Senior Manager, Surgical Simulation and Operative Innovation

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a professional and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.

Our Mission
The American College of Surgeons is dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient and safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment.

Our Vision
To create a healthcare landscape where surgeons thrive and every patient has access to and benefits from the highest standards of surgical care, driven by innovation, education, leadership, and trust.

Summary: The Senior Manager, Surgical Simulation and Operative Innovation, supports the Assistant Director, Innovation in Surgery, by leading the operational planning, implementation, and evaluation simulation-focused surgical education and operative innovation initiatives. The incumbent will also be responsible for supporting efforts in simulation-related and innovative activities associated with the AEIs, regional offerings, and Clinical Congress, as requested by the Assistant Director, Innovation in Surgery.

This exempt position will report to the Assistant Director, Program for Accreditation of Education Institutes. It is based in our Chicago office and is a hybrid role: 3 days per week in the office/2 days per week remote.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $125,000 - $140,000 (commensurate with related experience).

Key Responsibilities:

Surgical Simulation Program Implementation

• Lead the planning and execution of simulation-focused educational programs in alignment with strategic direction set by the Assistant Director, Innovation in Surgery.
• Support delivery and evaluation of educational activities that serve practicing and developing surgeons, including contributing to courses associated with AEIs, regional offerings, and Clinical Congress.
• Apply expertise in surgical simulation methodologies to ensure programs are relevant, effective, and educationally sound.
• Partner with programs across the Division of Education, to support them in in-person simulation needs and educational programming needs, including but not limited to Surgical Training and Development programs.

Curriculum and Course Support

• Support development, refinement, and maintenance of curricula and educational resources related to Surgical Simulation, in alignment with the strategic direction set by the Assistant Director, Innovation in Surgery.
• Assist in coordination of logistics and operational details as needed for regional courses, AEI-partnered programs, and skills-based offerings.
• Assist with coordination of faculty, subject matter experts, and course materials.
• Ensure programs adhere to established ACS policies and educational standards.

Innovation & Evaluation

• Partner with surgeons and engineers to support early-stage collaboration on device concept development where possible.
• Consider partnerships in prototype testing within simulation environments.
• Support grant submissions and innovation funding opportunities.
• Collaborate on intellectual property strategy and commercialization pathways when applicable.

Surgical Discovery & Innovation

• Identify unmet clinical needs and procedural gaps through surgeon engagement.
• Lead innovation workshops, design sprints, and think-tank sessions.
• Support translational research initiatives bridging lab discovery and operative application.
• Foster partnerships with academic institutions, startups, and industry collaborators.
• Promote a culture of iterative testing and evidence-based innovation.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Support

• Work closely with the Assistant Director, Innovation in Surgery, to support relationships with AEIs, faculty leaders, and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Integrated Communications to support promotion and communication of surgical simulation and operative innovation initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements related to assigned programs.

Operational and Project Management

• Manage assigned projects, timelines, and budgets related to simulation and educational initiatives.
• Track deliverables, milestones, and expenses; prepare operational summaries and reports as needed for the Assistant Director, Innovation in Surgery.
• Support committee operations related to simulation, and innovation, including meeting preparation and follow-up.

Team Support and Leadership

• Provide guidance and support to project staff, faculty, or contractors contributing to simulation initiatives.
• May supervise staff or oversee work assignments as delegated by the Assistant Director, Innovation in Surgery.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment and support professional development within the Innovation in Surgery team.
  
  

Required Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university is required; master's degree or equivalent advanced training preferred.
• Education or training in healthcare, biomedical sciences, engineering, education, or a related field preferred.
• At least 5-7+ years of relevant experience in surgical education, simulation, and related program management is required.
• Demonstrated experience supporting educational courses, simulation programs, and/or skills-based training.
• Experience managing projects, timelines, and budgets.
• Experience working collaboratively with faculty, surgeons, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Prior supervisory or team lead experience preferred.

Comprehensive Benefits:
We're committed to attracting and retaining top talent via valuable benefits!

• Vacation, personal, and sick hours including 13 paid holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical-comprehensive coverage through BlueCross BlueShield
• Dental, Vision, and Prescription drug program
• 403(b) Matching Program
• Pension Plan
• Flexible Spending Medical/Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Domestic Partner Coverage

The American College of Surgeons is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruitment@facs.org or call (312) 202-5000 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.