Position: Chief Learning Officer Location: Chicago, IL – remote/office hybrid with regular access to Chicago Reporting Relationship: Executive Director Website: https://www.acfas.org/
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional College of more than 8,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, ACFAS seeks to promote the art and science of foot, ankle and related lower extremity surgery; address the concerns of foot and ankle surgeons; ensure superb patient care; and advance and improve standards of education and surgical skill.
Our Unique Qualifications ACFAS member physicians are doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs) who are graduates of accredited four-year US podiatric medical schools. ACFAS members have completed surgical residency programs of up to four years, and all Fellow members of the College are certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS), the surgical board of foot and ankle surgeons.
ABFAS is recognized by the Joint Committee on the Recognition of Specialty Boards. Many have additional fellowship training in various aspects of foot, ankle and lower extremity surgery. No other medical specialty has this level of specialized training or board certification in foot and ankle surgery.
How the College Works Founded in 1942, ACFAS is a not-for-profit corporation and a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under state and federal law, respectively. The College is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors elected by the membership. Over 300 volunteer leaders serve on our committees or serve on our educational faculties, and our professional staff manages the day-to-day operations of the organization at our Chicago headquarters.
Committees AFCAS committees are comprised of members in good standing who work to ensure the College meets its vision, mission, and strategic initiatives. A full listing of all ACFAS committees is listed below with updated committee rosters.
Our Vision Improving quality of life through exceptional foot and ankle care.
Our Mission Advancing excellence in foot and ankle surgery to achieve superior patient outcomes.
Our Values Educational Excellence We aim to exemplify the highest ideals in advancing and improving standards of education and surgical skills in the foot and ankle.
Ethics We strive to meet the highest ethical standards in the College's endeavors.
Innovation We embrace forward-thinking, creativity, and adaptability to improve patient care.
Diversity and Inclusion We are committed to fostering a community that promotes respect for diversity of opinion, inclusive of all origins with transparent and open communication.
Strategic Governance We support foot and ankle surgeons through adoption of leading practices in strategic governance.
Our Domains
Scientific Education
Promoting of the Specialty
Research & Quality
Advocacy & Health Policy
Professional & Community Development
The Opportunity The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons seeks a strategic, experienced, and member-focused Chief Learning Officer (CLO) with an unwavering commitment excellence in education delivery and strong financial acumen and business capabilities.
This is an exciting time for ACFAS, which holds a strong reputation for the quality of its education with members and volunteers. In addition to the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference and surgical skills courses, there is an opportunity to leverage and build on a deep portfolio of education initiatives and offerings.
Position Summary and Responsibilities As the leader in education for foot and ankle surgeons, the Chief Learning Officer plays a vital role in the planning, development, and delivery of all ACFAS educational programming, ensuring exceptional quality, delivering a memorable and valuable learning experience, achieving all financial goals.
The CLO is a member of the executive team and serves as the staff liaison to three education committees (Annual Scientific Conference; Surgical Skills; Education & Scientific Affairs). The CLO directs the Education & Meetings Department, with two direct reports: Sr. Manager of Education Delivery and Sr. Manager of Meeting Planning & Events. This role works closely with staff, members, industry/sponsors, Board, and other stakeholders to advance the educational strategic goals for the College. The Chief Learning Officer will work in close collaboration with other executives in a communicative, accountable, and membership-focused style. The CLO will oversee the implementation of that plan including the assessment, design, delivery, evaluation, and innovation of ACFAS’ offerings & learning portfolio. The Chief Learning Officer will serve to ensure that all programs provide value to ACFAS members at all stages of their career as well as a return on investment to the College.
The Chief Learning Officer will work with the organizational and member goals to develop content that is relevant, impactful, timely, and needs-based. There is an opportunity to build from a systems and digital learning standpoint, including leveraging the College’s new LMS, to keep ACFAS competing in a world of new offerings, modalities, and consumption methods with significant focus on the ACFAS Scientific Conference.
This role will both research and have acute awareness of medical education and CME trends, emerging issues and best practices within medical, scientific, and surgical speciality societies. Moreover, the CLO must build strong relationship with industry and keep the pulse on changes across the sponsorship landscape to leverage market intelligence and support programmatic planning, optimizing sponsorship opportunities while maintaining the College’s educational standards and adhering to all CME rules.
The Chief Learning Officer must ensure proper evaluation and assessment to determine the efficacy of the education program portfolio and ensure that that information is shared with the proper committees and member populations through clear and constant communication and reporting and assessing.
Key Responsibilities The Chief Learning Officer will hold responsibility for the leadership, strategic execution, and administrative management of all educational initiatives, programs, and strategies.
Specific responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following:
Provide strong staff leadership to ACFAS education committees and education staff to develop and execute annual and multi-year plans based on needs assessments and environmental trends, including ongoing planning for the Annual Scientific Conference, Surgical Skills labs, and virtual symposiums.
Direct all operational and financial aspects of ACFAS’ education programs and products and coordinate across staff to ensure effective implementation of all educational programs and products.
Oversee budget development for education and ensure all revenue and expense financial targets are achieved; identify efficiencies and cost-savings that don’t compromise quality outcomes.
Oversee ACFAS’s external sales team to direct and grow all aspects of industry relations within the Annual Scientific Conference sponsorship and exhibit hall; oversee all grant requests for surgical skills labs.
Develop and report key performance metrics that show progress on strategic goals.
Determine how to best optimize educational assets from ACFAS programs (conference, webinars, podcasts, etc) to other delivery formats and times.
Ensure maintenance of ACFAS accreditation by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) and other education/training accrediting bodies, as necessary.
Evaluate, assess, and manage all education vendors to achieve quality standards.
Oversee meetings/events planning in coordination with other senior leaders for other ACFAS meetings (eg Board meeting planning).
Professional Experience/Qualifications
Minimum ten years’ experience in the development and implementation of medical educational products and programs for an association, academic setting, or clinical education.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of ACFAS staff, physician, surgeon, volunteers and service providers.
Proven business acumen with budget management, strategic planning, marketing, events management.
Ability to present concise strategic plans and summaries of progress to executive leadership.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Ability to develop business plans and monitor progress in executing them.
Organizational skills and dedication to high quality performance and results.
Experience working with physicians, surgeons, researchers and/or other health professionals in membership environment.
Proven staff leadership skills and ability to support a positive, respectful and inclusive team culture.
Education & Training
Master’s level degree or higher required
Certified Association Executive (CAE) preferred
Compensation
Compensation package based upon background and experience will be provided.
Application Process
Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit a cover letter and resume to:
