Why Work At UVA?

We employ more than 28,000 people, including approximately 16,000 faculty and staff and 7,000 Health System employees. Forbes magazine lists the University of Virginia as one of “America’s Top Colleges,” as well as one of “America’s Best Employers for 2018” and “America’s Best Employers for Women 2018.”

As an employer, the University has an outstanding record of growth and stability and offers a wide variety of exciting and challenging jobs, in addition to exceptional benefits and career development opportunities.

As a Research 1 institution, the University’s research centers, consortia, and laboratories are on the leading edge of discovery and technology, offering collaborative spaces that bring together interdisciplinary research to address and solve some of the world’s most pressing issues. Our marine biology experts are teaming up with hydrodynamics teams, biomedical researchers are teaming up with authorities in commerce and public policy, and big data leaders are teaming up with renowned brain specialists.

UVA’s Brain Institute brings together researchers from the schools of Medicine, Engineering, and Education for a concussion-induced inflammation project. Similarly, engineers at UVA are working with applied scientists at the UVA LinkLab to solve the most critical problems at the intersection of the cyber and physical worlds.

Working at UVA means being a part of something greater.

Established as the nation’s 10th medical school in 1825, we now are home to a 612-bed hospital and a Level I trauma center, nationally recognized cancer and heart centers, a Children’s Hospital, and primary and specialty clinics throughout Central Virginia.

Our renowned academic Medical Center and Health System consistently rank among the nation’s best hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report magazine, as well as named among the top 25 percent in seven specialties. We provide exceptional patient care, conduct translational research, and train medical practitioners in a wide variety of disciplines.

The Academical Village consists of faculty living in the Pavilions, students occupying Lawn rooms, and the world-famous Rotunda at its heart. Despite numerous inconveniences, hundreds of students annually vie for the honor of a room on the University's Lawn. Whether student, staff, or faculty, the Academical Village provides a collegiate spirit unlike any other university where we live and learn together.

Our faculty are known globally for their pioneering work in research and innovative contributions, including more than 130 patents since 2010. Our best professors look for ways to encourage, mentor, and develop tomorrow’s leaders inside and outside the classroom.

Critical to the planning and governance of the University, many faculties serve on the Faculty Senate, representing all academic functions, as well as advising the President, the Rectors, and the Board of Visitors concerning educational matters affecting the welfare of the University.

Perhaps most importantly, faculty come to UVA knowing that instruction is as important as research, and they pride themselves on their many teaching awards.

People choose to work at UVA for many reasons, and there are even more reasons they stay for a career. Ranking in the top 3 public universities is no small feat, and requires commitment, dedication, and tight coordination between, faculty, staff, administration, and students.

UVA’s staff members are represented by the relatively new but very active Staff Senate, which serves as the representative voice for staff in matters relating to the University; supports staff members in the realization of their full potential at the University; and advances University excellence through its efforts. Over 75 Staff Senators represent staff across Grounds, including the Medical Center and University Physician’s Group, to develop leadership potential as effective managers, build sustainable practices across Grounds, attract and retain excellent talent from across the globe, assist and manage valuable departments, projects, and initiatives, ensure electronic security, and so much more.

We identify and place a diverse labor force of uniquely qualified employees in a range of valuable, temporary positions across the Academic, Health System, and University Physicians Group divisions, as well as foundations affiliated with UVA.

The vast majority of UVA students come from the top 10 percent of their high school class, as well as from all 50 states, over 142 countries, and a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. UVA’s academic prowess is evident in this year’s graduating class, which produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, and five Fulbright Scholars.

Work study opportunities can be found through UVA's Career Center. Many UVA students obtain part-time jobs during the academic year and summer. Opportunities exist on Grounds as well as in the surrounding community. Handshake is UVA's comprehensive employment management system and is a centralized resource for student employment.

Benefits are a vital part of the total University package for employees. Here is a sample of many benefits offered:

• Health insurance
• Vision plans
• Dental plans
• Prescription drug program
• Retirement plans
• Benefit savings accounts
• Disability Insurance
• Life insurance
• Workers’ compensation
• Backup care benefit for child and elder care
• Benefits for life changes
• Holiday time off, paid and unpaid leave
• Education benefits

Continue your career exploration with our talent development services, which offers job search tools, UVA education benefits, career development, customized leadership development, mentoring from senior leaders, and visibility among executive leadership. UVA employees may take advantage of two teams within Talent Development, the Learning and Development team, and the Organizational Development team.

The Learning and Development team is designed to foster partnerships that embrace a culture of trust, respect, diversity, life-long learning, and service excellence that inspires shared leadership.

The Organizational Development team develops stronger leaders and teams, supports individuals to actively engage in self-discovery and behavior change, and facilitates the building of trusting relationships.

When you’re healthy, you have the energy and focus to do your best work and live your best life. We strive to promote a happy, healthy culture of wellness among our employees, their families, and the community at large.

Hoo’s Well, provides a number of programs and resources for everyone–supporting employee physical, financial, and social wellbeing. Whether you take advantage of yoga and mindfulness programs at the Contemplative Sciences Center, soak in the endless natural beauty of Charlottesville, or enjoy our state-of-the-art athletic facilities spread across Grounds, we’ve got you covered.

From the beginning, rituals, routines, clubs, and societies became a lasting part of life on Grounds. Some traditions, like the Jefferson Society founded in 1825 and the Honor System established in 1842, survive to the present. Other traditions were succeeded by new ones over time. The original school colors of cardinal and gray became today's orange and blue, more visible on a muddy athletic field.

The UVA Medical Center ranks number one in the region and rated number four for six adult procedures and four adult specialties.

For 2019, the University was ranked the number three best public university by U.S. News & World Report. In the 20 years since U.S. News began ranking public universities as a separate category, UVA has ranked in the top three and continues to rank in the Top 30 among the best of all national universities, public and private.

With over a billion dollars in research proposal activity annually, and $353 million in new research awards in 2016 alone, UVA is a leader in seeking new knowledge and harnessing science as a means to advance society.

Whether faculty, student, or staff, the University is more than a place to work; it’s a community to call home. In Charlottesville, we enjoy all the amenities of a big city, with the feel of a small-town.