Overview
Position: The Department of Public Health and Health Administration at UNC Charlotte requires a Chair to lead and facilitate all aspects of the Department. The Departments of Health Management and Policy & Epidemiology and Community Health were at one time united as the Department of Public Health and will reunite in the newly formed Department of Public Health and Health Administration. A successful candidate should demonstrate a strong record of effective teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels, along with a robust history of scholarly work and securing research funding.
Description of Work: The Department Chair will provide strategic leadership and promote excellence in departmental programs. The Chair’s responsibilities are classified as professional duties requiring leadership and mentoring of faculty, long-term and short-term planning, administrative expertise to include vision, decision-making, coordination of instruction, communication, and interpersonal &, and change management skills. Additional responsibilities include using data to effectively develop, implement, and improve programs and initiatives, and ensuring the daily operation of the department and its programs. This individual will bring strong relationship-building and creative problem-solving skills to advance the College and University Strategic Plans, contribute to the Department’s mission and initiatives, promote interdisciplinary collaboration and community partnerships, and engage with institutional and community partners.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities. The Chair will collaboratively lead and grow departmental academic, research, and outreach activities within the context of the vision and strategic plan outlined by the Department, the College, and the University. The leadership responsibilities of the Chair fall under four primary categories: Budget & Planning; Student & Alumni Affairs; Personnel; and Administration & Service. The Chair will support the Department’s mission in a variety of ways, through the ability to:
- Communicate, collaborate and engage with faculty, staff, advisory board members, and students in the development and implementation of long-term strategic plans for continued excellence in academics and research.
- Advance department, college and institutionally aligned research and pedagogy initiatives through the recruitment of new faculty, and the development and support of current faculty.
- Increase the Department’s national recognition and identify new funding opportunities for student and faculty support through continued engagement with government agencies, alumni, community organizations, and other external stakeholders.
- Ensure the continued success and retention of our students through curriculum evaluation, and implementation of curriculum innovations.
- Oversee daily departmental operations including budget and resource management, personnel supervision, and continued institutional and academic programming compliance.
- Develop strategies to ensure broad participation and increase enrollment in graduate and undergraduate programs in alignment with the College and University initiatives.
- Advance departmental operations by supporting staff in their professional development activities
- Teach courses in related areas at both the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
- Support the College and University missions by conducting services for the public and profession, and by participating in other Department and University activities.
- Potentially perform research and disseminate scholarly work in relevant field(s) of expertise.
Required Qualifications: The successful candidate must have an earned doctorate in Health Management, a Public Health discipline, or a closely related area (may include but not limited to Health Policy, Health Administration, Community Health, Epidemiology, Health Promotion, Health Behavior, Health Communications, Environmental Health, Global Health, Public Health Nutrition, Behavioral Health, Maternal and Child Health, Biostatistics) and be eligible for appointment as Professor with tenure.
Preferred Qualifications: Prior administrative or academic leadership experience is preferred, particularly with accreditation through the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), or the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), or other disciplinary accreditation.
Position Highlights. As Charlotte’s only R1 research university, UNC Charlotte drives innovation, fuels discovery and prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving world. UNC Charlotte serves a diverse and growing student body of 32,000 students across over 300 degree programs. UNC Charlotte is the top-ranked institution in North Carolina for online undergraduate programs and #3 in the nation (tie) on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees rankings.
The academic units in the College of Health and Human Services deliver nationally accredited programs in athletic training, exercise science, health administration, public health, nursing, respiratory therapy, and social work. The College collaborates in the delivery of programs in gerontology and sports analytics. Facilities include: a complex of learning resources and laboratories for high impact real-life clinical simulations to facilitate the development of students’ critical thinking, clinical reasoning and decision-making skills; a virtual cadaver lab; and Anatomage Tables.
Charlotte is the 14th largest city in the U.S. with a dynamic, diverse metropolitan area of over 2.7 million people and a strong, diversified economic base that supports outstanding cultural and recreational amenities, major health facilities, and a major international airport. The University boasts strong existing relationships with all major hospital systems in the region, one of which is the nation’s 5th largest hospital system.
Required Documents: Applications must be submitted online at https://jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/64712. The application package should include (1) a cover letter outlining their suitability for the Department Chair position based on past leadership roles, including management, budgetary, and administrative experience, (2) a detailed CV, (3) a two-page statement outlining the approach to academic leadership, and their vision and goals for education and research programs at UNC Charlotte, (4) names and contact information of at least three references. Nominations and inquiries from potential applicants can contact the Search Committee Chair via email at jpbarfield@charlotte.edu with specific questions.
UNC Charlotte is an EOE/AA employer and an ADVANCE Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which the dignity of all individuals is respected and maintained. All finalists are subject to criminal background checks. Appointments to Full Professor are contingent upon review and approval by the Board of Trustees.
Questions: To inquire about the position, please contact Dr. J.P. Barfield, Search Committee Chair, at jpbarfield@charlotte.edu. Review of Applications will begin on December 1, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.
Salary: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience.
