Director of COM Performance Excellence

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Maryland.

📋 Description

• Develop and oversee a national program focused on accreditation excellence and quality enhancement for osteopathic medical colleges.

• Act as AACOM's primary expert on the current and evolving standards set by COCA and the accreditation lifecycle.

• Assist member COMs in preparing for initial accreditation, comprehensive site visits, self-studies, mid-cycle reviews, focused visits, and accreditation decisions.

• Provide direction on interpreting standards, compliance strategies, documentation of evidence, assessment planning, self-study preparation, and readiness for accreditation.

• Review draft self-study documents and evidence portfolios, offering personalized consultation.

• Lead initiatives aimed at quality improvement and enhancement in continuous performance.

• Design, implement, and assess programs, frameworks, rubrics, and self-assessment tools.

• Link accreditation improvements to strategic planning, outcomes assessment, and data-driven decision-making.

• Conduct original research on processes, outcomes, and trends related to accreditation.

• Analyze public accreditation data and examine self-study reports and site-visit results.

• Create and sustain dashboards, analytical tools, and longitudinal data resources for benchmarking purposes.

• Generate research papers, white papers, briefs, and peer-reviewed articles.

• Develop accreditation toolkits, templates, exemplars, workshops, webinars, training programs, and opportunities for professional growth.

• Facilitate peer-learning networks and communities of practice.

• Investigate and test AI-assisted analysis of accreditation documents and simulation-based self-study preparations.

• Establish collaboratives for quality improvement across institutions and assess innovative approaches.

• Represent AACOM in national forums, conferences, and working groups.

• Keep track of national and international developments in accreditation policy and evaluate their potential impacts.

• Foster relationships with COCA leadership, institutional accreditors, and various stakeholders.

• Draft position papers, comment letters, policy recommendations, scholarly works, and related documents.

• Present research outcomes and program results at national conferences.

• Collaborate with AACOM's communications team.

• Report to the Senior Vice President, Research, Learning, and Innovation.

• Supervise volunteer faculty and staff members and may manage consultants or temporary personnel.

⛳️ Requirements

• A master's degree in education, health professions education, higher education administration, improvement science, or a closely related discipline, such as an M.S.Ed., M.Ed., M.S., or equivalent.

• A terminal professional degree, such as a Ph.D., Ed.D., D.O., or M.D., along with significant scholarly work in medical education will also be considered.

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in medical education, accreditation, institutional effectiveness, or quality improvement within a higher education or health professions context.

• Capability to develop in-depth knowledge of the COCA New and Continuing Accreditation Standards and the accreditation lifecycle for osteopathic medical colleges.

• Proficiency in research design, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and scholarly writing, evidenced by a record of peer-reviewed publications.

• Expertise in institutional effectiveness, program assessment, and/or improvement science methodologies.

• Understanding of the broader health professions education accreditation landscape, including LCME, CHEA, and U.S. Department of Education requirements.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex regulatory and research information into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences.

• Proven ability to design and facilitate professional development programs, workshops, and training sessions for adult learners.

• Proficiency in data analysis tools and survey platforms.

• Strong project management skills, with the capacity to handle multiple simultaneous initiatives and meet deadlines.

• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively across departments and with member institutions and external stakeholders.

• Preferred direct experience with COCA or LCME accreditation processes.

• Preferred experience in data visualization and dashboard development.

• Familiarity with AI applications in education and institutional research is preferred.

• Willingness to travel domestically up to 20% of the time.

🏝️ Benefits

• Annual bonus program.

• 403(b) plan with a generous employer contribution.

• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Company-provided life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability plans.

• Flexible Spending Account.

• 12 annual company-paid holidays.

• Vacation and sick leave benefits.

• Opportunities for professional development.

• Remote work arrangement.