Jobs › University of Chicago

Assistant Director, Clinical Simulation & Resuscitation Quality

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $75,000–$100,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 27, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role supports operations of a simulation lab and clinical quality within a health system. What simulation program leadership have you done?

What they are checking: Whether they have actually run a simulation program at this level, because leading the lab is different from teaching in one.

How do you develop a debriefer?

What they are checking: Whether they know debriefing is where learning happens and can coach others to do it well, since a poor debrief wastes the scenario.

What would you do

You'd build clinical quality and safety priorities directly into scenarios. How do you turn a real incident into a scenario without putting anyone on trial?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn a real event into a teaching case while protecting the people involved, because blame would kill trust in the lab.

You'd coordinate interprofessional simulation to improve communication and teamwork. What makes an interprofessional simulation work rather than turn into a hierarchy?

What they are checking: Whether they can flatten hierarchy enough that a nurse will speak up to a surgeon, which is the whole point of interprofessional work.

How do you get busy clinicians to come to simulation at all?

What they are checking: Whether they understand clinicians' schedules and incentives well enough to get them in the room, since an empty lab teaches no one.

A scenario exposes a systems problem rather than an individual one. What do you do with that?

What they are checking: Whether they treat a latent systems problem as a finding to escalate, because catching it in simulation spares a real patient later.

You'd maintain the center's operations alongside the clinical work. How do you balance running the place against improving what it teaches?

What they are checking: Whether they can keep the center running smoothly while still improving the curriculum, since letting either slide quietly weakens the program.

A Resuscitation and Community Outreach Program Manager reports into this role and is posted alongside it. How would you use that person, and what would you want to know about the center before you took it?

What they are checking: Whether they would use their direct report well and ask hard questions about the center first, which shows realistic planning before saying yes.

About the work

You'd co-design clinical scenarios with hospital educators, residency directors and faculty to hit specific learning objectives. Walk me through designing a scenario.

What they are checking: Whether they start from the learning objective and build backward, since a scenario without a clear target becomes theater rather than training.

How do you know a simulation program is improving actual clinical care rather than just running sessions?

What they are checking: Whether they can connect simulation to patient outcomes rather than counting sessions, because leadership funds programs that show real clinical change.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department BSD SIM - Administration About the Department The UChicago Simulation Center strives to measurably improve the quality, safety, and experience of healthcare delivery through the application of cutting-edge simulation methods, systems thinking, human-centered design, and innovative technology. Dedicated to high-quality simulation, the Simulation Center partners across the University of Chicago Health System and Biological Sciences Division to co-design and implement simulation-based programs that promote clinical readiness, skill development, digital innovation, and research. Job Summary The Assistant Director, Clinical Simulation & Resuscitation Quality supports operations of the simulation lab to ensure effective delivery of center programming with a focus on quality assurance. This role may provide direct supervision to professionals at the and serves as an advisor to Center leadership to set goals. Responsibilities • Co-design clinical scenarios alongside hospital clinical educators, residency program directors, and academic faculty to target specific learning gaps. • Actively incorporate clinical priority quality and safety concepts directly into simulation scenarios leveraging existing system committees, experts, and data trends. • Enable and coordinate interprofessional simulation initiatives to enhance communication and clinical teamwork. • Maintain the master scenario library, ensuring clinical accuracy, up-to-date guidelines, and standard formats. • Cultivate a culture of learning and psychological safety for all staff and learners that engage with the Simulation Center. • Establish and manage a system-wide mock code program, including governance, scheduling cadence, performance feedback mechanisms, and standardized scenario design for cardiac, respiratory, and other high-acuity emergency events. • Tailor mock code scenarios and equipment/medication protocols to the distinct needs of inpatient, ambulatory, adult, and pediatric care settings, ensuring age- and acuity-appropriate realism. • Coordinate with unit-based champions, nursing leadership, and rapid response/code teams to schedule unannounced and announced mock codes across care sites. • Lead structured debriefs after each mock code and ensure timely feedback loops to unit leadership and participating staff. • Standardize mock code evaluation tools to assess team performance, role clarity, communication (e.g., closed-loop, SBAR), time-to-intervention, and adherence to resuscitation guidelines (e.g., AHA/PALS/ACLS/NRP). • Aggregate and trend mock code performance data across departments and campuses to identify systemic gaps and prioritize targeted retraining and incorporation into other Resuscitation Core programming (ACLS, PALS, BLS, NRP). • Partner with resuscitation committees, code blue committees, and emergency preparedness leadership to align mock code findings with system-wide quality and safety initiatives. • Establish and oversee instructor audit, feedback review, and coaching to ensure fidelity to best practices and maximize effectiveness of instructors across the resuscitation core (BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP). • Lead performance improvement efforts related to instructional quality, programmatic efficiency, and transparent reporting. • Create training opportunities for simulation team members and faculty around clinical competencies identified as key to professional growth and simulation quality. • Implements and administers systems, policies, and procedures to support the strategic goals and sustainable growth of the simulation center and programming. • Scales and iterates processes across the UChicago Medicine health system to promote quality and standardization of simulation sessions across sites. Travels to locations throughout the health system as necessary to promote continuity and collaboration with a focus on Resuscitation Core and Mock Code programming. • Creates and fosters strong partnerships across the Simulation Center as well as throughout the UChicago Medicine health system, serving as a liaison and representative of the Simulation Center. • Actively participates as a thought partner and clinical voice to the simulation team. • Operates and maintains simulator technologies ranging from anatomic models and task trainers to screen-based simulation to full-body patient simulators and virtual reality surgical simulators. • Brings a growth-mindset to all duties, actively learning new technologies and skills. • Supports adult learning principles and the learning experience for all center users. • Support the mission, vision, and goals of the UChicago Simulation Center. • Serves as an active participant (i.e. imbedded actor) in simulation activities as needed. • Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate. • Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information. • Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Education: • Masters degree in education, nursing, instructional design, or a related clinical field strongly preferred. Experience: • At least 2 years of direct patient care experience. • At least 4 years of experience working in a healthcare or technical environment. • At least 2 years of experience working in a simulation environment. • Experience in a clinical or educational setting. • Experience operating and troubleshooting products and software, including SimMan 3G, SimBaby, SimJunior, HAL, SuperTory and other advanced manikins. • Experience as a technician supporting cadaveric and tissue labs. • Experience with simulation software platforms such as Laerdal LLEAP. ​ Preferred Competencies • Knowledge of human anatomy and physiologic states. • Strong understanding of simulation-based education principles, including scenario setup, debriefing tools, and learner-centered methodologies. • Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and professional communication skills. • Knowledge of patient simulation services, technologies and applications. • Proficiency in MS software applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), database management, and Internet utilization. • Ability to express clinical information clearly and simply. • Ability to learn new skills and technology quickly and independently. • Ability to work well under pressure, set priorities, and make critical decisions. • Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding job assignments and sensitive issues. • Ability to work with internal and external individuals from different disciplines and different levels of training. • Strong written and verbal communication skills. • Ability to collaborate successfully with faculty members, clinical instructors, learners, and other stakeholders concerning educational activities on a daily basis. • Self-motivated and requires minimal supervision with the ability to work as a team member. • Flexibility and adaptability to work varying hours/days/evening/weekends. • Ability to balance multiple tasks simultaneously in fast paced environment. • Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills to manage and resolve issues promptly. Working Conditions • Office environment. • Weekend/evening hours: as needed. • Travel required: t ravel across UChicago Medicine’s health system footprint as needed; operating a University vehicle. • Work requires a moderate amount of walking, transporting equipment, and occasional heavy physical lifting of equipment. • Must be able to lift, reach, carry, pull, and push equipment/materials up to 25 pounds frequently, and occasionally up to 75 pounds. • Must be able to see, hear, stand, walk, read, and perform manual tasks with or without accommodation and care for oneself with little or no difficulty. • Manual dexterity and quick movements required for technical tasks. Application Documents • Resume (required) • Cover Letter (required) The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Administration & Management Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required Yes Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ Pay Range $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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