Director of Education

Role Summary: The Director of Education will promote and facilitate the clinical and non-clinical learning and development of the Surgical Solutions staff. They will design and implement new hire orientation and ongoing training programs associated with Surgical Solutions for healthcare professionals in hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers. The role will include assessing staff competency through skills demonstrations, written tests, and observations. Feedback will be provided based on the assessment results, and individualized learning plans will be created to address any knowledge or skill gaps. Collaboration with other educators and healthcare professionals to develop and update educational curricula may involve researching best practices, incorporating evidence-based guidelines, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Able to identify areas for improvement within the clinical areas, analyze data, and implement educational strategies to address deficiencies. The role will include mentorship and support to foster a positive learning environment. This may involve providing guidance, coaching, and constructive feedback to help staff members achieve their professional goals.

*Must be based in Kansas City or surrounding area with ability to travel up to 50%

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Developing and implementing educational policies and programs: Responsible for creating and implementing educational policies and programs that align with the goals and objectives of Surgical Solutions. This includes designing curriculum, setting educational standards, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

2. Leadership in educational initiatives: Oversees various educational initiatives within Surgical Solutions, such as educational campaigns, awareness programs, and training sessions. They ensure these initiatives are effectively executed and contribute to the organization's educational development.

3. Managing educational resources: Manages educational resources, including budgeting and procurement. They also ensure the availability of necessary educational materials, equipment, and facilities to support the educational programs.

4. Collaborating with stakeholders: Collaborates with various stakeholders, including customers, educational institutions, community organizations, and other relevant partners. They establish and maintain effective partnerships to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for the target population.

5. Monitoring and evaluating educational programs: Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of educational programs and initiatives implemented. They collect data, analyze outcomes, and make recommendations for improvement based on the findings. They also ensure compliance with monitoring and evaluation requirements.

6. Providing leadership and guidance: Provides leadership and guidance to the education team within the service lines supported by Surgical Solutions (OR, ENDO, SPD, etc.). They supervise and support educators, trainers, and other staff members involved in educational activities. They also provide professional development opportunities to enhance the team's skills and knowledge.

7. Conducting research and analysis: Researches and analyzes educational trends, best practices, and innovative approaches. They stay updated with the latest developments in the field of education and integrate them into SPD's educational programs to enhance their quality and relevance.

8. Reporting and communication: Prepares reports and communicates educational outcomes, achievements, and challenges to relevant stakeholders. They ensure effective communication channels are in place to disseminate information about educational programs and initiatives internally and externally.

9. Ensuring compliance with regulations: Ensures compliance with relevant educational regulations, policies, and guidelines. They stay informed about regulation changes and adjust Surgical Solutions' educational programs and practices to maintain compliance with AAMI, Joint Commission, CMS, and other regulatory bodies’ guidelines.

Necessary Skills and Abilities

• Coordinates and supervises team members' orientation and ongoing clinical experiences and provides clinical learning experiences according to established learning outcomes.

• Assists regional trainers, human resources, field, implementation, and non-clinical team members with preparing for clinical onsite experiences, including required clinical compliance documentation for new hires and team members with customer-specific hospital orientation requirements and annual requirements. Facility-specific orientation requirements according to facility deadlines.

• May serve as an onsite trainer if needed to facilitate clinical training and onsite preceptor support.

• Assists with standardized new employee orientation, annual competencies, and regulatory requirements. Will collaborate to oversee the orientation and development of non-clinical team members.

• Establishes and maintains relationships with key stakeholders to provide various clinical opportunities appropriate for learning outcomes established by leadership and the board.

• Under the direction of senior leadership, oversees and assists with hiring, performance appraisal, and mentoring clinical and nonclinical team members.

• Oversees clinical site development to enhance new team members' experiences.

• Oversees the implementation of clinical experience of clinical learning and customer satisfaction with onboarding and training. Develops and provides continuous quality monitoring and improvement with reports to the Senior Leadership Team and Board.

• Performs walkthrough surveys of onsite training and support within the clinical sites.

• Makes recommendations for clinical learning activity changes to the training and orientation process. Identifies needs and opportunities for improvement.

• Communicates and integrates college-wide policy and processes changes regarding clinical learning standardization and implementation.

• Attends leadership and customer review meetings as requested and provides the senior leadership team with feedback for continuous quality monitoring and improvement.

• Assists with resolving student and/or faculty concerns regarding clinical experiences in collaboration with college and campus leadership according to established policies and processes.

• Work Environment: This hybrid work environment will include rounding in hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers, operations that have a fast-paced atmosphere and involve exposure to bloodborne pathogens, various chemical disinfectants, and infectious materials.

o The ability to wear personal protective equipment (i.e., eye protection, gloves, shoe covers, surgical head covering, and gown) if required.

• Physical Demands

o Ability to turn, bend, squat, kneel, crawl, reach, push, pull, maneuver in tight spaces, and side-to-side turning of the neck.

o Ability to maneuver heavy equipment; lift, carry, and balance items weighing up to 50 pounds individually or additional weight with assistance.

o Full range of body motion; gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective care.

o Repetitive and constant standing for prolonged periods.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualification of bachelor’s degree in nursing, education leadership, or a related health care field such as health care administration with at least five (5) years’ experience in clinical education within an Operation Room or Sterile Processing workspace. Background and knowledge that includes an understanding of the educational objectives and experiences of new employees and students, an understanding of the clinical practice of Sterile Processing, ENDO GI, and Operation Room, knowledge of the diverse organizational environments in which team members work at Surgical practice, and knowledge of the types of clinical sites needed to meet new workflow and service line objectives. • Unencumbered Licensure: Applicable state (RN) or Active Certification in Certified Surgical Technology (CST).

• Special Qualifications: At least two (2) years of recent clinical experience, excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, strong oral and written communication skills, ability to interpret learning experience needs of new employees, and ongoing competency of all team members.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to be creative and innovative, and proficient computer skills to collect and analyze data.

• Must agree to obtain CRCST certification within 120 days of acceptance of the position. Additional Certifications within 1 year through HSPA (CER, CIS & CHL), AORN (CNOR), etc.

• Outside Relationships: Clinical facilities, professional organizations.

• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Able to create teaching plans and oversee the Development of SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) Healthcare Simulation Immersive Learning Experience.

• Degree of Supervision Required: Minimal.

• Ability to travel 50% or more as needed to support onsite teams and customer assessments of educational needs.