Simulation & IT Specialist, Austin

Fairfield University; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfield University’s Austin Campus is seeking a Simulation & IT Specialist to provide operational support for the Egan Simulation Center and related labs. The role includes managing inventory, supporting classroom technologies, and collaborating with faculty to enhance instructional experiences at the Austin campus.

The candidate will program and run simulation scenarios, troubleshoot equipment, and mentor staff on various technologies, ensuring seamless teaching and learning across courses.

Qualifications

• 1 year minimum experience in healthcare simulation.
• At least 2 years of IT/technology experience.
• Ability to lift and move simulation equipment up to 100 pounds.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily maintenance, safety, and organization of the simulation center.
• Set up and break down equipment stations for courses and practice sessions.
• Collaborate with faculty to determine educational needs each semester.
• Serve as simulator operator: program, test, and run scenarios with instructors.
• Repair or resolve problems with technical equipment and escalate to vendors when needed.
• Maintain inventory levels and manage hardware/software updates.
• Develop and deliver instructional short courses and video tutorials on supported technologies.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Simulator technology

LMS (Blackboard)

Microsoft Office 365

Customer service

A/V troubleshooting

Documentation

Education

Associate’s degree or higher in technology, education, health professions or related field

Tools

Blackboard

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Job Description: DIVISION: Academic DEPARTMENT: Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies, Austin Campus BASIC FUNCTION: The Simulation & IT Specialist provides operational and technical support for all operations of Egan Simulation Center and laboratory experiences in Austin Texas. This role is also responsible for inventory management and works closely with the Simulation Educator and Director of Simulation to meet the needs of Egan programs. In addition, the Simulation and IT Specialist provides technical support for classroom technologies, instructional systems, and end-user computing to ensure a seamless teaching and learning experience for faculty and students at the Austin campus.

UNUSUAL WORK CONDITIONS: Potential exposure to Bloodborne pathogens.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL NEEDED: Familiarity with use and maintenance of healthcare and simulation equipment.

EDUCATION: Associate’s Degree or higher in technology, education, health professions or related field.

SKILLS: Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Ability to work collaboratively and supportively with students, faculty and staff. Proficient ability to navigate various software platforms and simulator technology. Ability to support classroom audiovisual technologies, as well as Learning Management Systems (Blackboard preferred) and Microsoft Office 365. Strong customer service, interpersonal skills, and communication skills required. Ability to lift and move simulation equipment up to 100 pounds.

EXPERIENCE: 1-year minimum experience in healthcare simulation, at least 2-year experiences in IT/technology work.

SUPERVISION OF PERSONNEL: INDIRECT Student lab assistants, as appropriate.

REPORTS TO: Austin Director of Experiential Learning

SPECIFIC JOB DUTIES

• Coordinates the daily maintenance, safety, cleanliness, organization, and function of the simulation center, including the simulation skills laboratory area
• Sets up, re-stocks, straightens, and breaks down equipment stations and testing areas for all courses.
• Organizes space and equipment to be ready for student learning and practice sessions.
• Collaborates with simulation educator and faculty to determine educational needs each semester.
• Serves as simulator operator by programming, testing, and running scenarios with instructors and facilitators
• Organizes space and equipment to be ready for teaching sessions.
• Repairs or resolves a wide variety of problems that may occur with technical equipment.
• Escalates problems to vendors, contractors, or university colleagues as needed until a resolution is reached.
• Collaborates to develop and improve technology systems for simulation, video viewing, and other needs to increase efficiency and provide better service.
• Mentors and trains SIM/LRC staff and faculty on various technologies as well as ITS and technology staff on various learning platforms and other technology.
• Oversees technology support staff in delivering various routine services.
• Establishes and maintains effective communications networking with other simulation programs and other technology specialists, and vendors about services.
• Develops and delivers instructional short courses on the use of supported technology products and provides personalized instruction one-on-one to meet specialized needs.
• Creates video tutorials on a variety of subjects related to SIM/LRC services as needed.
• Monitors and performs preventive maintenance of equipment according to manufacturers’ recommendations.
• Monitors scheduled maintenance to ensure that equipment is operational.
• Works with manufacturers or vendors to correct equipment deficiencies in order to minimize down time.
• Manages inventory levels
• Directs and installs hardware and software updates provided by equipment and software suppliers.
• Supports the short-, intermediate-, and long-term teaching, research, and revenue-generating goals of the Center through IT/technical specifications needed.
• Establishes and maintains records pertaining to simulation center use, education provided, inventory, and repair and maintenance of simulators.
• Maintains student confidentiality.
• Collaborates with Director of Simulation regarding purchase of IT equipment and supplies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Compliance

• Accurately and securely manage student and faculty compliance documentation in a secure electronic filing system, ensuring compliance with program, agency, state, University, and accreditation standards.
• Monitor adherence to site-specific policies and procedures that students and faculty must meet to complete clinical course work.
• Maintain deadlines to submit site-specific attestation letters and additional student/faculty documentation as required.

Classroom Technology Support Responsibilities

• Provide on-site technical support for classroom technology, including instructor workstations, projectors, interactive displays, audio systems, microphones and presentation technologies
• Configure, maintain, troubleshot and repair classroom technology to ensure reliable operation for instructional activities
• Perform preventative maintenance and routine classroom technology inspections
• Maintain classroom, technology standards and equipment inventories
• Support faculty, staff and students in the effective use of instructional technologies
• Assist faculty with classroom technology, instructional software and hybrid teaching environments
• Support technology orientation sessions and training workshops
• Ensure classroom technology provides an equitable experience for both in-person and remote participants
• Collaborate with the Support Services team for classroom, Desktop and Helpdesk technology standards
• Escalate incidents to appropriate ITS teams
• Escalate complex incidents through the ITS Help Desk following established procedures

Category: Academic - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check. Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Founded in 1942, Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic University rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. With campuses located in Fairfield, CT Bridgeport, CT, and Austin, TX, we strive to create a workforce that is rich in skill, knowledge, and pride in our work. Members of the Fairfield University community exhibit mutual respect, compassion, and inclusivity, aspiring to be a welcoming environment representative of an ever-changing and diverse global populace. As our University rises in national prominence, we are committed to fostering a healthy workplace and lifestyle for our employees. At Fairfield, the future is filled with opportunities as limitless as your potential, and they all begin with you.