FOUNDATIONS PROJECT MANAGER

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for six consecutive years.

The School of Medicine has an outstanding opportunity for a Foundations Project Manager – Term 1 (Program Operations Specialist).

The individual in this role will manage four basic science and clinical integrated blocks for the Foundations Phase of the Medical School Curriculum: Mind, Brain, and Behavior; and Circulatory Systems; Muskuloskeletal.

The Foundations phase is 18 months in length and consists of a total of 7 integrated blocks and other integrated content which is delivered across the five WWAMI states (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) to over 270 students annually. The Foundations Manager will manage curriculum congruency, implementation, delivery, operational logistics and continuous improvement for four integrated basic science and clinical medicine blocks across the 5 WWAMI states. This position will be a representative of the Curriculum Unit in Academic Affairs, managing the day-to-day operational activities of the four Foundations blocks to ensure operational efficiency and curricular congruence. The Foundations Project Manager reports directly to the Curriculum Manager and takes direction from the Director for Curriculum and Associate Dean for Curriculum. The Foundations Project Manager works closely with the Academic Affairs deans, directors, managers, and staff, and School of Medicine faculty, staff and students within the five-state WWAMI region regarding medical student curriculum related programs and serves as a resource for questions from individuals within the University and the community. The Foundations Project Manager is expected to independently interpret and implement university, state and federal educational policies and procedures. This position will exercise independent judgment, solve problems, and develop innovative approaches to the management of a wide variety of curriculum initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Foundations Project Manager will work across the Academic Affairs Office and closely interface with the Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs, Associate Dean for Curriculum, and Chief of Staff of UW Medicine in the Office of the Dean, and Director of Curriculum to manage the implementation and initiate continuous improvement strategies for four foundations blocks within the School of Medicine. The manager will provide analysis of congruent curriculum delivery across six universities, five of which offer semester schedules, and one (UW) on a quarter schedule. The Foundations Project Manager will advise, block directors, instructors and deans on needed changes and improvements to the curriculum to meet school, state and national/federal guidelines for accreditation and financial aid and implement and document these changes and improvements.

Major duties and responsibilities to include:

Independently provide curriculum guidance and expertise to the six Regional Assistant Deans, eight foundation block leaders, instructors and administrators for Mind, Brain, and Behavior; and Circulatory Systems; Muskuloskeletal. Advise on implementing the foundations curriculum at their site and serve as a liaison between School of Medicine curriculum staff and deans, faculty and other leaders on issues of curriculum.

Partner with Foundation Block Directors, instructors and regional administrators in developing, maintaining and implementing their curriculum. Utilize project management techniques and tools to track and monitor timetables, action items, deliverables and contingency plans.

Chair weekly and monthly meetings with Foundation Block Directors, instructors and regional site administrators for Mind, Brain, and Behavior; and Circulatory Systems; Muskuloskeletal to include: develop agenda items, prioritize work packages, monitor and follow through on action items, and synthesize disparate sources of data and information to inform actions, decision making and approval pathways.

Communicate action steps, priorities and stakeholder needs to Foundation Block Directors, instructors and staff. Communicate concerns regarding Foundations curriculum to School of Medicine leadership.

Initiate strategic plans and assist with process for systematic review and evaluation of curricular innovation, including development and monitoring of outcomes and plans of action for improvement.

Author policy and procedure documentation for the management and administration of the renewed curriculum.

Develop Gantt charts and other project management tools to plan the curriculum renewal implementation and timeline to meet deadlines.

Organize the work of all foundation block committees and retreats, including collecting and refining minutes and follow through on action items.

Present to stakeholder groups on topics such as technology implementation, distance learning, and how to establish congruent educational activities across six campuses.

Author and revise curriculum website and write and manage social media and other marketing communications. Develop written communication materials and collaborate with faculty to draft special communications, including newsletters on the Foundations Curriculum and distribute broadly to UW Medicine faculty, regional faculty, staff, and students.

Initiate reports and participate in meetings with School of Medicine senior leadership to review the status of the Foundations Curriculum to assess effectiveness and alignment with School of Medicine curriculum initiatives; attend primary committee meetings and provide support as needed, such as, attending and scheduling highly sensitive committee meetings.

Meet with members of the School of Medicine community to ensure transparency and problem solve issues regarding curriculum implementation.

Support the activities of committee chairs, including the creation of surveys, interview comparable medical schools on best practices and conduct research on current national medical education pedagogy.

Work with the leadership of the Center for Medical Education in their activities related to faculty development and assist with the development of faculty development curriculum to teach the teachers the latest educational delivery methodologies such as active learning, modeling the flipped classroom and team based learning.

Lead Responsibilities:

Same situation as Supervisor Responsibilities below.

Supervisor Responsibilities:

This position does not currently supervise any direct staff, but may have future supervisory responsibility as the Medical School continues to expand its staffing to correspond with the increasing class size over the next four years. The Foundation project manager does assign and direct the work of others to support the curriculum. The Foundations project manager has coordinating oversight responsibility to work with SOM department faculty and staff assigned to work curricular issues. Working with the various department-based faculty and staff that support the foundations curriculum, the Foundations project manager outlines curriculum-based requirements and follows through to ensure that all timelines and program requirements are achieved.

REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree with minimum 2 years professional administrative experience.

Excellent project management skills, including working knowledge of project management methodologies and technologies.

Advanced skills with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Experience with web site development, software, implementation and maintenance.

Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills.

Experience in a team-based, collaborative work environment.

Experience leading teams and running meetings.

Demonstrated experience working in large, highly structured environments.

DESIRED

Higher degree desirable.

Background in in higher education; preferable medical education.

Experience with Canvas learning management software, and curriculum management systems.

The position frequently requires the employee to work beyond a normal work week (e.g. more than 40 hours a week) and intermittently requires evening and weekend time to meet project deadlines and attend meetings.

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.