, theranostics, and translational research. The department maintains a diverse portfolio of federally funded, industry-sponsored, and foundation-supported research programs; operates the nation’s largest CAMPEP-accredited graduate program in medical physics; administers a CAMPEP-accredited Imaging Physics Residency Program; and manages multiple fee-for-service scientific and clinical support operations, including the Accredited Dosimetry and Calibration Laboratory (ADCL), Cyclotron Facility, and Radiological Physics Services.
The Department of Medical Physics collaborates extensively with clinical departments of the School of Medicine and Public Health, the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), external hospitals, industry sponsors, and government agencies. The CAO serves as a primary representative of the department in these relationships and helps coordinate activities across organizations with differing administrative structures, systems, regulations, and missions.
The CAO directs the department’s financial planning and administration; oversees human resources, faculty affairs, sponsored research administration, facilities, information technology, communications, philanthropy, and administrative operations; ensures compliance with university, sponsor, and regulatory requirements; and maintains the operational infrastructure necessary to support the department’s missions.
- This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Provides leadership and administrative oversight of basic and translational research programs including staffing, compliance, fiscal, information technology (IT), and facility needs
- Provides leadership in developing and administering budgets. Oversees financial operations including grants, contract, and other funds to ensure adherence to prudent and generally accepted accounting practices, and compliance with Federal, State, university, and sponsor rules, regulations, laws and bylaws
- Provides leadership for the development and implementation of departmental data analytics, reporting, and business intelligence systems to support operational management, financial oversight, program assessment, and strategic decision-making.
- Provides leadership for faculty recruitment, evaluation, development, and promotion processes
- Provides oversight and management of office and research space on and off campus, department information systems, and regional network development
- Responsible for communication and marketing of department activities, accomplishments, and department philanthropic activities including meeting with and engaging potential donors
- Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
- Provides administrative leadership and coordination across multiple affiliated organizations, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Health, University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and external partner organizations to support departmental research, education, service, and strategic objectives.
- Provides leadership and administrative oversight of departmental fee-for-service, core facility, and specialized service operations, including business planning, financial management, regulatory compliance, and operational support.
- Provides leadership for the strategic and short-term planning processes, as well as obtaining and validating data needed for strategic decision-making
- Provides leadership, guidance, and management of the department’s research, teaching and service programs, and staff to ensure efficient and effective operations
- Provides leadership in the development, negotiation, implementation, and administration of contracts, affiliation agreements, memoranda of understanding, and other inter-organizational agreements supporting departmental research, educational, clinical support, and service activities.
- Provides leadership and oversight of training programs
Department:
School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medical Physics
Medical Physics was established as a specialty focus within the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, resulting in the nation’s first and only standalone basic science Department of Medical Physics. Faculty in the department focus on discoveries and inventions in imaging and therapy that advance scientific knowledge and improve patient care. These innovations are translated into clinical trials, commercial products, and entrepreneurial ventures. The department comprises 29 core faculty, 54 affiliate faculty, and 13 emeritus faculty members, many of whom hold joint appointments in clinical departments such as Radiology and Radiation Medicine. Through extensive collaborations across SMPH and industry, the department advances scientific discovery, improves healthcare technology, and trains future leaders through the nation’s largest CAMPEP-accredited graduate program and a CAMPEP-accredited Imaging Physics Residency Program.
Compensation:
The starting salary for the position is $140,000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.
SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum of five years of administrative leadership experience with a record of significant accomplishments.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets and multiple funding sources.
- Demonstrated experience working within higher education, academic medicine, or scientific research administration.
- Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, including staff development, organizational management, and change leadership.
- Strong analytical, financial, operational, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated success working in complex, matrixed organizations with diverse stakeholder groups.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience managing within an academic medical center, integrated academic health system, or clinical department, including collaboration with clinical departments.
- Experience supporting research-intensive academic departments, centers, institutes, or sponsored research programs.
- Experience managing complex financial operations involving federal grants, sponsored research, fee-for-service operations, gifts, and endowments.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Business Administration, Health Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field is preferred.
How to Apply:
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To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
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- Resume required
- Cover letter required
Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected
University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.
Contact Information:
Gabby Fisk, Log in to view email
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Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
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