Academic Policy & Programs Governance Lead

University of California - Davis; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

University of California, Davis's Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing seeks a senior program policy analyst to lead academic program implementation, governance, and accreditation activities across School of Nursing programs. You will guide decisions through documentation, communication, and systems updates.

The role requires advanced judgment, strategic planning, and strong collaboration with faculty, staff, and campus partners to ensure compliance and ongoing program quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience / training.
• Experience supporting and advancing accreditation and audit readiness activities, including maintaining and improving documentation practices, monitoring compliance-related processes, and strengthening procedures to reduce operational risk.
• Advanced knowledge of academic policies, regulatory requirements, and institutional approval processes related to health professions education, including faculty governance, accreditation, Registrar, Graduate Studies, and other campus review functions, with the ability to apply this knowledge to complex academic program operations across multiple programs.
• Advanced knowledge of health professions education program administration, curriculum requirements, and operational processes, with the ability to serve as a subject matter resource on implementation of program changes, policy requirements, and governance-related actions.
• Advanced analytical and operational planning skills to assess complex issues, identify risks and dependencies, evaluate downstream impacts, and develop effective solutions that improve program quality, consistency, and operational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and improve complex processes and systems supporting academic program operations, documentation, compliance, and cross-program coordination.
• Advanced project management skills to lead multiple high-complexity initiatives simultaneously, develop project plans, establish timelines and deliverables, monitor progress, manage risk, and guide projects from planning through completion.
• Strong strategic communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear written materials, communicate complex policy and procedural requirements, facilitate stakeholder understanding, and tailor communications to faculty, leadership, campus partners, and administrative audiences.
• Advanced interpersonal, consultation, and collaboration skills to build effective working relationships across academic and administrative units, coordinate with multiple stakeholders, and influence implementation of program actions and process improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise a high degree of independent judgment and autonomy in managing work of broad scope and complexity, resolving issues without clear precedent, and making sound recommendations related to program operations, governance processes, and implementation strategy.
• Advanced organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage complex records, track multiple concurrent workstreams, maintain audit- and accreditation-ready documentation, and ensure accurate follow-through on governance and program implementation activities.
• Advanced knowledge of data management, documentation methods, and reporting practices sufficient to monitor implementation progress, evaluate operational impacts, identify issues, and communicate findings and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement and standardization efforts across programs or functional areas, including development of tools, workflows, documentation standards, and implementation practices that increase efficiency and consistency.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a lead resource or technical expert in a specialized area, including providing guidance to peers, supporting continuity of operations through cross-training, and promoting consistent implementation practices across programs.
• Strong technical proficiency with office, documentation, and reporting tools to develop high-quality tracking systems, reports, materials, and records that support academic program operations and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and sound judgment and to apply institutional expectations related to privacy, documentation, and data stewardship.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and to supporting equitable and transparent academic and administrative processes.

Responsibilities

• 45% - Academic Program Alignment & Policy Liaison
• 30% - Faculty Governance & Academic Operations Support
• 15% - Academic Program Continuous Improvement Project Management
• 10% - Team Participation & Cross-Functional Support

Skills

Bachelor's degree

Accreditation & audit readiness

Policy governance knowledge

Data management & documentation

Project management

Strategic communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Independent judgment

Attention to detail

Privacy & data stewardship

Education

Bachelor's degree in health professions education or related field

Master's degree in higher education/health professions education or related field (preferred)

Job description

University of California, Davis's Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing seeks a senior program policy analyst to lead academic program implementation, governance, and accreditation activities across School of Nursing programs. You will guide decisions through documentation, communication, and systems updates.

The role requires advanced judgment, strategic planning, and strong collaboration with faculty, staff, and campus partners to ensure compliance and ongoing program quality.