Cell Therapy Educational Program Director

Responsibilities

Program Oversight:

• Lead the planning, organization, administration, instruction, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement of the program.
• Ensure the program's effectiveness and compliance with accreditation standards, specifically working towards NAACLS accreditation.
• Develop outcomes assessment tools necessary for NAACLS accreditation and generate the program's annual report to meet NAACLS requirements.
• Provide leadership and vision for creating and implementing a strategic plan for the program.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership to develop and implement program changes based on the organization's needs.
• Work with Human Resources to oversee student recruitment, including creating a marketing plan, managing student selection, onboarding, advisement, and progression.
• Participate in the development and writing of policies, procedures, proposals, and grants, ensuring they are regularly reviewed and updated.
• Coordinate with Information Systems to manage the program's webpage, learning management system, and online application page.
• Foster open and ongoing communication within the department.
• Engage in professional and educational activities for self-development and continuous learning.
• Develop admission protocols and a student handbook for the program.
• Enhance the program's visibility by promoting it at local colleges, professional meetings, and representing it in regional workforce discussions.

Curriculum Design and Training Delivery:

• Ensure the curriculum prepares students for certification and meets current standards.
• Coordinate student schedules within the department and externally as the program expands.
• Oversee and adjust the program curriculum as needed to meet accrediting agency requirements and ensure graduate eligibility for national certification exams.
• Supervise the laboratory assistant for the student laboratory and teach didactic and laboratory courses.
• Engage in a minimum of 36 hours of documented continuing education (CE) every three years, relevant to the program.
• Collaborate with other national centers to establish a standardized curriculum content, including program schedules, course goals and objectives, didactic content and delivery, laboratory exercises, assessments, and student evaluations.
• Work with Leadership to develop plans for orientation, clinical instruction, lab rotations, and student evaluations.
• Maintain regular meetings with students, instructors, and program personnel.
• Create and sustain a learning environment that supports the development of staff, colleagues, and students.

Fiscal and Resource Management:

• Prepare initial and annual budgets and regularly review operations to promote cost containment.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop operating and capital budgets using established accounting principles.
• Approve program purchases and manage the ordering of budgeted laboratory equipment, reagents, and other supplies.
• Manage contracts as needed and evaluate, manage, and advocate for space needs to meet program goals.
• Work with Facilities on laboratory renovations, upkeep, and maintenance.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversee students and interns within the program.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, biology, chemistry, public health, education, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required.
• Master's Degree in medical laboratory science, biology, chemistry, public health, education, or a related field from an accredited college or university is preferred.
• Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist or AABB's Advanced Biotherapies Professional (CABP) certification is required.

Minimum Experience:

• At least five years of progressive experience in a clinical laboratory or GMP Cell Therapy Lab, with a minimum of three years of teaching experience in an accredited program.
• Experience in managing people and projects is required.
• Experience in flow cytometry, microbiology, PCR, and ELISA testing is a plus.