Program Director & Chair MSPAS Program

The MSPAS Program Director provides strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) Program. In collaboration with the Dean and key university leaders, this position is responsible for the overall organization, development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the program’s academic and administrative operations. The position provides leadership for curriculum development, faculty and staff management, student admissions and support, academic advising, clinical education coordination, program assessment, fiscal management, and resource planning.

The position ensures ongoing compliance with ARC-PA Standards and policies, oversees accreditation activities and reporting requirements, and maintains processes necessary to support program quality and institutional effectiveness. The position leads programmatic review and data analysis, coordinates faculty activities and evaluation, and works collaboratively with university departments to support effective program operations. The position also represents the MSPAS Program at professional and accreditation-related meetings and promotes effective communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the program.

This is a 1.0 FTE position (12month, full-time basis).  50% or more of designated workload time is devoted to administrative responsibilities for the program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. In collaboration with the Dean, oversee the development, implementation, and modification of the curriculum.
2. Supervises all individuals in the roles of medical director, principal and instructional faculty, and staff in activities that directly relate to the PA program.
3. Responsible for effective leadership in relation to program organization including but not limited to appropriate MSPAS program staffing, effective organizational structure, scheduling, program planning and execution, and program development.
4. Responsible for effective leadership in relation to program administration including but not limited to student admissions, faculty and staff management related to recruiting, hiring, and evaluation, accreditation compliance, SCPE coordination, student support services, and other program related administrative responsibilities.
5. Responsible for effective leadership in relation to fiscal management of the program including but not limited to maintaining and managing the program budget and spending, development and justification of the program budget, monitoring and overseeing expenditures, allocating program resources, approving/ influencing the operational spending plan for long-term program needs, requesting additional budgetary resources, and other program related budgetary responsibilities.
6. Responsible for effective leadership in relation to continuous programmatic review and analysis including but not limited to maintenance of program self-study data collection processes to support program review and assessment, data analysis, and accurate documentation.
7. Responsible for effective leadership via effective communication as demonstrated through written communication, verbal communication, and/or non-verbal communication.
8. Responsible for effective leadership in relation to adherence to ARC-PA Standards and policies including but not limited to interpreting, maintaining, and monitoring ARC-PA accreditation guidelines and standards for the program, including correct and timely submission of documents and information to the ARC-PA, completing annual reports, maintaining program ARC-PA portal, and submission of program application and/or self-study reports when required.
9. Attend national Physician Assistant Education Association and meetings yearly to represent the MSPAS Program, attend additional trainings or meetings as needed for accreditation.
10. Collaborate with Dean and the Director of Operations to coordinate and monitor administrative functions such as scheduling courses, hiring and supervising adjunct faculty, and coordinating with other administrative units on campus, such as the registrar and academic advising.
11. Collaborate with admissions department on admission of qualified candidates to the program
12. Coordinate faculty activities in the curriculum, including their roles and responsibilities in designing and teaching courses and evaluating student outcomes
13. Coordinate academic advising for the department, assign academic advisors.
14. Manage program evaluation process, and chair MSPAS Program Committee.
15. Collaborate with the Dean to create and update academic policies and procedures for the department.
16. Advise the Dean on purchases of instructional materials and equipment needed to support the program, design and development of instructional spaces.
17.  Provide faculty peer observation and evaluation of teaching and writes summary of evaluation including strengths and recommendations for change.
18. Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Earned master’s or doctoral degree in a related field (education, health, psychology, medicine etc.). 
•  Certification with NCCPA as a PA, current license in the state of California as a PA
•  Minimum of eight years’ experience as a PA including clinical practice, administrative experience, and scholarship.
•  Minimum of three years’ experience in a full time academic appointment at the post-secondary level.  

• Excellent organizational, leadership, and management skills.
• Effective personnel management skills, especially in conflict resolution and problem-solving.
• Effective communication as demonstrated through written communication, verbal communication, and/or non-verbal communication
• Able to work effectively with others- supervisors, supervisees, and peers.
• Experience in curriculum development and program assessment.
• Demonstrated excellence in the field of physician assistant via record of research, publications, presentations, and/or involvement in state and national professional organizations.
• Awareness of trends in health care and physician assistant practice, able to respond nimbly to those trends as they impact the MSPAS program at DUC
• Ability to complete projects on time and on budget
• Engaged in ongoing personal and professional development to continuously build new leadership and management skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with accreditation processes, leadership skills, program development skills.

Personal Attributes:

• High personal and professional ethics and integrity
• Student-centered, committed to the educational mission of the institution
• Ability to work collaboratively, foster consensus among working groups
• Ability to inspire trust in colleagues, build positive working relationships across the campus
• Respectful of all, able to follow as well as lead
• Outstanding work ethic
• Committed to the values of Dominican University as an institution.

Additional Position Information:

• Open until filled
• Must be willing to consent to a background check

About the University

Dominican University of California is committed to academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement. The University values diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages applications from candidates who share these commitments.

Dominican University of California is an independent, international, learner-centered university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. Dominican has a 1:10 teacher-to-student ratio, an average class size of 16, with a small-town feeling in a park- like campus. We blend interdisciplinary core courses, real-world studies, and small classes with close and supportive academic advising and mentoring.

Dominican University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to excellence through diversity, and takes pride in its multicultural environment. We are committed in thought, word, and deed to recruiting and retaining a workforce that values the diversity of its student body. The University actively promotes an institutional culture that practices equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of all under-represented groups in higher education.

Dominican University of California participates in E-Verify, an online system used to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires in accordance with federal law.