Associate Director, Accreditation for Policy & Education

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association requires all new employees to present proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when they start work. Currently, “fully vaccinated” is defined as someone that has received both doses of the Pfizer/Moderna COVID-19 vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine 14 days or more before they begin work. Individuals with a disability or a religious reason preventing them from taking the vaccine may request an accommodation.

Description
The purpose of this position is to direct the activities related to policy development and implementation for the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). The Associate Director directs the development and delivery of the communications related to ASHA’s accreditation program to accreditation stakeholders and the public. The Associate Director (a) advises the CAA in the development of accreditation policies and develops education plans to implement those policies; (b) develops and conducts training activities for academic programs and volunteers, which supports the accreditation quality management system; (c) provides consultation to graduate education programs regarding interpretations of accreditation standards and policies of the CAA; and (d) monitors trends in accreditation and advises the CAA accordingly to inform their decision-making. 

Responsibilities

1. Advise the CAA in the development of policies; monitor internal and national trends to advise and support the work of the CAA. 
2. Develop and execute education plans to provide consultation and assistance to graduate education programs regarding accreditation standards and policies; make presentations at meetings and conferences as appropriate; prepare and update information on Web site.
3. Develop and oversee training activities for CAA members, site visitors, and academic programs.
4. Maintain currency of all policy manuals and appropriate archives of each.
5. Monitor CAA’s compliance with recognition requirements of the US Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; advise CAA of needed modifications to policies as appropriate.
6. Serve as liaison with other ASHA volunteer committees as appropriate and National Office units regarding accreditation standards, policies and procedures, public communications, and program education activities; support Director of Accreditation in liaison activities with external groups.

Qualifications
Knowledge Typically Acquired Through

• Award of a baccalaureate degree, preferably in communication sciences and disorders, or other related field
• Minimum of 3 years experience with an accrediting agency
• Experience in making public presentations
• Experience in communicating with higher education faculty and administration, members of professional associations, and students

Scope and Depth of Technical Skills/Knowledge
Demonstrated ability to:

• Interpret and determine compliance with accreditation standards
• Collect, interpret, and report statistical data
• Independently compose technical documents and complex and sensitive correspondence
• Efficiently use Windows environment and Microsoft Office software, data bases, and presentations software to produce reports, presentations, and documents and manage workload

Scope and Depth of Non-Technical Skills/Knowledge
Demonstrated ability to:

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including preparation and presentation of technical reports, complex procedures, requirements, and sensitive information
• Analyze and synthesize complex information from multiple and varied sources
• Evaluate program components and implement recommendations for program improvement
• Problem-solve independently and proactively about tasks related to job responsibilities
• Organize and prioritize multiple and complex projects and tasks
• Complete large volume of work with tight deadlines
• Supervise other permanent and temporary employees