Harvard School of Dental Medicine Dean for Administration and Finance

Dean for Administration and Finance

Introduction

To support its steadfast dedication to innovation and excellence in education, clinical care delivery, research and discovery, and community, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine is seeking a seasoned administrative and financial leader to help drive cultural and operational change. As a strategic thought partner to the School’s Dean with oversight of the School’s $52 million operating budget, the Dean for Administration and Finance will advance institutional priorities and navigate environmental challenges with an eye toward growth, investment in infrastructure, enhanced revenue streams, and operating efficiencies.

About HSDM

Founded in 1867, Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) ranks as one of the preeminent dental schools in the country. Located in the heart of Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, directly alongside Harvard Medical School (HMS) and some of the world’s leading clinical and biomedical research institutions, HSDM trains top clinicians, educators, researchers,

and leaders in the profession; boasts core strength in musculoskeletaldisease research; and offers students public health opportunities in local communities and across the globe.

In its 150+ year history HSDM has continually worked to foster a community of global leaders dedicated to improving human health by integrating dentistry and medicine at the forefront of education, research, and patient care. Its dedication to transforming access to oral healthcare and advancing science to find cures for oral diseases and conditions is the foundation of training the next generation of dental leaders and advancing a culture of excellent care, research, and clinical innovation.

Mission

To foster a community of diverse global leaders in education, research, and clinical innovation dedicated to improving human health by integrating dentistry and medicine.

Vision

To transform access to oral healthcare and advance science to find cures for oral diseases and conditions.

Transforming Dental Education and Making a Global Impact

HSDM was the first dental school in the U.S. to be connected with a university and its medical school, and first to confer the Dentariae Medicinae Doctoris (DMD) degree. Today, the School offers a unique educational model that believes that oral health is an integral part of primary care. HSDM pre-doctoral (DMD) students study the foundations of medicine with Harvard medical students and then pursue additional years of intensive, interdisciplinary clinical education at HSDM and affiliated sites. Advanced Graduate Education (AGE) students, who work toward a doctor of medical sciences (DMSc) or master of medical sciences (MMSc) degree and/or specialty certificate, also draw on the richness of the educational facilities

and research institutes of the broader Harvard community and Greater Boston Area. HSDM graduates make their mark in prevention, discovery, and practice as they work to improve the health and well-being of local and global populations. Currently, the DMD program has an intimate cohort of 143 predoctoral students (69% women; 31% men) representing 20 countries and 33 states. There are 113 postdoctoral students enrolled in AGE programs. More than 2,500 HSDM alumni are living in the US and abroad.

Expanding Access to Patient Care

In a changing healthcare landscape, HSDM works collaboratively with HMS to standardize a policy of care for vulnerable populations and a mind for patient advocacy while ensuring the health and well-being of a care provider community. As the only school

within Harvard providing direct clinical services, HSDM offers comprehensive dental care to 50,000+ patients in two locations through the Harvard Dental Center (HDC)

HDC-Longwood houses the main educational dental facility and Teaching Practices, where treatment is delivered by pre- and post-doctoral dental students at 30- to 40-percent less than the fees charged at private dental practices.

The HDC Faculty Group Practice, a multi-specialty group of full- and part-time Harvard Faculty, operates at the HDC-Longwood site as well as the new HDC-Cambridge site. The combined operations of both sites include more than 225 dental and advanced graduate specialty residents, 50+ management and unionized healthcare staff, and 30 faculty providers. Take a virtual tour of HDC.

Pursuing Groundbreaking Research

HSDM is striving to further its research initiatives through improved infrastructure, in turn bolstering clinical innovation. By leveraging its scientific strengths and focusing on the areas of skeletal biology and the pathology of bones, joints, vascular, and connective tissues, HSDM has established a strategic direction for its basic science research programs.

The School’s long-term goal is to be at the forefront of research into the cause and cure for diseases of bone and craniofacial soft tissues. Such research enables dental medicine to impact new avenues of research and investigation into major skeletal disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, tumor biology, and wound healing, taking dentistry beyond the mechanical techniques, and repositioning the discipline firmly in the realm of biology.

HSDM’s affiliate, The Forsyth Institute, is the only independent research institution in the U.S. focusing on connections between oral health and overall wellness. For decades, Forsyth has been a top-tier institution in National Institutes of Health research funding, with particular strength in immunology research. It remains a leader in oral health research and pediatric dental care with an emphasis on public health outreach.

Through its clinical facilities, HSDM continues to differentiate itself with a unique emphasis on clinical,

translational, health policy, and epidemiological research combined with exemplary patient care and education. HSDM has become a leader in oral health informatics, specifically dental diagnostic terminology in the electronic health record, patient safety, and quality improvement. Clinical research projects are focused on dental genetics, regeneration, color science and soft tissue esthetics, early caries detection, fixed prosthodontics, oral implantology, and applied digital dental technologies.

Building for the Future on a Shifting Landscape

In September 2020 HSDM alumnus and renowned scholar of oral regenerative medicine William V. Giannobile was appointed Dean of the School of Dental Medicine, returning to Harvard after a 22-year tenure with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. In announcing his appointment, HMS Dean George Q. Daley noted, “Having roots in our community and experience as a passionate and productive leader of a major department at a premier dental school make Will perfectly suited to take the helm at HSDM during this unprecedented time.”

Arriving in the midst of a global pandemic, Dean Giannobile’s vision for the school’s future was deeply influenced by the ways in which COVID-19 illuminated areas for growth in the medical field. His immediate priority was to guide the School

through the COVID-19 response while working with School leaders to promote clinical and educational efforts that would optimize and advance research, teaching, and clinical care in the face of the pandemic.

Creativity, flexibility, and responsiveness were the hallmarks of Dean Giannobile’s first year. From inspiring faculty to find creative ways to deliver course content — even sending kits

and instruments to students at home — to managing pauses in clinical time, among other needs, HSDM was able to rise to a multitude of challenges. All the students in the Class of 2021 graduated on time, an accomplishment Dean Giannobile credits to faculty members going above and beyond. Additional accomplishments in 2021 included an expansion of the Harvard Dental Center, increased grant funding for research, a recommitment to faculty

WATCH: Returning to HSDM as Dean

recruitment and career development, and the launch of a pilot grant program to invest in early career scientists.

2021 Dean’s Report

In the fall of 2021, realizing the unique opportunity to build on HSDM’s strengths and set a new course for its future, Dean Giannobile launched a strategic planning process that has reinvigorated and refocused HSDM’s mission and vision for the future. This nine-month-long grassroots effort involved 500 stakeholders — faculty, staff, students, alumni, and HSDM-

HMS affiliates. What emerged from school-wide surveys, town hall forums, focus sessions, and working groups is a strategic framework and road map with four overarching priorities and 12 in-depth strategic objectives with concrete success measures. These priorities will guide HSDM’s work in the foundational areas of research, education, clinical care, and community. They are: Education and Discovery, Diversity and Vibrancy, Culture of Care, and Shared Purpose.

HSDM Strategic Priorities

EDUCATION & DISCOVERY: Advancing HSDM as a global leader in research and clinical education.

• Recruit, retain, and develop faculty leaders.

• Reinvigorate research discovery.

• Support clinical innovation through translational research.

DIVERSITY & VIBRANCY: Attracting faculty, staff and students who are representative of the people served.

• Increase recruitment and retention of diverse students, faculty, and staff.

• Reduce financial burden as a barrier to accessing dental education.

• Expand programming and cultivate mentorship pipelines.

CULTURE OF CARE: Revitalizing the patient experience and access to care.

• Promote clinical training excellence.

• Meet the dental needs of our community.

• Advance translational research in oral health care delivery and policy.

COMMUNITY PURPOSE: Creating conditions in which HSDM’s diverse community can thrive.

• Foster Community.

• Retain and nurture employee talent.

• Promote community health and wellbeing.

“Many exciting opportunities lie ahead. We look forward to expanding our strategic vision, making new research discoveries, and investing in talented students and faculty to lead the profession.”

William V. Giannobile, DDS, DMSc96, PD96 Dean, Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Current Climate: A Time of Great Change

HSDM has embarked on an ambitious undertaking in carrying out its strategic priorities. Embracing this change is the new normal in a postpandemic environment peppered with retirements and staffing vacancies and the need to do things differently than in the past, such as rethinking roles and responsibilities and the skills, qualities, and attributes needed to succeed in the future. Several administrative and faculty-level leadership transitions have presented opportunities to bring on new talent and to reset the strategic direction of critical programs. Over the last year and a half, key roles have been filled in Research, Faculty Affairs, Communications, Development and Alumni Relations, as well as the Dean’s cabinet.

Investing in talent and developing faculty are a continued top priority for HSDM. In FY22, a new Director role was created to oversee the PhD and DMSc programs and 22 new faculty were appointed (there are several searches underway for additional faculty positions and program leaders). A working group is reviewing and

recommending a new leadership structure in clinical affairs to optimally oversee the School’s complex clinical model, and a search has been launched for a new Executive Director for the HDC to achieve greater efficiencies in operations and revenue generation. And importantly, in July, aligned with Harvard’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging, Dean Giannobile appointed an inaugural Assistant Dean for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

One of the most critical and strategic hires will be a new Dean for Administration and Finance (A&F) to serve as a champion for cultural and operational change during this time of great opportunity. Leading and operationalizing internal strategies aimed at generating consistent support for existing and emergent priorities, this key role will build and strengthen a best-practice, cohesive team across finance, facilities, human resources, IT and risk/compliance, grants administration, and clinical operations.

Financial Outlook

HSDM is responsible for its own budgeting and multi-year financial planning. It does not receive a subsidy from the Medical School. All budget owners — from education, research, clinics, and administration — contribute to developing annual operating budgets for their respective departments. They work with the finance office to forecast as well as identify variances and key drivers in an effort to evaluate and prioritize as a leadership team, with the ultimate goal of creating a sustainable financial foundation for the School. To keep abreast of university-wide finance efforts and share information, HSDM’s Director of Finance attends the Financial Deans’ Forum.

The FY23 budget is approximately $51.5 million in anticipated revenue and $51.7 million in expenses. The

main revenue drivers are about equally distributed among clinical revenue, tuition, gifts and endowment, and sponsored grant funding (currently at 19% of revenue and targeted for growth). The main expense drivers are salary and fringe (60%), supplies/equipment (10%), space (6%), services (9%), other (15%).

Office of Administration and Finance

One of eight of HSDM’s Administrative Offices, the Office of Administration and Finance houses all non-academic management functions.

Dean for Administration and Finance Position Overview

Reporting to HSDM’s Dean with a dotted-line reporting relationship to Harvard University’s Executive Vice President and Harvard Medical School’s Executive Dean, the Dean for Administration and Finance serves as HSDM’s chief financial and administrative officer, advising on all aspects of fiscal and administrative affairs and providing clear guidance and communication consistent with the Dean’s vision and strategic goals. This individual is a member of the university-wide Administrative Dean Council.

Primary Responsibilities

Organizational Excellence

• Oversee resource allocation, management, and administration of HSDM’s full-range of financial, facilities, clinical, research, and educational and administrative support functions, including human resources and information technology.

• Lead, mentor, develop, and retain a high-performing, evolving 18+-member team that includes Senior Director of Financial Operations, Directors of Facilities and Operations, Risk and Compliance/IT Strategy and Security, and Human Resources, Director of Grants Administration, and Clinical Applications Director.

• Foster a team-oriented, customer-focused culture committed to professional excellence and accountability, and an inclusive workplace culture where diverse backgrounds, styles, abilities, and motivations are welcomed.

• Continually assess, evaluate, and improve departmental structure and operational processes.

• Encourage professional development for self and team, keeping abreast of best practices.

Strategic Planning

• As a principal member of the HSDM leadership team, work with the Dean to champion strategic planning efforts, collaborating with faculty leadership and senior department heads to assure alignment of clinical, academic, research, and administrative efforts, as well as deployment of resources, consistent with HSDM goals, objectives, and finances.

Finance

• Manage all financial operations including strategic multi-year planning, forecasting, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting and variance analysis, financial risk assessment, and capital planning.

• Partner with senior leadership on the development of annual and long-term operating and capital budgets.

• Work closely with the Dean and Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations to plan and implement philanthropic partnerships and activities.

Collaboration and Communication

• Provide leadership in building community, diversity, and communication among all HSDM populations and represent HSDM on multiple committees.

• Facilitate and nurture strategic working relationships with colleagues at the Medical School and across the University and greater Harvard community.

• Represent the School with other Dental Schools, advancing HSDM’s brand and reputation.

• Space Planning and Utilization

• Lead physical resource planning, and construction and renovation initiatives.

• Oversee development of capital plans and annual capital budgets, and School-supported construction and renovation.

• Maintain utilization of high-quality contracting and project management control processes that support completion of capital projects on time and within budget.

Human Resources

• Oversee a range of employment-related services to the School and its community in line with the University’s employment philosophy, including faculty services, compensation, benefits, employee training and development and employee and labor relations.

• Ensure the effective recruitment, retention, development, and support of a talented, innovative and diverse faculty, staff, research fellows, and appointees.

• Champion School’s commitment to developing and maintaining a diverse workforce, maximizing collective talent and fostering a broader spectrum of thinking that allows for better innovation and decision making.

Risk and Compliance

• Oversee program/outcome assessments, business continuity, and risk/compliance assessment and planning; advise on strategic operating decision-making and tools to measure and evaluate performance.

• Ensure School’s compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations including health regulations and research regulations, including oversight of conflict of interest; and that all School activities are conducted to protect the health and safety of employees, students, visitors, the public, and environment.

Information Technology

• Ensure information technology systems support organizational excellence, decision analysis, and strategic initiatives.

Expectations

• Strengthen change management capacity and drive necessary operational changes to support strategic growth.

• Create a shared vision for the School’s long-term campus footprint as part of the Longwood campus and facilities strategy.

• Partner with Development & Alumni Relations on short- and longer-term innovative fundraising strategies.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a dynamic and visionary leader who thinks strategically, has an operational focus, and bias for action, and comes to the work with a demonstrated record of creative, inspiring, and accomplished leadership in complex environments. This individual is a person of exceptional integrity who possesses the highest level of commitment to advancing organizational priorities with an eye toward mission advancement. The successful candidate will have many of the professional experiences needed to address the School’s key priorities, along with the following attributes:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in finance and operations.

• Knowledge of accounting practices, managerial finance, budgeting, and financial analysis.

• Record of accomplishment in strategic and financial planning, preferably in organizations undergoing change; strong business acumen and judgment.

• Proven ability to motivate and manage teams, build strategic relationships, work and negotiate with a broad range of constituents, mediate competing interests, and lead through influence as well as through direct authority.

Additional Qualifications

• M.B.A., M.S.F., or advanced degree in related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience serving as an advisor to senior leaders, adding value beyond the strict definition of the position; able to advise on financial and strategic issues, balancing rigor, structure, and effectiveness.

• Proven success inspiring and leading a data-driven, mission-oriented, service-minded team.

• Experience in complex, academically-based environments (e.g.: healthcare, research, higher education) highly desirable.

Skills, Abilities, and Attributes

• High energy, team-oriented, customer-focused with a passion for excellence consistent with Harvard’s culture and core values, and operating with the utmost integrity.

• Politically savvy, able to successfully navigate a complex academic, clinical, research organization with multiple internal and external stakeholders, leading through influence and with transparency to gain trust and credibility.

• A superior relationship manager who is able to engage and coalesce numerous constituencies, and build alliances and partnerships in implementing innovative solutions.

• An active listener with high “EQ” who is open to and shares new concepts and ideas, synthesizes complex situations, provides clarity and illumination to others, and can facilitate and negotiate.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with genuine comfort in a front-facing leadership role.

• Highly organized and self-directed, able to develop comprehensive short- and long-term strategic and operational plans from broadly-stated mission objectives.

The Harvard School of Dental Medicine is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This is a retained search of Exceptional Executive Search. Confidential inquiries and applications should be directed to Nicole Gakidis, Search Director, at info@eesrecruit.com.