Director, Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education (CTCCE)

Director, Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education (CTCCE)

The Director of the Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education (CTCCE) provides executive leadership, strategic vision, and operational oversight for a comprehensive academic and professional education center serving multidisciplinary healthcare audiences. Reporting to departmental leadership within the School of Medicine and VCU Health, the director is responsible for advancing CTCCE's mission through strategic planning, fiscal stewardship, accreditation oversight, program innovation, research development, and regional partnership engagement.

The director ensures that CTCCE's programs align with institutional priorities, national accreditation standards, and the evolving needs of healthcare systems, EMS agencies, military partners, and academic stakeholders. This position requires demonstrated expertise in educational leadership, financial management, regulatory compliance, and organizational development.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop, implement, and periodically revise a comprehensive multi-year strategic plan for the CTCCE aligned with the missions of the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, the VCU Health Level 1 trauma Center and Network, and VCU Health System.
• Identify and pursue innovative opportunities for program growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, and revenue diversification.
• Establish measurable goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess programmatic effectiveness and operational sustainability.
• Lead change management initiatives in response to institutional, regulatory, or market shifts.
• Serve as the primary advocate and spokesperson for CTCCE initiatives within the health system and the broader regional EMS and trauma community.

Financial Strategy & Budget Oversight

• Direct the strategic development, implementation, and oversight of the center's annual operating budget.
• Lead the annual budget planning process in collaboration with Assistant Directors and Program Managers, ensuring alignment between financial resources, operational priorities, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze revenue streams and expenditures on an ongoing basis to ensure fiscal responsibility and budget neutrality.
• Conduct financial forecasting, risk assessment, and cost-containment planning to maintain long-term operational sustainability.
• Identify and implement new revenue-generating opportunities including contracts, military partnerships, grants, and course expansion.
• Provide transparent financial reporting to institutional leadership and ensure compliance with university and health system financial policies.
• Ensure appropriate allocation and lifecycle planning for personnel, equipment, facilities, and educational resources.

Program Development & Academic Oversight

• Provide executive oversight for the design, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs serving medical students, residents, fellows, nurses, paramedics, military personnel, and other healthcare professionals.
• Ensure programs adhere to accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, and national best practices.
• Promote educational innovation utilizing diverse instructional modalities including simulation, cadaver labs, didactic instruction, hybrid models, and online learning.
• Establish quality assurance mechanisms to ensure continuous program improvement.
• Maintain awareness of emerging trends in trauma, critical care, EMS education, and simulation-based training.

Training Center Governance & Compliance

• Serve as or designate leadership for official training centers affiliated with national organizations including, but not limited to:
• American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center
• National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) Training Center
• American College of Surgeons Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Program
• Ensure full compliance with all parent organization standards, monitoring requirements, documentation, and instructor oversight expectations.
• Maintain institutional standing and accreditation status across all affiliated training entities.

Paramedic Program Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of the VCU Health Paramedic Program.
• Supervise the Paramedic Program Director and ensure compliance with CAAHEP/CoAEMSP accreditation standards.
• Monitor program outcomes, including student progression, certification performance metrics, and accreditation benchmarks.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with Virginia Department of Health EMS regulations.

Research & Scholarship

• Foster a culture of inquiry and scholarly activity within CTCCE.
• Mentor faculty and staff in educational and clinical research initiatives.
• Seek and secure external funding to support research, workforce development, and innovation.
• Promote dissemination of scholarship through presentations, publications, and regional/national conferences.
• Explore opportunities to develop an EMS or trauma-focused research pipeline aligned with institutional priorities.

Operations & Administrative Leadership

• Responsible for the overall operations of CTCCE including staffing, scheduling, facility utilization, equipment management, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and implement operational policies, standard operating procedures, and administrative workflows.
• Ensure efficient utilization of physical space, simulation resources, and educational assets.
• Maintain compliance with university, health system, and external regulatory requirements.

Faculty & Staff Development

• Recruit, retain, and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
• Establish clear performance expectations and conduct regular performance evaluations.
• Promote professional development and succession planning.

Collaboration & External Partnerships

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders including Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Employee Professional Development, and the Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with regional EMS agencies, military branches, governmental agencies, and community organizations.
• Represent CTCCE in institutional and regional committees including (but not limited to):
• Trauma Patient Care Committee
• Old Dominion EMS Alliance
• Trauma Site Accreditation activities
• Ivatury Trauma Symposium planning
• Surgery Leadership meetings
• Shining Knights Committee
• EMS Outreach Committee

Fundraising & Grant Development

• Actively pursue grants, contracts, and philanthropic funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with institutional development offices to secure external support.
• Develop sustainable funding models for educational and workforce initiatives.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Master's degree in Emergency Medical Services, Healthcare Administration, Education, Public Health, or related field.
• Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP).
• Virginia Department of Health EMS Education Coordinator certification (or eligibility).
• Demonstrated experience in budget development, financial oversight, and fiscal management.
• Proven track record of program growth, revenue generation, and operational sustainability.
• Demonstrated executive leadership experience in a healthcare or academic environment.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans.
• Experience improving operational and administrative efficiencies.
• Extensive knowledge of CAAHEP/CoAEMSP accreditation standards.
• Previous experience as American Heart Association Training Center Faculty.
• Extensive knowledge of Richmond metropolitan EMS and trauma systems.
• Knowledge of trauma center verification and accreditation requirements.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative partnerships across multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as an AHA Training Center Coordinator and/or Training Center Administrator.
• Current AHA Training Center Faculty status.
• Experience as a NAEMT Training Center Coordinator.
• National Association of EMTs Affiliate Faculty status.
• Previous experience as a Paramedic Program Director at a CAAHEP-accredited program.
• Experience managing military or federal training contracts.
• Experience securing external grant funding.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications or scholarly presentations.
• Experience leading simulation-based educational programs.

Salary Range: Exempt

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 43.3

Virginia Department of Human Resource Management