Description:
 

Job Description Summary:
 

The Executive Director of the Samuel Merritt University (SMU) Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC) is responsible for SMU’s overall operations related to simulation-based, immersive learning on all campuses. This entails capacity/expansion planning, resolution of workflow issues, quality assurance, and effective use of resources including technologies, faculty, and staff, and includes simulation-specific matters at the Sacramento, San Mateo, and Fresno campuses.

The Director works closely with SMU’s academic leadership and designated faculty representatives to assure effective integration and use of simulation-based learning in the curricula of all academic programs of the university.

The Director also works with administrators and educators affiliated with SMU’s clinical partners requesting services of the HSSC. The director will maintain collaborative relationships with SMU’s Faculty Development professionals, the Library, Academic Instruction and Innovation, Information Technology, Institutional Effectivess and Institutional Research in planning for ongoing simulation development, use and evaluation. It is expected that the director will provide leadership in curricular innovation and the development of a program of research related to simulation effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Supervision & Management:

• Direct reports include Operations Manager, Simulation Educators on all campuses, and Applied Science & Education Research Methodologist.
• Faculty recruitment and hiring, annual performance reviews, and disciplinary processes as required for all campuses.
• Establishes an annual operating and capital budget for each campus’ simulation centers.
• Demonstrates fiscal responsibility by meeting budget targets and prioritizing expenses.
• Oversight of processes and policies that are related to attaining and maintaining accreditation of the simulation center by the national accrediting body of simulation centers in the United States.
• Oversight of processes and policies related to ensuring that the educational activities and services provided by HSSC faculty/staff comply with accreditation standards of all levels, e.g., regional accreditation, state board/licensing bodies, specialty accreditation organizations of academic disciplines represented at SMU.
• Ensure effective and efficient operations, capacity and workflow planning, and center staff/faculty development
• Accountable for all HSSC service outcomes and continuous quality improvement.
• Ensures proper scheduling and staffing of the HSSC to meet the demands of the Academic Programs, community partners, and tours.

Leadership:

• Oversee the implementation and continual reassessment of the department’s mission, vision, principles, and strategic plan.
• Ensure the HSSC’s strategic plan is in alignment with the University’s goals.
• Serve as ex officio member of the Academic Leadership Team and the Information Technology Advisory Group (ITAG).
• Collaborate with all SMU entities to advance knowledge and skills in the use of simulation-based learning.
• Collaborate with SMU instructional designers and representatives in the Academic Affairs Division to establish instructional design methods and standards, teaching, and learning support systems.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration by applying TeamSTEPPSâ tools and strategies.
• Develops plans for research related to the use of simulation in education and support collaborative research across Academic Programs.
• Actively seeks revenue-generating opportunities.
• Continually assesses all services, identifies problems, and utilizes data to analyze and propose innovative approaches for solutions.
• Oversees center accreditations, including but not limited to the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
• Prepares and submits annual reports for the Provost of the state of the HSSC.  The report includes annual accomplishments, challenges, utilization, assessment data, and progress toward meeting the HSSC strategic plan.
• Participates in committees, task forces, and other work groups as expected of an academic leader at SMU.

Education:

• Ensure simulation learning activities are successfully implemented across key stakeholders (students and faculty of all SMU academic programs on all campuses, external customers having an established relationship with HSSC).
• Lead ongoing evaluation of simulation teaching strategies and ensure they are in alignment with best practice standards.
• Collaborate with the Simulation Educators to create policies and procedures to
• Ensure the Simulation Educators are following the HSSC protocols for simulation development, implementation,