Director, UF Health Cancer Institute

Prof & Director

Qualified candidates must hold a medical degree (MD), terminal (PhD), or equivalent. Candidates must be eligible for a faculty appointment at the Professor level at the University of Florida. Clinically active candidates must be board certified and eligible for licensure in the state of Florida.

The next Director will play a central role in shaping strategy, strengthening areas of opportunity, and articulating a compelling case for continued excellence. As an inspirational and visible leader, they will galvanize faculty, recruit high-performing talent, build trust across departments, and foster a culture grounded in collaboration, innovation, and accountability. This is an opportunity for a mission-driven leader to build upon substantial institutional and state support and lead the UF Health Cancer Institute into its next era of scientific distinction and transformative impact.

The new Director will be responsible for leading the clinical, research, education and community outreach programs of the center, including programs at the Cancer & Genetics Research Complex, the UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital, several ambulatory cancer practices, and the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville. The Director will serve as Physician-In-Chief of the UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital in accordance with the provision of the Marshall

E. Rinker, Sr. Foundation, Inc., and the David

B. and Leighan R. Rinker gift agreement. The Director will work closely with the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Florida President, UF Health, the Deans of the UF colleges, other UF Center and Institute Directors and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the UF Health system to effectively implement the strategic plan and aims of the UFHCI for oncology clinical, research, education, and community outreach operations.

The Director will be responsible for deepening scientific impact and accelerating growth in key priority areas, including expansion of translational research and the continued development of medical oncology within an integrated academic–clinical model. The Center's four research programs - Cancer Control & Population Sciences, Mechanisms of Oncogenesis, Cancer Targeting & Therapeutics, and Immuno-Oncology & Microbiome – the Director will leverage shared resources in genomics, computational biology, AI-enabled clinical trial infrastructure, and matching, and high-throughput technologies to strengthen investigator-initiated trials, expanded therapeutic accrual, and enhance community-engaged research.

A central charge will be to create synergies across research, clinical service lines, shared resources, and outreach efforts to ensure a cohesive and high-performing cancer enterprise.

Importantly, the new Director must be an expert at building internal and external relationships, with a demonstrated track record of working successfully with senior leadership at large medical institutions, as well as local, state, and federal legislators and constituents. They will have a high emotional intelligence (EQ) and cultural intelligence (CQ), and be a consensus-oriented team player, who displays "respectful courage" and is highly influential in their ability to encourage people to move forward toward shared goals.

Key Priorities of the new Director, UF Health Cancer Institute:

• Authority over the CCSG process and award, implementing CCSG activities to stimulate transdisciplinary collaborative research, inclusive workforce development, and community engagement.
• Development of a shared vision of the Institute, utilizing the full range of university resources to address the cancer burden of the catchment area and formally articulating this through the Institute's strategic plan.
• Recruitment and appointment of Institute leaders and members and charging and empowering UFHCI committees.
• Leadership of the executive committee, which directs decision-making in accordance with the UFHCI strategic plan.
• Service on the UF Health Shands Board of Directors and the cancer service line steering committee assuring that Institute and catchment area strategic priorities are well-represented at all decision-making levels of the institution.
• Development and oversight of the cancer service line to ensure integration of research and care.
• Authority over all cancer research requiring IRB approvals at UF, including the Institute's Clinical Research Office.
• Oversight of activities of Community Outreach & Engagement to enhance bidirectional communication and community impact in the catchment area.
• Complete authority over the Institute's budget supporting ongoing operations and recruitment, including funds provided by UF Health and the State of Florida.
• Oversight of Institute philanthropy and fundraising activities, including all major gifts of the institution impacting cancer.
• Allocation of Institute-assigned laboratory and clinical research space.
• Development of and supporting Institute shared resources.
• Centralization of…