Program Director, MS Physician Assistant Studies Program

The Chicago School•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Director is responsible for developing and launching The Chicago School’s MS Physician Assistant Studies program and providing its strategic vision, academic leadership, and administrative oversight. The role ensures the program’s organization, administration, fiscal management, continuous review, and communication align with the University’s mission and comply with Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Standards. The Director leads accreditation readiness, curriculum oversight, faculty management, program assessment, and student-success efforts, including participation in accreditation preparation and site visits. This is a full-time, 12-month faculty appointment, with at least 50% of effort dedicated to program administration. The position requires an on-campus presence at the Chicago Campus; occasional travel may be required.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited Physician Assistant program.
Current or emeritus certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Earned doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DHSc, DMSc, or related field) from a regionally accredited institution.
At least three years of full-time higher education experience at the time of appointment.
Experience within an accredited Physician Assistant program.
Progressive leadership experience within a PA program, such as Assistant/Associate Program Director, Clinical Director, Academic Coordinator, or equivalent.
Direct experience with ARC-PA processes, including participation in self-study preparation, accreditation reporting, and/or site visits.
Clinical practice experience as a Physician Assistant.
Demonstrated administrative leadership in an academic or PA program setting, including program planning, personnel management, budget oversight, and outcomes assessment.
Experience supervising, mentoring, and evaluating faculty.
Experience with program assessment, outcomes evaluation, and continuous quality improvement.
Experience working collaboratively as a member of an academic and/or leadership team.

Nice To Haves

Five or more years of full-time higher education experience, particularly within a PA program setting.
Prior experience as a Program Director or in a leadership role within a PA program.
Experience leading accreditation reviews or site visits.
Evidence of scholarship and professional engagement.
Experience with curriculum development and program assessment.
Experience with hybrid education delivery.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic vision and leadership to develop and launch the PA program in alignment with institutional goals and ARC-PA Standards.
Ensure program organization, structure, and delivery meet accreditation and regulatory requirements.
Maintain compliance with ARC-PA policies and lead accreditation preparation, documentation, reporting, and site-visit readiness.
Lead program self-assessment, evaluation, data analysis, and continuous quality improvement.
Maintain effective communication among faculty, administration, students, and external stakeholders.
Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of didactic and clinical curricula aligned with learning outcomes, professional competencies, and accreditation expectations.
Monitor student learning outcomes and program effectiveness, and guide curriculum improvement based on outcomes, feedback, and industry standards.
Recruit, hire, develop, supervise, and evaluate program faculty and staff, including the medical director, principal and instructional faculty, and staff whose roles relate directly to the PA program.
Mentor faculty, support performance management, and foster faculty engagement in teaching, scholarship, and service.
Promote an inclusive, collaborative, high-performing academic environment.
Ensure systems support student progression, retention, timely degree completion, and professional development; oversee processes addressing student concerns and academic performance.
Promote a student-centered environment and oversee student selection and admissions in collaboration with program faculty.
Provide strategic leadership on enrollment, workforce, and program sustainability initiatives.
Develop and manage the program budget, oversee resource allocation, and ensure efficient operations, including scheduling and staffing.
Represent the program internally and externally to build partnerships, stakeholder relationships, reputation, and visibility.