Executive Director of the Health Sciences Simulation Center

Description:
 

Job Description Summary:
 

Samuel Merritt University (SMU) seeks a visionary and accomplished academic leader to serve as Executive Director of the Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC), a SSiH Accredited Center (Eductaion, Research, and Assessment). The Executive Director will provide strategic, academic, and operational leadership across all SMU campuses (Oakland, Sacramento, San Mateo, and Fresno) to advance the institution’s simulation-based education mission.
As a member of SMU’s academic leadership team, the Executive Director will be instrumental in aligning simulation initiatives with the university’s broader educational and research strategies. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team leader and change agent with a national presence in healthcare simulation, a record of scholarly achievement, and a demonstrated ability to integrate innovation into academic environments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Drive the long-term vision and strategic planning for the HSSC in alignment with SMU’s academic priorities and institutional goals.
• Serve as a key member of the Academic Leadership Team and IT Advisory Group, shaping university-wide strategy in simulation-based learning.
• Cultivate interdisciplinary partnerships across schools, departments, and external stakeholders to position SMU as a national leader in simulation education.

Academic Integration & Innovation

• Ensure strategic integration of simulation into curricula across all academic programs, guided by evidence-based pedagogies and emerging technologies.
• Lead scholarly initiatives and develop a research agenda focused on simulation efficacy, innovation, and education science.
• Foster faculty development and champion excellence in simulation-based learning and teaching through collaboration with instructional design and academic affairs teams.
• Ensure the Simulation Educators are following the HSSC protocols for simulation development, implementation, and evaluation. 
• Remain current with new trends and best practices and lead efforts to incorporate them into the HSSC education operations practices and programs.
• Represent the HSSC on committees, task forces, and other work groups as expected of an academic leader at SMU

Operational & Fiscal Management

• Provide executive oversight of simulation operations across all SMU campuses, ensuring consistency, quality, and effectiveness.
• Manage multi-site budgets, capital planning, and resource allocation to support current operations and future expansion.
• Implement and monitor processes for continuous quality improvement
• Ensure compliance with all accreditation standards at institutional and programmatic levels, including maintaining HSSC’s accreditation through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Talent Leadership & Organizational Culture

• Supervise a diverse, multi-campus team including simulation educators and operations staff.
• Lead recruitment, development, and performance management strategies to build a high-performing, mission-aligned team.
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative workplace culture that embodies SMU’s commitment to excellence and equity.

Partnership Development & External Relations

• Develop and maintain partnerships with healthcare systems, academic institutions, and industry leaders to support program growth and external engagement.
• Identify and pursue revenue-generating opportunities, grants, and collaborations that enhance the HSSC’s capacity and reputation.

REQUIRED SKILLS & CHARACTERISTICS

• Experience in design, implementation, and evaluation of simulation.
• Program management experience
• Education and expertise in instructional design using current and emerging technologies at both course and program level
• Excellent operational skills
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary groups
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Eligible for a Faculty appointment in an academic program
• Demonstrated knowledge of educational technologies
• Demonstrated record of scholarly productivity in areas related to simulation.
• Flexibility in time schedules that will allow for attendance and participation of selected university functions required of all faculty members

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Masters degree or higher in a healthcare profession or related discipline (required)
• Program development experience (required)
• Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSiH) Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) (required)
• A doctoral degree in a healthcare-related educational field (preferred)
• 5 -10 years of clinical experience (preferred)
• 2 - 5 years of teaching/instructional experience with adult learners (preferred)

Employee Status:

Regular

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Exempt)

Time Type:

Full time

Job Shift:

Pay Range:

$180,000 to $221,000.Samuel Merritt University currently provides base salary ranges for all positions-on job advertisements-in the United States based on local requirements. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but-not limited to qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant skills.