Physician - Academic

Director, Assistant Chief Academic Officer

Hackensack Meridian Health

JFK University Medical Center

Edison, New Jersey

Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) seeks a dynamic and experienced educational administrator to serve as the Assistant Chief Academic Officer (ACAO) at JFK University Medical Center. This is a premier opportunity to provide strategic oversight for all Undergraduate (UME) and Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs, ensuring the highest standards of academic excellence and regulatory compliance.

As the ACAO, you will be a key leader in implementing the HMH academic strategic plan. Reporting to the HMH Chief Academic Officer/Designated Institutional Official (DIO) and the regional Chief Medical Officer (CMO), you will champion an optimal learning environment, foster innovation in our training programs, and serve as a vital liaison between academic leadership, hospital administration, and our prestigious partner institutions.

The ACAO position requires a part-time commitment, reporting dually to the hospital/regional CMO(s) and the HMH CAO. The remaining FTE will be dedicated to clinical responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

• Drive the implementation of the HMH academic strategic plan at the regional level.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to residency and fellowship Program Directors, assisting with program development, trainee support, and innovation.
• Organize and lead special program reviews to identify areas for improvement and ensure educational quality.
• Facilitate a collaborative environment among program directors, coordinators, residents, and fellows.

Regulatory Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all ACGME-accredited and non-accredited programs maintain full compliance with ACGME and New Jersey Medical Board requirements.
• Oversee the annual ACGME data submission, resident/faculty surveys, and Program Evaluation Committee (PEC) reports.
• Lead preparation for ACGME site visits, including self-studies and Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) visits.
• Develop, review, and implement institutional GME policies and procedures.
• Maintain and track all institutional Affiliation Agreements and Program Letters of Agreement.

Institutional Collaboration & Partnership

• Partner with regional CMOs and hospital leadership on resident/fellow performance, professionalism, and quality/safety initiatives.
• Serve as the primary academic liaison with the Medical Staff Office for credentialing and policy alignment.
• Engage with internal departments and external clinical and educational partners to strengthen academic affiliations.

Financial & Administrative Management

• Provide budgetary oversight for regional GME operations, including position funding allocations and faculty stipend payments.
• Advise programs on educational grants and alternative funding opportunities.
• Mentor and support academic affairs administrative staff and program coordinators.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• MD, DO, or Bachelor’s degree and/or minimum of ten year’s experience working in healthcare, education, corporate office or related environment.
• At least three years as a leader in graduate medical education (i.e., successfully holding a position as a GME program director or Associate Director or Director of Medical Education.)
• Experience in growing and developing system wide GME initiatives.
• A well-developed skill set related to leadership, management, communication, collegiality, teamwork, change agency and cultural sensitivity is necessary.
• An exemplary record in the following areas: understanding educational theory and learning principles, especially as they relate to GME and health professions education; knowledge of the health care industry and health care systems; experience with accreditation and regulatory requirements; understanding of human resources and legal issues related to residents and clinical fellows; business skill and acumen; a track record demonstrating innovation in educational programming, faculty development, and improvement science; and experience with fostering healthy and safe clinical learning environments.

COMPENSATION:

Starting Base Salary: $450,000

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. 

The starting base salary is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted base salary based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to:

Specialization: Area of specialization and sub-specialization.

Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.

Experience: Years of relevant experience in the areas of specialization and sub-specialization.

Leadership: Relevant experience as a department chair or chief, practice group leader, or other leadership roles.

Education and Certifications: Degrees attained, residencies, fellowships, board certifications, research, and publications.

Productivity: Levels of productivity, quality and patient satisfaction.

Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies.

Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location.

Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the specialty and/or sub-specialty.

Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. 

In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits. The final compensation and benefits package will be discussed during the interview process.