Employment Type: Permanent Faculty Vacancy ID: FAC0005614 Position Summary/Description: The Department of Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a full-time, open track, open rank faculty position as Associate Chair for Innovation and Community Partnerships. This position includes leadership of the Health Sciences Innovation Hub, a new initiative designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerate translational research, and promote entrepreneurial activity across the health sciences. The Associate Chair will report directly to the Senior Associate Dean and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences in the School of Medicine and will play a pivotal leadership role in advancing the department’s innovation initiatives. This individual will hold a primary faculty appointment within the Department of Health Sciences, with a secondary administrative appointment as Associate Chair. Appointment and rank will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The Department is home to 16 academic programs, 8 divisions and various centers and programs including the nationally known Center for Literacy and Disability Studies. Five academic programs are in the top ten US News and World Report Rankings. Areas of Focus * Strategic leadership in innovation initiatives * Cultivating a culture of collaboration and partnerships * Building relationships with clinical and corporate entities * Advance scholarly work in areas such as clinical innovation, applied research, quality improvement, or interdisciplinary collaboration. * Mentor faculty and trainees, fostering professional development and academic growth. Key Responsibilities * Launch and manage the Health Sciences Innovation Hub, including infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, and programmatic direction. * Lead the planning, development, and implementation of innovation and community engagement initiatives aligned with UNC’s strategic and academic priorities. * Provide strategic and visionary leadership to advance research excellence and innovation across the Department of Health Sciences. * Offer strategic guidance to align departmental strengths with emerging funding opportunities. * Support alignment between research, teaching and clinical practice to enhance student learning and experiential opportunities. * Represent the department in extern innovation networks within the research triangle and beyond, advisory councils, and philanthropic organizations * Work collaboratively with Innovate Carolina, UNC -Chapel Hill’s department for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development.