Job Summary

The Department Chair is primarily a faculty member in the department and is also the department’s Chief Academic, Clinical and Administrative Officer responsible to both the faculty of the department and to the Aga Khan University. These dual roles require that the chair interpret University policies to the members of the department and ensure their effective execution and at the same time represent individual and group concerns of department members to the Medical College administration and to the University. The chair is expected to provide visionary leadership of the department and to oversee the departmental strategic planning to improve the quality of the clinical, educational, and research programs. Such planning should be considered within the overall vision of the University, the Medical College, and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.

Responsibilities

Administration

• Lead the development and enhancement of departmental clinical, educational, and research activities, in accordance with the visions and plans of the University, the Medical College and the Aga Khan University Hospital;
• Responsible for all aspects of departmental administration, including space, finances, support and mentoring of faculty and trainees, clinical activities, and other activities;
• Serve as a role model for the department by demonstrating institutional citizenship through participation in governance and in committee activities of the department, the medical college, the hospital, the University, and the profession at large;
• Convene meetings of the department faculty, make committee assignments within the department and recommend faculty for committee assignments outside the department;
• Administratively responsible for both faculty and non-faculty staff in the department;
• Develop long range strategic plans and directions which support the mission of the faculty and the University;
• Ensure all University and Faculty policies are followed within the department and that all the members of the department are familiar with those policies;
• Represent departmental interests and build strong partnerships and collaborations at all levels, including government, affiliated teaching hospitals, research institutes and centres, granting agencies, regulatory colleges, professional associations;
• Provide regular and ad-hoc reports including annual report to the Dean concerning the achievements and challenges of the department;
• Responsible for annual departmental budget proposal for consideration by the University; shall ascertain the financial needs of the department, seek fiscal support and be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget.  Be responsible for the expenditure of funds made available to the department.

Education

• Development of academic and clinical plans for the faculty and present the plans to the Dean after consultation with the Chief of Staff of the hospital and ensure delivery of the same;
• Responsible for the educational quality of the University affiliated students for which the department is home;
• Provide leadership in relation to curriculum planning, development, and innovation at the undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education levels;
• In conjunction with the relevant Associate Deans, establish, maintain and set standards for the training of residents, interns, fellows and other learners.

Human Resource 

• Responsible for the performance of faculty and staff in the principal areas of academic endeavors and the status of each of the hospital units that is under the jurisdiction of the department;
• Responsible for maintaining the quality of the faculty and staff by protecting their interests and rights as individuals and as professional scholars and educators and for supporting their professional development;
• Responsible for annual performance evaluation of all faculty and staff and responsible for managing all faculty appointments, re-appointments, promotions and exits according to Aga Khan University’s Policies and Procedures;
• Supervise procedures for recruiting, interviewing and appointing new faculty members and for the department’s adherence to the principles and process of Aga Khan University;
• Serve as role model for and as overseer of matters related to career progression, equity and the assurance of a safe and respectful work environment;
• Responsible for recommending to the Dean of Medicine the appointment of Associate Chair(s) and/or division directors;
• Participate in collaboration with the Hospital Chief of Staff, in the discipline, suspension or and/or termination of jointly appointed physicians as per the procedures contained in the by-laws of the teaching hospital and the University regulations;
• Supervise the non-academic staff, ensuring that career development guidance is available to them and maintaining overall departmental responsibility for Human Resources management.  The Chair may delegate their responsibility for this function to the department manager.

Clinical Service

• Ensure the development and application of quality management methods within the department, including establishing practice guidelines and audits;
• Support the CEO and SLT to ensure the annual business plans and budgets are developed according to the Service Line objectives and application of quality management methods within the Service Line, including practice guidelines and audits;
• Support the development of new academic services and initiatives that contribute to the financial sustainability of the hospital;
• Establish effective risk management principles and a patient satisfaction feedback evaluation system;
• Foster good relations with community of physicians and other organizations in the community;
• Attend the Joint Staff Committee, Credentials Committee and other hospital committees as appropriate.

Research

• Encourage a curiosity-driven research environment with the goals of knowledge creation, knowledge transfer, capacity building and the training, mentorship and career progression of graduate students, postgraduate students, postgraduate fellows and young investigators;
• In collaboration with the Associate Dean Research, support the application for and administration of peer reviewed research grants and industry sponsored research contracts;
• Oversee the safe and efficient conduct of research by faculty members within the department;
• Ensure research undertaken by faculty members meet the ethical and professional standards set by the department and the University.

Requirements

• Appointable as an Assistant Professor or higher;
• Be a holder of MBChB or equivalent degree in the relevant field, and post-graduate degree in Emergency Medicine;
• Shall be a recognized specialist in Emergency Medicine or possess a PhD over and above a master’s degree;
• Experience as a successful administrative leader at an academic institution and should have served as a division chief, vice chair, or chair who has developed academic leaders, mentored and developed junior faculty, and identified and recruited diverse students, trainees, staff and faculty;
• Understanding of the complex financial pressures facing academic medical centers and health care delivery organizations and experience with strategies to control and reduce cost of care (length of stay, appropriate use of facilities and resources);
• Capable of defining the research vision for the entire Department and providing basic research and grant mentorship and experience leading a successful research program, either clinical, population-based basic science or data science with proven track record of significant growth in funding, publications and national or international reputation. Maintain an understanding and be prepared to take advantage of research funding and development trends as they evolve;
• Experience of expanding and fostering strong clinical programmes and leading complex clinical programs focused on access, high quality, and outstanding patient satisfaction;
• Having a vision to recognize areas for growth and ability to lead and support faculty as they develop new opportunities a create a strong and impassioned vision for building excellence in all aspects of the academic mission;
• National reputation for personal academic accomplishments with a record of scholarly academic accomplishments as reflected in number and impact of publications, history of successful research funding, and service in national and international societies;
• Business mindset with healthcare reimbursement moving from a volume-based system to a value-based system and with an increasing focus on managing the health of populations, the successful candidate should understand and implement a strategy for these market expectations.

Desired Personal Characteristics and Behaviours

• Exemplify scholarly excellence and provide guidance and support to other academic leaders;
• Outstanding organizational and administrative abilities, with an in-depth understanding of internal processes in a university or healthcare system; and the ability to identify areas for improvement in terms of efficiency and effectiveness;
• A strategic thinker with the ability to support strategic planning and implementation effectively;
• Commitment to community engagement and partnership with a desire to have impact at a national or international level;
• Highly organized with strong process-management skills;
• Ability to build teams and provide leadership within a horizontal organizational structure;
• Lead with a collaborative, transparent, and open approach, with the ability to make sound decisions that drive the college, faculty and staff forward;
• Fair, consistent, strategic, and inspiring to faculty and staff;
• High integrity and ethical standards;
• Clear and articulate communication skills.