Job Summary
Michigan Medicine is establishing a Governance Office to strengthen governance alignment, oversight and decision-making across a complex academic health system. The Director, Governance Office will establish and lead the Michigan Medicine governance office.
In partnership with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and board accountable leaders, the Director will design, implement, and continuously improve an enterprise governance operating system that enables effective oversight and timely, high-quality decision-making across multiple boards and committees.
This highly visible role serves as the enterprise owner of governance operations, standards, and enabling systems; the Director provides centralized operational support including enterprise calendar governance, publication workflows, governance repository/portal administration, meeting logistics and action tracking delivered through a combination of centralized staff and distributed partners
The Director will work in coordination with and provide functional oversight and standards-based direction to other personnel who provide board and committee coordination support for governance bodies within the governance office's scope.
Role reports to: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Michigan Medicine
Responsibilities*
- In coordination with the CAO, stand up the governance office and lead the governance operating system across multiple boards and standing committees. Establish enterprise standard-setting, prioritization and oversight.
- Governance operating model, standards and documentation: Design, implement and maintain enterprise governance frameworks which include committee and board structures, charters, decision-right charts and escalation pathways. Develop and maintain consistent standards in support of the different board's activities.
- Partner closely with Michigan Medicine executive leadership, board and committee chairs and board liaisons to utilize consistent approaches to board structure and activities
- Lead rigorous quality control of board and committee materials ensuring accuracy, consistency, completeness and compliance with standards; enforce deadlines and publication workflows to ensure timely leadership review and publication of materials.
- Own the integrated governance calendar and annual board planning processes, including coordinating schedules, management of dependencies to support efficient sequencing, escalation, and decision flow. Lead regular meetings with board coordinators and liaisons to ensure coordinated processes
- Plan and supervise recurring governance activities such as the annual calendar, regular board and committee evaluations, surveys and effectiveness reviews along with governance policy and process improvements
- Oversee governance processes for recruitment, nomination, onboarding and offboarding of board and committee members ensuring consistent orientation, expectations and documentation.
- In partnership with the Office of General Counsel and Compliance, define and oversee the corporate governance records approach, including the system of record, retention requirements, access controls, confidentiality protocols, and executive session documentation practices.
- Establish how governance items move across Michigan Medicine and University of Michigan partners and through committees and boards. Resolve conflicts, risks or other concerns to ensure efficient routing of information through the board approval cycle.
Required Qualifications*
- Minimum of 5 - 7 years progressively responsible experience in leadership, governance, executive administration, health system operations, strategy, compliance/risk or related enterprise functions as well as demonstrated experience hiring, coaching, performance management and leading through change
- Bachelor's degree is required, advanced degree (MBA, MHA, JD or equivalent) is preferred
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional work in a complex, matrixed organization and to influence senior stakeholders
- Excellent executive level writing, facilitation and judgement including handling sensitive and confidential information
- Strong operational discipline, project and program management capability and skill in using data and metrics to drive performance
- Previous experience working with governing boards is highly desired
Why Join Michigan Medicine?
Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world's most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.
What Benefits Can You Look Forward to?
- Comprehensive benefits plan options, with excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
- Generous 2-to-1 Employer Match on retirement savings and immediate vesting
- Paid Time Off
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Health Savings Accounts / Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health and Wellness incentives
- Work-Life Programs - to strengthen a workplace culture that supports personal and family life, including child care, elder care, lactation resources, and flexible work arrangements
- Free access to LinkedIn Learning which offers more than 20,000 high quality, on-demand courses available at any time
More Reasons to GO BLUE!
- Rated among Top 25 Universities in the World by Times Higher Education for 2026
- University of Michigan Health named one of the World's Best Hospitals in 2026, and #12 in the United States, by Newsweek and Statista
- Michigan Medicine rated #15 Best Employer for New Grads 2026 by Forbes
- University of Michigan was recognized in Crain's 2025 Best Places to Work in Southeast Michigan
- University of Michigan was recognized as one of America's Best Employers For Company Culture 2025 by Forbes
- U-M Health named to the nation's Honor Roll of Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, #1 hospital in Michigan, ranked among the nation's best in 11 different specialties for 2025
- Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children's was recognized as one of America's Best Children's Hospitals for 2025 by Newsweek and Statista
- University of Michigan Health-Michigan Medicine earned Top 25 Environmental Excellence award from Practice Greenhealth for 2025 & 2026
- University of Michigan rated #3 U.S. Public University for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report
- Michigan Medicine named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in metropolitan Detroit in 2024 by the National Association for Business Resources
- Nationally Recognized for work/life effectiveness by WorldatWork
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Background Screening
Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Please include cover letter with resume when applying.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.