The Director of Educational Partnerships plays a critical leadership role in planning, directing, and implementing education and training initiatives across undergraduate medical education and graduate research programs within the Houston Methodist Academic Institute (HMAI). The Director ensures that all students and trainees are immersed in the interdisciplinary and translational research and medical education experiences that define HMAI’s academic mission.

Looking for a proven educational professional, who has exhibited successful leadership experience in an academic setting, this position serves as a strategic liaison between HMAI and its affiliated academic institutions. Leading the teams who support joint program students including the Texas A&M University (EnMed, MD/PhD programs, and medical student clerkships and rotations) and Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (PhD) programs, the director‘s primary responsibilities include accountability for staff and manager evaluation, budget planning and oversight, operational leadership, and fostering a collaborative work environment.

A key resource for HMAI faculty and institutional leadership, the director will foster a culture of academic excellence. A strong, collaborative communicator, the Director is responsible for building and maintaining productive relationships with internal departments and external academic partners. This individual brings proven expertise in navigating and applying accreditation standards and regulatory requirements, ensuring institutional compliance across all educational offerings. The Director is expected to lead with integrity, setting a clear tone for operational and professional standards that reflect Houston Methodist’s ICARE values in all aspects of trainee and staff experience.

Reporting to the Chief Education Officer and campus faculty leadership, the Director also plays an integral role in enhancing HMAI’s national and international academic reputation. This includes representing Houston Methodist on various internal and external committees, participation in national educational activities, and ensuring compliant educational operations. Through strong leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement, the Director ensures that all educational partnership programs at HMAI exceed standards of excellence and support the institution’s long-term academic goals.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives.

• Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.

• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.

• Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes.

• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one's area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.

• Serves as liaison for Student Affairs between University partners and HMAI. Provides leadership and support to the students that are a part of the joint programs of the Office of Graduate Studies to ensure that committee meetings are held, properdocumentation and timeline management is being met.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.

• Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.

• Organizes operations, staff and activities of Houston Methodist undergraduate education and training programs to ensure superior delivery consistent with partnership and learner needs and expectations, with primary oversight of the Texas A&M, Weill Cornell, University of St. Thomas, and other joint partnership programs to include: medical student clerkships and; EnMed, to include curriculum development, student selection, and program oversight for Houston Methodist; MD/PhD program.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable.

• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.

• Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, w0age and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).

• Develops and shares regular reports with HMAI leadership to demonstrate the effectiveness of education and training strategies and programs in the areas of undergraduate medical education and research training programs.

• Continuously evaluates organized and integrated education programs including orientation, in-services, continuing education and competency programs to further develop expertise.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost- effectiveness.

• Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.

• Assumes primary oversight and responsibility for the fiscal administration and integrity of the A&M partnership including purchasing, inventory management, monthly account management and budget reporting.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity or system operations by leading unit projects and/or other department/ system-directed activities. Proactively leads task forces and committees. May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings.

• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.

• Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan on an on-going basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development.

• Develops and administratively directs joint programs that HMAI Office of Graduate Studies has strategically formed with national and international universities that includes maintaining accreditation requirements including curriculum and program development, student recruitment, student placement, enforcing program guidelines to ensure graduation.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Master's degree in Business (MBA) or Healthcare Administration (MHA)

• Doctorate preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Five years of progressively responsible experience healthcare administration or closely related field, of which three years must have been in a people management role with an emphasis on student and academic affairs; for internal employees, four years of experience in relevant field with two years leadership experience with HM performance that demonstrates progressive responsible management experience with an emphasis on student and academic affairs

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially about activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one's intentions and those of the organization

• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one's own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved

• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills

• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences

• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes

• Demonstrates highly effective communication skills-strong written communications and platform presentation abilities

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment

• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace

• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership

• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented

• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software

• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor

• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information

• Active member of pertinent professional organization

• Excellent budget and financial management proficiency in an academic environment

• Knowledge of Federal and State HR regulations, visa and immigration laws and procedures

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Houston Methodist Academic Institute (formerly the Houston Methodist Research Institute) was formed in 2004 to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies, and treatments. The research institute was created to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors, and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease. A 540,000 square foot building dedicated to research and clinical trials, the academic institute houses over 2,047 credentialed researchers conducting 1,470 ongoing clinical protocols.