SPI Program Director

Program Manager for University of Michigan School of Dentistry's SPI ProgramThe Program Manager provides strategic, administrative, and operational leadership for the University of Michigan School of Dentistry's Standardized Patient Instructor (SPI) Program. The SPI program uses trained individuals to portray patients, teach communication and provide learner-centered feedback, and support assessment of dental and dental hygiene students. This position operates in an academic health professions education setting and reports to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.The Program Manager works collaboratively with faculty, curriculum leaders, staff, students, SPIs, University and national partners to design, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve standardized-patient educational experiences. The position is responsible for program planning, personnel management, case implementation, scheduling and logistics, budget administration, data and quality assurance, and compliance with applicable University and School requirements. The Program Manager exercises independent judgment in managing routine program operations and consults leadership regarding significant personnel, financial, safety, curricular, legal, or policy matters.For more information about us please visit the school's website for the Assistant Program Manager LevelCoordinate daily SPI activities, including encounters, simulations, examinations, training, and educational events.Manage schedules, assignments, attendance, substitutions, rooms, equipment, technology, and other logistical needs.Provide on-site and virtual support and troubleshoot operational issues.Maintain calendars, workflows, checklists, procedures, and contingency plans.Assist with recruitment, screening, selection, onboarding, and ongoing support of 20-30 SPIs.Coordinate required documentation, orientation, training, compliance, and system/facility access.Serve as a primary resource for SPIs regarding schedules, expectations, policies, and assignments.Track availability, participation, training, performance, and readiness.Promote a respectful and psychologically safe SPI work environment.Assist with planning and delivering SPI training and orientation.Support SPIs in case preparation, portrayal standards, communication, assessment, and feedback techniques.Monitor encounters for consistency, quality, and adherence to protocols.Gather feedback and support quality improvement, remediation, and retraining.Help ensure consistent implementation across sessions and learner groups.Collaborate with faculty, course directors, instructional staff, and administrators to implement educational activities.Communicate schedules, expectations, procedures, and changes to participants.Orient students and faculty to SPI encounters, professional conduct, and feedback processes.Address routine questions and concerns and escalate complex issues as appropriate.Develop effective working relationships across the School of Dentistry and University.Maintain accurate and confidential scheduling, attendance, training, assessment, and participation records.Enter, verify, and report program data using University systems and other technology.Support surveys, evaluations, program reports, quality improvement, and accreditation activities.Ensure secure handling of confidential and assessment-related information and materials.Assist with SPI time reporting, payments, purchasing, expenses, and supply management.Monitor routine program expenditures and maintain supporting documentation.Prepare correspondence, meeting materials, reports, and presentations.Document procedures and support administrative workflow improvements.Participate in program and School meetings, professional development, and continuous improvement activities.Perform other related duties as assigned.Provide functional direction, scheduling oversight, and day-of-event coordination to SPIs, temporary employees, student staff, and volunteers.Required QualificationsRequired Qualifications for the Assistant Program Manager positionBachelor's degree in education, healthcare, public health, psychology, performing arts, communication, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.Two or more years of relevant experience in program coordination, administration, training, event planning, healthcare education, or an academic setting.Experience coordinating complex logistics, including scheduling, training sessions, instructional activities, or assessments.Strong organizational, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, work independently, and collaborate effectively.Demonstrated discretion in handling confidential information.Proficiency with office software, scheduling, spreadsheets, databases, videoconferencing, and learning management systems.Commitment to fostering a respectful, inclusive, accessible, and psychologically safe environment.Required Qualifications for Program Manager LevelBachelor's degree in education, healthcare, public health, psychology, performing arts, communication, business or organizational administration, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.At least three years of progressively responsible experience in program coordination or management, preferably in healthcare education, simulation, standardized-patient programming, or an academic environment.Experience recruiting, training, scheduling, supervising, or evaluating employees, temporary staff, instructors, actors, volunteers, or standardized patients.Demonstrated success managing complex programs involving multiple stakeholders, schedules, facilities, and deadlines.Strong project-management, organizational, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.Ability to exercise sound judgment, work independently, and manage sensitive or confidential matters appropriately.Proficiency with common office, scheduling, database, spreadsheet, videoconferencing, and learning-management technologies.Demonstrated commitment to an inclusive, accessible, respectful, and psychologically safe learning and working environment.Ability to perform the position's essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.Desired QualificationsDesired qualifications for the Assistant Program Manager LevelExperience with standardized patients, simulation-based education, health-professions education, or dental education.Experience recruiting, onboarding, training, or coordinating employees, temporary staff, actors, volunteers, or community participants.Familiarity with learner assessment, structured feedback, or competency-based education.Experience with U-M administrative systems or comparable higher-education systems.Knowledge of program evaluation, data reporting, quality improvement, or accreditation support.Experience supporting diverse learners and community members.Desired Qualifications for Program Manager LevelMaster's degree in education, healthcare, public health, performing arts, organizational leadership, business administration, or a related discipline.Experience managing a standardized patient or simulation-based education program.Experience in dental, medical, nursing, or other health-professions education.Knowledge of objective structured clinical examinations, competency-based education, learner assessment, structured feedback, and inter-rater reliability.Experience developing standardized-patient cases, training protocols, assessment rubrics, and quality-assurance processes.Prior supervisory and budget-management experience.Familiarity with U-M systems, policies, and administrative processes.Relevant professional certification or training in healthcare simulation or standardized-patient methodology.Experience with program evaluation, accreditation, scholarship, or educational research.Why Work at Michigan?The School of Dentistry is consistently ranked as the #1 dental school in the United States and the world. We embrace diversity in many forms and champion diversity of thought and culture. Our Mission, core values, and additional information about our school can be found on our website. The University of Michigan also offers comprehensive benefits to help you stay well and to support you as you plan for a secure future. Benefits include:Generous paid time off for vacations, holidays, sick time, season days, and paid parental leave.A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions after the first year of employment.Many choices for comprehensive health insuranceLife insurance