Program Director

Empowered Staffing; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Empowered Staffing partners with a leading career college to appoint an experienced Program Director for the AAS in Surgical Technology. The role leads the program, oversees faculty and curriculum, ensures accreditation compliance, and supports student success.

Strong relationships with clinical partners and healthcare employers are essential. The position focuses on program oversight, instructor development, curriculum alignment with industry standards, and continuous improvement to achieve

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years within the past 10 years in OR scrub, Surgical Technology teaching, or both.
• Education or experience in instructional methodology, curriculum design, and program planning.
• Strong understanding of Surgical Technology education, clinical practices, and industry standards.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership for the Surgical Technology program and ensure program oversight.
• Interview, hire, onboard, train, mentor, and evaluate instructors and lab staff.
• Manage instructor schedules, teaching assignments, workloads, and course logistics.
• Oversee curriculum development and alignment with accreditation standards.
• Monitor curriculum effectiveness using accreditation outcomes, employer feedback, and trends.
• Maintain compliance with CAAHEP/ARC/STSA standards and site-visit prep.
• Ensure FERPA compliance and safeguard student records.

Skills

Instructional methodology

Curriculum design

Program planning

Organization

Time management

Verbal communication

Written communication

Education

Education/Experience in instructional methodology

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Word

Excel

Teams

Job description

Empowered Staffing is partnered with a leading career college seeking an experienced Program Director to oversee its AAS in Surgical Technology program.

They are looking for a Program Director to lead the Surgical Technology program, oversee faculty and curriculum, maintain accreditation compliance, support student success, and build relationships with healthcare employers and clinical partners.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Lead the overall Surgical Technology program, providing academic leadership, program oversight, and continuous evaluation.
• Interview, hire, onboard, train, mentor, and evaluate Surgical Technology instructors and laboratory assistants.
• Manage instructor schedules, teaching assignments, workloads, course logistics, and instructional coverage.
• Oversee curriculum development and ensure coursework aligns with industry standards, certification requirements, and accreditation expectations.
• Monitor and evaluate curriculum effectiveness using accreditation requirements, certification outcomes, employer feedback, and industry trends.
• Maintain compliance with CAAHEP and ARC/STSA accreditation standards, including required documentation, reports, outcomes data, and site-visit preparation.
• Ensure compliance with FERPA and institutional policies related to student records and confidentiality.
• Monitor student success metrics, including attendance, academic progress, certification outcomes, retention, and graduation rates.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve student retention, completion, certification success, and overall program outcomes.
• Develop and maintain relationships with healthcare employers, clinical education sites, vendors, certification organizations, and professional associations.
• Participate in institutional SOP and in-service meetings and support additional academic initiatives and projects as needed.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience within the past 10 years consisting of operating room scrub experience, Surgical Technology teaching experience, or a combination of both.
• Documented education or experience in instructional methodology, curriculum design, and program planning.
• Strong understanding of Surgical Technology education, clinical practices, certification requirements, and industry standards.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.