Associate Director for Curriculum Development & Online Education

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Associate Director for Curriculum Development & Online Education

Job Profile Title

Director B, Student Services, Graduate Programs

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director for Curriculum Development and Online Education is a pedagogical leader who advances education for health care professionals. The position bridges the expertise of renowned faculty, the potential of working professionals, and the skill of facilitators. As a senior leader for the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy’s online educational initiatives team (MEHP Online), the Associate Director ensures pedagogical excellence, directs curriculum development and instructional operations, and provides strategic collaboration.

The Associate Director influences the effectiveness of the Master of Health Care Innovation degree and helps achieve the standard for educational excellence and strong community that are hallmarks of the MHCI. The program launched in 2017 as the first fully online degree of the University of Pennsylvania. The Associate Director also extends impact through continuing education workshops, graduate collaborations, and resources to drive innovation.

The Associate Director reports to the Director of Online Educational Initiatives. Direct reports include the Instructional Designer and the Course Coordinator, as well as a roster of teaching assistants.

Responsibilities may evolve along with the MHCI and other initiatives.

Job Description

The Associate Director’s duties include:

1) Lead curriculum development for online graduate and continuing education programs that are applicable, feasible, viable, and sustainable.

a. Ensure that the curriculum is coherent, relevant, and foresighted. Integrate program competencies and address emerging priorities across courses.

b. Assess the need for course updates with faculty and partner with them on major course designs and refreshes.

c. Implement a tiered approach to course development and continuous improvement with a lean instructional team. Directly steward substantial course redesigns. Provide targeted consultation and review for moderate updates. Establish processes that enable consistent delivery for courses that require minimal change.

d. Lead CME workshop design and learning.

2) Sustain a culture and practices of pedagogical excellence, valuing faculty expertise and student experience.

a. Shape assessment strategy and ensure that all graduate courses are rigorous and effective for health care professionals.

b. Coach a busy multidisciplinary faculty with customized pedagogical, technology-supported solutions to shape their expertise into online education that is effective, student-centered, and sustainable.

c. Design learning activities that build interprofessional community to deepen understanding and incr