What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Office of Correctional Health position at American Correctional Association?
Senior Executive Assistant
POSITION SUMMARY:
This position is the senior leader responsible for American Correctional Association’s (ACA) correctional
healthcare initiatives and programs. This role provides strategic direction to ensure that correctional
professionals have access to effective health services standards, training, and support, in line with ACA’s mission of improving practices in correctional systems. Reporting directly to ACA’s Executive Director, the OCH Director oversees a dedicated team (Health Services Specialists, Subject Matter Experts and Administrative Assistant) and works closely with stakeholder groups such as the national network of correctional health authorities and ACA’s healthcare committees. Key responsibilities include guiding the development of correctional health standards, managing health related accreditation/certification programs, grant management, and serving as ACA’s chief expert and liaison on correctional healthcare issues.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Set strategic direction for correctional health programs and initiatives in line with ACA’s mission. Ensure ACA remains at the forefront of correctional health practices and policy by monitoring trends (e.g. communicable disease management, mental health in prisons) and responding with appropriate initiatives.
• Facilitate the development, revision, and promotion of ACA’s performance-based health care standards and expected practices for correctional facilities in coordination with the Standards and Accreditation department and the Commission on Accreditation in Corrections. This includes facilitating efforts to update standards manuals and guidelines that member institutions use to achieve ACA accreditation in healthcare. The Director works with ACA’s Standards & Accreditation department to integrate up-to-date medical practices and legal requirements into correctional health standards.
• Administer ACA’s health training programs and professional certifications. The Director is responsible for ACA’s Health Care Professional Certification program, which offers credentials for Correctional Nurse, Correctional Nurse Manager, Health Services Administrator, and Correctional Behavioral Health Professionals. Responsibilities include developing training curricula, organizing workshops and continuing education, and ensuring certification exams/content remain relevant.
• Serves as ACA’s primary subject-matter expert and point of contact for member agencies on correctional
healthcare. The Director provides technical assistance and advisory services to correctional systems seeking to improve health services delivery. This can involve answering inquiries from prison/jail administrators,
disseminating best practice resources, or deploying expert committees to help jurisdictions address health crises (e.g. managing an infectious disease outbreak). The Director often facilitates peer networking among correctional health professionals through ACA’s channels.
• Liaise with ACA committees and external partners on all matters of correctional health. Supports ACA’s health-focused committees, such as the Coalition of Correctional Health Authorities (CCHA) and ACA’s Healthcare Professional Affiliates. In this role, the Director gathers input from practitioners in the field and ensures their feedback informs ACA initiatives. Externally, the Director represents ACA in partnerships with organizations like the CDC, National Institute of Corrections, and state correctional health boards to promote collaborative solutions. This includes managing grant-funded collaborative projects and speaking at national forums on behalf of ACA.
• Oversee the development of correctional health content for ACA publications and advocacy efforts. The Director may author or review articles in Corrections Today or ACA newsletters on health topics, ensuring ACA’s public policy positions reflect sound healthcare practices, and contribute to grant proposals that advance correctional health research.
• Manage the Office’s staff and resources, including supervising any Health Services Specialists or project managers within the OCH. The Director prepares and oversees the OCH budget (often funded partly by grants and conference revenues), and ensures that OCH projects are delivered on time and within scope. They also report on OCH activities and outcomes to ACA leadership
MINIMAL QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education:
Advance degree in a health-related field
Preferred Education:
Master’s in Public Health, Health Care Administration,
Nursing, Medicine (MD or DO), or a related discipline.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
10 years in correctional health care leadership, with deep knowledge of healthcare delivery in secure settings.
Preferred Experience:
Experience as a Chief Medical Officer, Health Services
Administrator, or equivalent role in corrections preferred.
WORK SCHEDULE:
M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; may work flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends. This is a hybrid position with a requirement to be at ACA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia one week each month.
For any questions, please reach out to Opportunities@aca.org.
For a full job description, please visit https://www.aca.org/resources/job-bank