Physician Assistant Program Director

oversees curriculum development, program assessment, faculty and staff leadership, clinical education oversight, student success initiatives, accreditation processes, and overall program administration.

The duties listed below reflect both the accreditation required responsibilities of a PA Program Director per ARC PA Sixth Edition Standards and additional leadership expectations consistent with peer institution best practices.

Essential Functions of the Position:

Program Leadership and Administration

1. Provide strategic leadership to maintain and advance a high-quality PA program that is aligned with the mission and goals of Marietta College.
2. Ensure that all applicable ARC PA Standards are met and maintained at all times.
3. Serve as the primary liaison between the PA program and ARC PA, including responsibility for the accurate and timely preparation and submission of reports, self-studies, monitoring reports, and documentation related to onsite visits and accreditation maintenance.
4. Supervise the medical director, directors of clinical and didactic education, principal faculty, instructional faculty (adjuncts), and program staff in all activities that directly relate to the PA program, in accordance with ARC PA Standards.
5. Chair key program committees such as the PA Program Curriculum Committee, Admissions Committee, Accreditation Committee, and the Progress and Conduct Committee and ensure that these committees function effectively in support of program goals, policies, and student success.
6. Develop, implement, and evaluate program level policies, procedures, goals, and objectives in collaboration with program faculty, staff, and college leadership.
7. Oversee the program budget and operating resources, including annual budget planning, fiscal management, and resource allocation to support program operations and strategic priorities.
8. Provide leadership in faculty and staff recruitment, selection, onboarding, mentoring, evaluation (annual evaluations, faculty lecture evaluations, student evaluations of faculty and courses, preceptor and site evaluations, & remediation), and professional development, in collaboration with Human Resources and academic leadership.
9. Create and sustain an inclusive, respectful, and collegial work environment that supports faculty and staff productivity, well-being, and retention.
10. Foster positive relationships with clinical partners, health systems, and community stakeholders and oversee the clinical education team in conjunction with the institution to secure and maintain sufficient supervised clinical practice experience sites and qualified preceptors in compliance with ARC PA Standards.
11. Collaborate with institutional offices such as admissions, student affairs, registrar, financial aid, and marketing to align program operations with college policies and to support student and program needs.

Curriculum and Assessment

1. Oversee the design, development, review, and revision of the didactic and clinical curriculum to ensure appropriate breadth, depth, sequencing, and integration that prepare students for clinical practice.
2. Ensure that the curriculum map is maintained and updated to the current and any future ARC PA Standards, program defined competencies, program goals and outcomes, and to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) content and task area blueprints.
3. Approve course level objectives and learning outcomes that are measurable and that align with program competencies and ensure that course syllabi contain required elements.
4. Ensure that program faculty maintain responsibility for developing, reviewing, and revising the program's mission, goals, and competencies and for designing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating the curriculum.
5. Lead a comprehensive program assessment and continuous quality improvement process that includes systematic collection, analysis, and use of data such as admission data, course grades, exam performance, objective structured clinical examinations, PACKRAT, summative evaluations, clinical performance, PANCE performance, course and instructor evaluations, graduate and employer surveys, and preceptor feedback.
6. Use assessment findings to guide program improvements, action plans, and resource requests and to document ongoing program effectiveness.
7. Support faculty in the use of innovative, evidence-based teaching and assessment methods including simulation, interprofessional education, and technology enhanced instruction.

Accreditation and Compliance

1. Ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable ARC-PA Standards, policies, and procedures and with institutional and state regulatory requirements.
2. Maintain program records and documentation required by ARC-PA, including up to date job descriptions and curriculum vitae for the program director, medical director, and principal faculty, and other program records required by the Standards.
3. Coordinate timely communication with ARC-PA regarding substantive changes, personnel changes in key roles, program expansion, class size changes, program length changes, and other reportable items as required.
4. Oversee the preparation and publication of required program information for current and prospective students, including accreditation status, program defined goals and measures of effectiveness, PANCE performance, graduation rates, curricular requirements, costs of attendance, and essential program policies.
5. Collaborate with college offices to ensure that policies related to student employment, technical standards, immunizations and health screening, exposure to infectious and environmental hazards, grievances, appeals, refunds, and other student matters are published, consistently applied, and compliant with ARC-PA expectations.

Student Success and Support

1. Promote a supportive learning environment that emphasizes professionalism, ethical practice, respect, fairness, belonging, and student well-being.
2. Oversee student advising structures, remediation processes, and academic progression policies in collaboration with program faculty, student affairs, and other college offices.
3. Lead or oversee new student orientation to the PA program and ensure that students are informed of program expectations, policies, resources, and technical standards.
4. Monitor overall student progression, in partnership with faculty, to ensure that students meet program defined competencies and all requirements for graduation.
5. Support the development and implementation of remediation plans for students who are at academic or professional risk and coordinate appropriate interventions and referrals.
6. Support student professional development including guidance related to career planning, curriculum vitae and resume development, interview preparation, and licensure and certification processes.
7. Participate in student recruitment and admissions processes, including collaboration with admissions and marketing on recruitment strategies, review of applications, and participation in interviews and selection in a manner consistent with published admission practices.
8. Develop and refine college level resources for PA students in conjunction with the institution.

Teaching and Scholarship

1. Teach within the didactic or clinical curriculum in areas of expertise as appropriate to program needs and in accordance with institutional expectations and accreditation standards for the Program Director role.
2. Model effective, student-centered teaching practices and maintain a strong presence as an educator in the program.
3. Engage in scholarly and professional activities as appropriate to program needs that support ongoing growth in PA education and clinical practice, which may include educational research, clinical scholarship, contributions to professional organizations, presentations, and continuing medical education.
4. Maintain clinical competency and awareness of current practice standards relevant to the PA role.

Service

1. Participate in college, school, and departmental governance, committees, and service activities as appropriate to the Program Director role.
2. Represent the PA program at regional, state, and national PA and health professions education meetings and maintain active involvement in professional organizations that support the program and the PA profession.
3. Serve as a visible ambassador for the PA program and Marietta College within the college, the local community, and the broader health care community.

Professional Expectations

1. Understand and fulfill job duties within the scope of the mission, values, and strategic priorities of Marietta College.
2. Adhere to college policies and procedures and promote compliance with program and institutional policies among faculty, staff, and students.
3. Maintain professionalism in all actions, communication, and behavior, including respect for confidentiality, collegiality, and ethical conduct.
4. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication and timely follow through on responsibilities and commitments.
5. Engage in ongoing professional development related to PA education, accreditation, leadership, teaching, and clinical practice.

Requirements:

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to set priorities, make decisions, and guide a complex academic program.
2. Superior interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to interact effectively and respectfully with students, faculty, staff, administrators, clinical partners, and external agencies.
3. High level of organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and accreditation related tasks simultaneously.
4. Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret data for program assessment and improvement and to use data to inform decision making.
5. Ability to foster a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered environment.
6. Proficiency with common office and educational technologies and the ability to learn and use systems related to learning management, data management, and institutional reporting.

Required Experience and Education

1. Graduate from a PA program accredited by ARC-PA.
2. Minimum of a master's degree.
3. Must be a physician assistant and hold current or emeritus NCCPA certification in good standing.
4. At least three years of full-time higher education experience at the time of appointment with evidence of successful academic and administrative leadership.
5. At least three years of clinical experience as a practicing physician assistant.
6. Demonstrated experience with ARC-PA accreditation processes, including self-study preparation, site visit participation, or related accreditation work.
7. Evidence of effective teaching, curriculum development, or educational leadership in a health profession or related academic setting.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Doctoral degree such as PhD, EdD, DMSc, DHS, or equivalent.
2. Prior experience as a Program Director, Associate Program Director, Director of Didactic Education, or Director of Clinical Education in a PA program.
3. Demonstrated success in faculty leadership, curriculum innovation, program development, or scholarly productivity.
4. Experience with budget management, personnel supervision, and administrative operations in an academic setting.

Physical Requirements

1. Primarily stationary work in an office and classroom setting with periods of standing, walking, and teaching.
2. Frequent use of computers, printers, copiers, telephones, and other standard office equipment.
3. Ability to travel occasionally for professional development, accreditation related activities, and clinical or community partner engagement.
4. Occasional lifting of materials such as files, equipment, or supplies weighing up to 20 pounds.

Additional Information:

This job description is intended to be as inclusive as possible but may not include every detail of the responsibilities that may be assigned by the supervisor or appropriate college personnel.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references. All applications/resumes must be submitted through this online process. We regret that we are unable to accept applications or resumes submitted by mail, email, or fax. As you are submitting your application via this online process, please be sure to provide an accurate email address. You will then receive an acknowledgment indicating your application materials have been received.

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