Associate Director for Curriculum Development & Online Education
About The Position
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.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) or equivalent work experience
- 5-7 years of experience (7+ preferred) in course development, grounded in pedagogical principles, for graduate students and/or professionals; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proficiency in online instructional design
- Strengths in communication (to various audiences and across multiple modes), analytical thinking, problem solving, organization, flexibility, creativity, teamwork, initiative, foresight, and strategic thinking to advance the mission of MEHP Online.
Nice To Haves
- Higher education instruction
- Practice in design-thinking methodology
- Familiarity with Canvas
- Broad health care knowledge
Responsibilities
- Lead curriculum development for online graduate and continuing education programs that are applicable, feasible, viable, and sustainable.
- Ensure that the curriculum is coherent, relevant, and foresighted. Integrate program competencies and address emerging priorities across courses.
- Assess the need for course updates with faculty and partner with them on major course designs and refreshes.
- 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.
- Lead CME workshop design and learning.
- Sustain a culture and practices of pedagogical excellence, valuing faculty expertise and student experience.
- Shape assessment strategy and ensure that all graduate courses are rigorous and effective for health care professionals.
- 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.
- Design learning activities that build interprofessional community to deepen understanding and increase impact, while fostering respect, trust, and safety for all participants.
- Lead the development and implementation of academic policy.
- Serve as a pedagogical thought partner within MEHP and across Penn. Contribute to outward‑facing teaching, scholarship, and thought leadership that strengthens the program’s reputation.
- Lead instructional operations and staff, and contribute to MEHP Online team senior leadership.
- Supervise two FTE direct reports to ensure quality and enable professional growth. Maintain and supervise a roster of teaching assistants.
- Shape online educational initiatives as a nimble, thoughtful collaborator with the Director and fellow Associate Directors. Assess and recommend policy, operations, educational content, or individuals to address opportunities and manage crises.
- Plan instructional budget and assess resources with Director of Online Educational Initiatives.
- Provide strategic leadership in expanding educational opportunities from MEHP Online.
- Lead opportunities for external specialists to supplement faculty expertise, including co-curricular programming for in-person Seminar and synchronous events.
- Build relationships within Penn and Penn Medicine for MEHP Online to serve as an educational resource to help individuals and interprofessional groups drive innovation.
Benefits
- Excellent healthcare
- Tuition benefits for employees and their families
- Generous retirement benefits
- Wide variety of professional development opportunities
- Supportive work and family benefits
- Wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- Flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care expenses
- Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children
- Retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth basis options
- Wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard
- Substantial amount of time away from work
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Wellness and Work-life Resources
- Professional and Personal Development resources
- Access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities
- Discounts and Special Services (arts and entertainment, transportation, mortgages, new cars, cellular phone service, movie tickets, theme parks)
- Flexible Work Hours
- Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
- Adoption Assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
