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Program Director |
Career OverviewOne of the major responsibilities of a program director is to ensure that all the various programs or responsibilities of the hospital or healthcare facility are being completed as outlined by the board of directors. Usually a program director oversees several programs at the same time, but may focus on programs related to one particular aspect of the hospital or healthcare facility if the agency is very large or if the programs are very involved.
The program director usually reports to the chief executive officer or other upper level manager to provide information on the progress of the various programs. In some cases the program director must directly report to the board or directors either by regular written reports or in-person reports at board meetings or management meetings.
The program director is responsible for coordinating staff and volunteer committees and groups that are working on the various components of the programs being developed. The program director is also responsible for keeping the committees organized, staying on budget, and keeping to the timeline and goals established by the management teams or directors of the hospital or healthcare facility.
A program director may be required to put in long hours and work overtime or weekends. He or she should be willing to work with diverse groups, have a good background in organizational management, have in-depth knowledge of the programs and be an excellent communicator and public speaker.
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Career RequirementsA program director is usually required to have a Bachelors degree in management, finance or business, as well as significant experience in management roles. Experience in fundraising and working as a team coordinator or mid-level manager is considered beneficial.
In addition program directors should have a strong networking skills and should have some community based experience, especially if they will be required to interact with community groups in the scope of their job responsibilities.
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Job OutlookThe United States Department of Labor estimates that until the year 2014 the demand for program directors will continue to increase at an average rate. With new laws and regulations constantly being implemented it is important for hospitals or healthcare facilities to keep abreast of this information and ensure that the staff is following these guidelines and keeping on track budget and time constraint wise.
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Career TrackA program director may be considered mid to upper management depending on the size of the hospital or healthcare facility. Often program directors move into upper management positions after working for several years as a program director. In addition some program directors take jobs as private consultants or managing teams of program directors for large healthcare companies or hospitals that are owned by large corporations.
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CompensationMost program directors with at least three years of experience working in hospitals or healthcare facilities earn between $63,000 and $74,000. Those program directors that work for large hospitals or have multiple programs that they oversee may earn over $85,000 per year although this salary is only earned by the top 10% of the program directors.
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