Educational Program Specialist, College of Medicine
Primary Purpose: To support the successful implementation, continuous improvement, and accreditation readiness of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. This new 2-year professional graduate program is scheduled to commence its first cohort in Fall 2025, with 20 students. The program is structured with a first year focused on classroom-based clinical science education, followed by a second year dedicated to clinical placements. The Educational Program Specialist role focuses on operationalizing program delivery, managing educational technologies, and contributing to quality assurance efforts and best practices in the medical education landscape. Additionally, the specialist will collaborate with faculty and stakeholders to foster a culture of academic excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.
Nature of Work: The Educational Program Specialist is responsible for implementing the curriculum and overseeing the operational infrastructure that supports teaching, learning, and assessment within the MPAS program. The role requires strong technical skills, project implementation experience, and the ability to work collaboratively within a fast-paced, competency-based educational environment. Reporting to the Academic Director and administratively to the Program Manager, the Specialist will work closely with MPAS leadership, including the Director of Assessment and Program Evaluation, to maintain academic integrity, monitor program quality, and support accreditation efforts. This position is essential for creating a foundation of educational excellence as the program prepares to welcome its first cohort.
Typical Duties or Accountabilities:
Program Implementation and Operational Support
- Lead the ongoing refinement and evaluation of curriculum maps, course content, and learning objectives in collaboration with faculty, ensuring alignment with MPAS program goals, competencies, and accreditation standards
- Coordinate the implementation of curriculum and assessment schedules, ensuring teaching and evaluation activities are delivered as planned
- Monitor program operations and timelines, providing updates to leadership and adjusting plans as needed to support smooth delivery.
Accreditation and Quality Improvement
- Support ongoing quality improvement initiatives through data collection, analysis, and reporting related to teaching, learning, and program outcomes
- Assist in preparing accreditation documentation and participate in mock reviews and official site visits
- Collaborate with the Director of Assessment and Program Evaluation to ensure assessments and learning outcomes align with accreditation and evaluation frameworks.
Instructional Technologies and Systems Management
- Oversee the setup, maintenance, and support of key educational technologies, including the Learning Management System (LMS), program databases, and digital assessment tools
- Provide onboarding and ongoing training for faculty and students using these platforms
- Coordinate with institutional IT support teams to troubleshoot technical issues and ensure optimal functionality and user experience.
Faculty and Stakeholder Collaboration
- Partner with faculty to enhance instructional delivery, integrate evidence-based teaching strategies, and strengthen assessment practices aligned with program objectives
- Work in close collaboration with the Faculty Development team and the Director of Assessment and Program Evaluation to support faculty development and instructional effectiveness
- Facilitate regular feedback loops with faculty and stakeholders to identify challenges, share best practices, and foster continuous improvement.
Education: Master’s degree in Education, Health Professions Education, Educational Psychology, or a related field. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.
Experience: A minimum of five years’ experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating educational curriculum in higher education is required, preferably in health sciences or medical education. Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills. Knowledge of accreditation processes and standards in health education programs is required.
Skills: A solid foundation of pedagogy, excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required. Experience with curriculum mapping software and learning management systems. Familiarity with the medical model of education and training. Expertise in evaluating and enhancing teaching methods and educational delivery. This professional challenge will require the application of intelligence, innovation, creativity, and passion. The successful candidate will be a leader who embraces challenges, solves problems, and thinks progressively.
Department: College of Medicine
Status: Term 2-year Term with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0 FTE
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $69,035.00 - 107,868.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Specialist Professional
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 5/28/2025
Closing Date: 6/10/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace Guidelines
The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan.