Senior Director, Quality Assurance and Clinical Engagement

About Smile Train

Organizational Overview

Smile Train is changing the world one smile at a time. Our goal is to transform every person's life impacted by a cleft lip or palate. We train and support doctors and medical professionals to provide our beneficiaries with free, life-changing comprehensive cleft treatment. Our sustainable model has allowed us to support more than 2 million surgeries in 90+ countries and we’re just starting. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time.

Smile Train is looking for exceptional people to join a worldwide team of dedicated, passionate professionals. Our team is creative and highly motivated individuals working to make a positive impact. Join us!

Role Overview:

The Senior Director, Quality Assurance and Clinical Engagement plays a pivotal role in Smile Train’s global programmatic work by leading the organization’s efforts to ensure high-quality surgery and comprehensive cleft care treatments at Smile Train partners around the world. The Senior Director will lead a team that oversees quality assurance, capacity building through education and training initiatives and technologies, clinical research, and engagement with clinical experts in cleft care around the world. As a key leader within the Programs team, the Director works closely with the CPSO, across Programs HQ and the regions, as well as with Smile Train’s medical advisory bodies.

Drive Clinical Engagement:

• Collaborate with the MAB Chair on a regular basis to ensure efficient management of the MAB and ongoing clinical oversight of Smile Train’s global programs.
• Organize and facilitate quarterly MAB meetings, including one annual in-person meeting, and lead the development of the agenda and meeting minutes and manage logistics for attendees as required.
• Organize and facilitate quarterly STRIAC meetings and lead the development of the agenda and meeting minutes.
• Oversee MAB and STRIAC governance and required compliance.
• Develop and manage MAB and STRIAC subcommittees as required.
• Ensure Smile Train's Treatment Quality Standards are codified, documented, communicated, reviewed, and revised as needed.
• Collaborate with and support the Director of Safety in achieving objectives and facilitating effective communication with the MAB and MACs.
• Identify high-level opportunities to promote Smile Train’s global cleft care efforts and support MAB member participation as appropriate.
• Develop initiatives to share clinical best practices such as Grand Rounds webinars for Smile Train partners.

Leading Quality Initiatives

• With support from the Senior Associate and Associate, Clinical Programs, oversee and drive continued improvement of clinical oversight for surgical treatment outcomes, including by:
  • Standardizing Quality Assurance reviews for new practitioners.
  • Ensuring efficient and effective Quality Assurance processes for ongoing treatment record review.
  • Identifying gaps in ongoing Quality Assurance mechanisms and implementing solutions.
  • Facilitating secondary review by clinical experts when treatment partners do not meet required standards.
  • Oversee the deployment of training in response to Quality Assurance findings.
  • Piloting and scaling innovative projects and technologies to expand the scope and effectiveness of Quality Assurance mechanisms.
• Review programmatic data and identify opportunities to improve the standard of clinical care.
• In collaboration with the Program Advancement team, ensure advisories and policies are effectively communicated to Smile Train global program staff and partners and monitor implementation.
• Develop strategies to refine the quality of partner-submitted clinical images, recordings, and data to improve Quality Assurance efforts.
• Oversee and drive improved analysis and decision-making regarding surgical equipment and instrument investments across Smile Train programs.
• Support the development and oversight of global Speech and Orthodontic programs.
  • Transition Comprehensive Cleft Care (CCC) treatments from grants to treatment reimbursements.
  • Oversee remediation planning with regional staff when gaps in CCC quality are identified.

Lead Research Initiatives

• In collaboration with Smile Train’s Research and Innovation Advisory Council, develop a strategy to sustainably enable research to raise the profile of cleft care and Smile Train’s programs through key research priorities.
• Manage relationships with diverse research partners to advance the research goals of Smile Train and its partners.
• With support from the Senior Associate and Associate, Clinical Programs, facilitate the following activities:
  • Lead the abstract submission strategies for major cleft conferences such as Cleft2025.
  • Plan, direct, and manage research project milestones for a variety of research initiatives.
  • Assist in the preparation of research publications and presentations, including abstracts, manuscripts, and reports.
  • Review requests for research funding and Smile Train data for use in research.

Support Education and Training

• Support the Director, Education and Training to build the capacity of medical and paramedical cleft professionals around the world.
• Ensure clinical quality needs with E&T investments.
• Support the development of E&T curricula and facilitate the engagement of MAB, MAC or STRIAC members as appropriate.

Leadership and Team Building

• Visionary Leadership: Inspire, guide, and align a team of diverse professionals with a shared vision for Smile Train’s strategy.
• Talent Development: Identify, recruit, and retain top talent to build a cohesive, skilled, and innovative Communications team. Ensure team members receive opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Team Cohesion: Foster a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared accountability, enabling the team to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Empowerment: Equip team members with the resources, guidance, and autonomy they need to excel in their respective roles, while encouraging creativity and innovation.

Management and Accountability

• Performance Management: Establish clear performance metrics, goals, and expectations for each team member, ensuring alignment with Smile Train’s broader strategic objectives. Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Operational Excellence: Lead department professionals that will develop and implement processes, workflows, and systems that promote efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the team.
• Collaboration: Encourage cross-departmental collaboration to ensure Communications efforts are seamlessly integrated with Smile Train’s programmatic, fundraising, and global operations.
• Conflict Resolution: Address and resolve team challenges or conflicts promptly and professionally, maintaining team morale and alignment with organizational values.

Culture of Accountability

• Modeling Best Practices: Serve as a role model for integrity, professionalism, and excellence. Set the standard for ethical, transparent, and results-driven leadership.
• Ownership of Outcomes: Take full responsibility for the team’s performance, ensuring alignment with Smile Train’s mission and objectives.
• Transparent Leadership: Communicate openly and effectively with team members, fostering trust and a shared understanding of expectations and priorities.
• Recognition and Feedback: Celebrate team successes and contributions while also addressing areas for improvement with empathy and clarity.

Additional Oversight Responsibilities

• Manage essential functions and staff to ensure Smile Train partners deliver safe, high-quality, integrated, patient-centered cleft care.
• Administrative duties including team and individual goal setting, KPI setting, and annual budget development and management.
• Assist with Program Communications and Development efforts
  • Collaborate with communications, fundraising and other Smile Train departments to develop language, content, and strategies for leveraging programmatic activities.
  • Identify opportunities to secure donor funding or communications coverage for clinical programmatic initiatives and respond to requests related to these opportunities.

Qualifications

• An MD, MPH, MHA, DMP or similar with 5+ years of experience in a surgical, clinical, or hospital administrative environment.
• Proven ability to liaise effectively with accomplished clinical medical professionals.
• Strong operational and project management skills with a track record of execution.
• Ability to manage and delegate tasks effectively.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Compensation Range: 90k to 145k

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, obligations, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

Application Process

All applicants must submit a cover letter and resume.

Smile Train is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply. To apply, please complete the application online. Include your CV, and a cover letter that describes why you believe you would be a good fit for Smile Train and this role. We encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.