Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000 annually, depending on experience and qualification
Position Summary
Chair
The Chair is responsible for recruitment, management, compensation, and retention of faculty in consideration of the strategic plans of the college and RFUMS. These responsibilities shall demonstrate compliance with the University's equal opportunity and affirmative action obligations. The Chair nominates all faculty for initial appointment, additional term appointments, and promotion and tenure within the department. The Chair (or his/her designee) will meet at a minimum annually with each faculty member to provide evaluation, guidance, and mentoring. The Chair must promote cooperation and coordination within the department while establishing clear goals and outcome measures for each faculty member. Efficient and effective communication is expected within the department, as well as with all members of the College and University, including administration, faculty, staff, and students.
Faculty
Department Chairs are also faculty members. All full-time faculty members employed by RFUMS are expected to engage in activities that are considered core to their primary role as a faculty member. These activities may include teaching, scholarly activity, and service.
Our generous benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision plans; paid parental leave; short term and long term disability plans; life insurance; flexible spending accounts; and a 403(b) retirement plan which includes a 8% employer contribution once eligible. RFUMS is committed to employee wellbeing and work-life balance. This position is eligible for 24 days of vacation/ personal leave, 15 sick days, and 9 paid holidays, paid winter break, plus two floating holidays.
Who We Are
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) is a six-college graduate health sciences university dedicated to the interprofessional education of health and biomedical professionals.
Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine - Scholl is the name to know in podiatric medicine. Founded in 1912 by a pioneer in podiatry, Scholl College is an international resource in the field. In fact, one out of three podiatrists in the U.S. is a Scholl College alumnus. As part of Rosalind Franklin University (RFU), we provide a fully accredited, four-year professional program leading to the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree, along with opportunities for a combined DPM/PhD degree.
Scholl prepares tomorrow's top physicians and leaders in the field of podiatry. Scholl College is recognized for its exceptional clinical education, in part because of the RFU Health Clinics adjacent to the RFU campus. We have access to clinical experiences in a variety of healthcare settings throughout the Chicago metro area, where our students participate in multiple rotations at the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County and other leading Chicago metro area teaching hospitals. Furthermore, our campus offers a 100,000-square-foot Innovation and Research Park to encourage advancements in podiatric medicine and other healthcare specializations - and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The department chair reports primarily and directly to the Vice Dean and Dean of the college. Important collaborative relationships include (but are not limited to) the Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, Directors, Coordinators, and other Department Chairs.
Responsibilities of the Chair will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Oversee the activities of faculty within the department
- Manage all academic initiatives of the department
- Promote service to the College and the University
- Work cooperatively with the Associate Dean of Clinical Experiences to coordinate the clinical and teaching activities of the department faculty so that all faculty needs related to clinical experiences are satisfactorily addressed
- Work cooperatively with the Associate Dean of Clinical Experiences in ensuring proper oversight of all student clinical experiences
- Work cooperatively with the Associate Dean of Clerkship and Residency Placement to support the placement of students into clerkships and residencies
- Work cooperatively with the medical directors of the clinical affiliates in addressing faculty needs, responsibilities, and performance
- Participate in defining future strategic objectives for the College and provide ongoing support for the established objectives and directions of the College and the University
- Work cooperatively in developing, implementing, and monitoring the College's curriculum
- Maintain proper assessment activities
- Assign administrative, teaching, research, and clinical roles to the faculty of the department
- Maintain accountability for the academic performance and productivity of the faculty
- Maintain accountability for the continuing education of the faculty assigned to the department
Teamwork
An important responsibility of the department Chair is to promote teamwork within the department and among other departments within the College and University.
Terms
The departmental Chair serves at the pleasure of the Dean of the College.
Teaching
As a member of the faculty, the Chair will be expected to participate in student educational activities as part of the workload model determined by the Dean.
Evaluation
The Vice Dean/Dean of the College will conduct an annual performance review of the Chair based on the achievement of the specific responsibilities of their job description and faculty workload model. The Dean of the College will conduct a review of performance of the chair annually and the chair will undergo a department review every 5 years.
Teaching responsibilities vary and may include:
- Direct instruction
- Curriculum management
- Assessment
- Advising and mentoring for students
Scholarly activities vary and may include:
- Original scholarship
- Grant procurement
- Research mentoring
Service activities vary and may include internal and external contributions through:
- Committees
- Contributions to the profession
- Recruitment
- Direct patient care
Scholarly activities and/or clinical activities are negotiated and determined at the department level and are primarily based upon the faculty track.
Conditions of Employment
- Must achieve satisfactory results from a background check
Required Education & Experience
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from an accredited college of podiatric medicine.
- Successful completion of an approved three-year Podiatric Residency in Medicine and Surgery.
- Board qualified or certification by ABFAS and/or ABPM.
- All faculty members are required to maintain appropriate continuing medical education credits for maintenance of their license. All CME requests must be coordinated in advance for proper faculty staffing within the workshops or the classrooms.
- Must achieve a background check clearance.
Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Broad knowledge base in Podiatric Surgery, Biomechanics, Medicine, and Radiology.
- Demonstrated clinical and academic excellence, with a strong potential for independent or collaborative scholarly activity.
- A personal commitment to education, featuring the ability to guide podiatric medical students in a clinical setting and provide high-quality instruction via multiple teaching formats.
- Leadership skills, including the ability to articulate a clear vision, influence others, and lead by example.
- Higher management experience, entrepreneurial skills, and business acumen.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication, conflict management, and negotiation skills.
- A collaborative consensus-builder who fosters cooperation across the department, interprofessional faculty, College, and University.
- Strong sense of integrity, professional drive, and personal humility.
- Inclusive and non-judgmental, with a demonstrated ability to embrace and promote diversity.
- Excellent organizational, time management, and critical thinking skills.
- Must abide by the Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations of the College, RFUMS, and RFUHS.
- Must achieve background check clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Recognition at the national level in their field of expertise, while a high academic standard in teaching is expected.
Typical Physical Demands & Working Conditions
- The selected candidate must have the mental and physical capabilities to perform the job with or without accommodations.
- Work is normally performed in typical interior/office environment as well as classroom environment.
- Limited physical effort required as well as limited exposure to physical risk.
EOE, Including Disability / Vets
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
life insurance, parental leave, paid holidays, sick time, long term disability, 403(b), retirement plan
Aug 24, 2026