Director Continuing Education and Professional Development

Scheduled Hours
37.5

Position Summary
The Director Continuing Education and Professional Development will lead the strategic development, delivery, and assessment of innovative continuing education programs designed to strengthen and expand the skills of the public health workforce. This role is central to the School's mission to advance population health through lifelong learning, workforce development, and community engagement.

The Director will collaborate with faculty, practitioners, and external partners to identify emerging training needs, design high-quality professional development offerings, and ensure compliance with accreditation standards.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develops and implements a comprehensive strategy for professional development and continuing education aligned with the School's mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
  
• Identifies workforce development trends and opportunities across local, national, and global public health sectors.
  
• Establishes strategic partnerships with health departments, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, governmental agencies, and industry leaders to expand program reach and impact.
  
• Leads the development of revenue-generating continuing education programs that support the School's financial sustainability.
  

Program Development & Delivery

• Oversees the design, development, and implementation of high-quality professional education offerings, including workshops, certificate programs, online courses, webinars, and symposia.
  
• Integrates principles of adult learning, inclusive pedagogy, and innovative technologies into program design.
  
• Collaborates with faculty and subject matter experts to develop curricula responsive to evolving public health workforce needs.
  
• Ensures accessibility and cultural relevance in all offerings to engage diverse learner populations.
  

Assessment, Evaluation, and Accreditation

• Establishes systems to assess learner satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, and skill development.
  
• Analyzes program outcomes and workforce impact to inform continuous improvement.
  
• Ensures compliance with accreditation requirements set by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), Council on Continuing Education Units (CEU), and other relevant bodies.
  
• Produces annual reports summarizing program reach, learner demographics, and measurable workforce outcomes.
  

Partnerships, Outreach, and Engagement

• Serves as the School's primary liaison to public health workforce development stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels.
  
• Cultivates collaborative partnerships with health departments, community-based organizations, and professional associations.
  
• Represents the School at workforce development conferences, coalitions, and advisory boards.
  

Team Leadership and Administration

• Supervises and mentors professional development staff, instructional designers, and program coordinators.
  
• Manages budgets, monitor program finances, and develops sustainable pricing and revenue models.
  
• Oversees marketing strategies to promote offerings to target audiences and broaden participation.
  
• Maintains an environment of collaboration, innovation, and continuous quality improvement.
  

Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

Job Location/Working Conditions

• This position requires the ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasional evening and weekend work to support workshops, conferences, and special events is required.
• Some travel may be required to support off-site trainings and represent the School at workforce development events.
• Normal office environment.

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at a desk or table.
  
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement.
  
• Ability to move to on and off-campus locations.
  

Equipment

• Office equipment.
  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:
Master's degree

Certifications:
No specific certification is required for this position.

Work Experience:
Relevant Experience (7 Years)

Skills:
Not Applicable

Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Public Health (MPH), Education, Instructional Design, or related field.
  
• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience in professional development, continuing education, or workforce training within higher education, public health, or healthcare settings.
  
• Demonstrated success in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs for adult learners.
  
• Strong understanding of public health systems, workforce trends, and accreditation standards.
  
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
  
• Experience leveraging learning technologies and digital platforms to enhance program delivery.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree (DrPH, PhD, EdD, or equivalent) in Public Health, Education, or related field.
  
• Familiarity with CEPH accreditation standards and competency-based public health education frameworks.
  
• Proven ability to secure grants, contracts, or external funding for workforce development initiatives.
  
• Knowledge of LMS platforms (e.g., Canvas) and digital credentialing systems.
  

Preferred Qualifications

Education:
Doctorate

Certifications:
No additional certification unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:
Accreditation Standards, Adult Learning Theory, Budget Management, Collaboration, Continuing Education, Credentialing, Data-Driven Decision Making, Educational Strategies, Grant Funding, Influencing Skills, Instructional Design, Instructional Leadership, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Oral Communications, Pricing Strategies, Professional Development, Program Analysis, Program Evaluations, Public Health, Relationship Building, Stakeholder Engagement, Training and Education, Training Program Delivery, Workforce Planning, Written Communication

Grade
G13

Salary Range
$65,900.00 - $112,700.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
  
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
  
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
  
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
  

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more
  

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We've got you covered.
  
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
  

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University's policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Washington University is dedicated to building a community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment - fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

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