The West Virginia University (WVU) Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) was established in 2018 as a bold initiative and a new model for comprehensive patient care, education, research, and innovation. Over the past seven years, the RNI has become a world leader and a recognized hub for the advancement of neuroscience discoveries, patient care and education.
In 2024, the RNI delivered neurological and mental health care to patients from across West Virginia, all other 49 states, and 17 countries, handling more than 300,000 patient visits. Since 2018, the institute has grown from 100 physicians and scientists to more than 300, and now has more than 2,200 total team members, and nearly 50 ambulatory and hospital sites. All neurological and mental health care services are centralized at the RNI, which includes seven academic departments: behavioral medicine/psychiatry, neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, basic and foundational neuroscience, pediatric neuroscience, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.
RNI mission: Improve the function, neurological, and mental health of the people we serve and pioneer treatments that shape the future of neuroscience.
To advance our mission, we are building global leadership in neuroscience and neurological care devoted to improving lives and pioneering advances. Bringing together exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research, world-leading clinical trials, and transformative education, we are shaping the future of functional, neurological, and mental health for people, families, and communities near and far.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR LICENSURE:

1. Master’s degree required such as an M.A., M.H.A., or M.B.A.

EXPERIENCE:

1. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of ten years of experience in progressively responsible positions in a hospital or health system. That experience should include tenure as Associate Vice President, Vice President or equivalent of an institution of significant size and complexity that would prepare the individual for the leadership role at the WVU Medicine Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI). Academic health center exposure or experience is preferred.

2. The individual being sought will have a high level of expertise, leadership skills, passion and commitment to excellence. Exemplary organization skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and communication skills are essential. Proven business acumen is critical along with a high level of integrity and professionalism. Highly adaptable to change and challenges in a growing and complex multidisciplinary environment of tertiary care, academics, and community hospitals.

3. Prior Neurosciences experience is preferred.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and duties.  Other duties may be assigned.

The Vice President of Neuroscience works as the primary administrative partner reporting to the RNI Executive Chair (EC) and the CEO of WVU hospitals, managing all professional, technical, and ancillary operations and strategic initiatives.

1. Leads in collaboration with the Executive Chair and seven Department Chairs and the Executive Director of Research Operations, the clinical, research, and education mission of the RNI. The seven departments comprise over 300 faculty in behavioral medicine/psychiatry, neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, basic and foundational neuroscience, pediatric neuroscience, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

2. Leads in collaboration with the WVU Medicine Executive Leadership team of CEOs, COOs, and other institute VPs the operational and clinical performance of the RNI.

3. Leads the administrative team of the RNI, including AVPs, administrative managers, and clinical team members in the day-to-day operations.

4. Works with Executive Chair to establish and achieve RNI’s 5-year strategic, operating, and financial objectives.

5. Partners with the Executive Chair to advance RNI's mission (clinical, research, and education) with relevant stakeholders in WVU and WVU Medicine Health system and external public and private partners.

6. Works with Executive Chair to attract and motivate a high-performing team of Chairs and Multidisciplinary Center leaders.

7. Leads the annual goal setting process for Departments, System hospitals, and multidisciplinary centers and oversees a performance management approach that takes corrective actions where and when necessary.  

8. Partners with the Signature Vice Chair of the RNI Clinical Operations and System Integration, and System Hospital CEOs, to develop strategies, implement operational plans, improve system wide processes through standardization of care pathways and operational efficiency, and drive recruitment.

9. Responds effectively to patient, physician, employee, and organizational needs.

10. Provides day-to-day leadership and financial oversight of all RNI clinical operations (e.g., inpatient, outpatient and ancillary) and non-clinical activities (e.g., research, administrative, philanthropy, marketing and media relations, and other support services).

11. Prepares and executes all growth and margin expansion strategies related to: inpatient and outpatient volumes and payer mix, occupancy targets, technical and professional revenue (patient visits, surgeries, procedures, MRIs, sleep lab/tests, EEGs, EMGs and other related services).

12. Partners with the Executive Chair and RNI Department chairs to build and manage research, education, and academic initiatives. 

13. Ensures that all hospital and outpatient activities and operations across nearly 50 RNI clinical service locations are carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws governing business operations by developing and maintaining internal control systems to ensure accountability.

14. Oversees and manages process implementation across behavioral medicine/psychiatry, neurology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, basic and foundational neuroscience, pediatric neuroscience, and physical medicine and rehabilitation departments, as well as multidisciplinary centers such as spine, stroke, neuromodulation, memory health, brain injury, movement disorders, neuromuscular, and epilepsy. 

15. Develops and implements procedures and controls to promote communication and adequate information flow among all RNI stakeholders and departments, within the hospital, across the health system, and with external parties.  

16. Supports a team commitment to continuous quality improvement whereby decision-making is driven by data and customer relationships and is facilitated both within and outside the system to ensure targeted deliverables are met.

17. Oversees and owns the responsibility for creating a work environment that yields 2,200+ highly engaged faculty and staff members. Engages in recruitment and retention of key physicians/scientists and other clinical and administrative staff for the RNI. Encourages staff and faculty in day-to-day decision-making and foster collaboration across RNI and WVU Health System and Health Sciences units.

18. Provides mentoring as a cornerstone to internal succession planning of team members and associates.

19. Represents RNI in all internal and external associations and organizations: Community, state and national hospital associations and professional activities that define the delivery of healthcare services as well as WVU Health System and Health Sciences Departments. Attends all applicable Medical Staff meetings, Board of Directors meetings and, where appropriate, will represent the hospital with outside organizations and government agencies.

20. Collaborates with the management team and medical staff to develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes and personnel designed to accommodate the rapid growth objectives of the organization including future development of programs and services across the WVU Health System (WVUHS).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Standard office environment.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 1. Standard office environment.