Program Director, Physician Assistant Program & Associate/Full Clinical Professor

Job Summary

The Drexel University Physician Assistant (PA) program seeks a visionary, energetic, and evidence-based leader to serve as its next program director. This is a 12-month non-tenure track faculty position at the rank of Clinical Associate Professor or Clinical Professor. 

The program director and department chair of the Drexel CNHP Physician Assistant program is a senior faculty member responsible for the vision, leadership, and administration of the physician assistant program and all academic, research, and business activities of the academic unit. Holds the responsibility and authority for strategic planning, evaluating, and developing faculty/staff, fiscal planning and management, resource administration, fundraising, department advocacy, and improving/maintaining the department’s image, reputation, and quality. Ensures the department’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities are aligned with those of the college and Drexel University. Responsible for negotiating and working with college and Drexel leaders to create a financially viable and sustainable business model, maintain accreditation standards, deliver value and an excellent experience to students, foster innovation and experiential learning beyond clinical internships, and otherwise keep the department healthy and capable of achieving its mission and vision. Communicates effectively and delegates tasks and duties to department leaders, faculty, and staff.

Essential Functions

• Promotes excellence in teaching, research, and service personally and within the PA faculty
• Creates, facilitates, and implements a vision and strategic plan for the academic unit in alignment with the college and university strategic plans.
• Promotes a strategic focus within the academic unit where faculty/staff are working together toward goals that enhance the unit’s and institution’s reputation and success.
• Works with faculty and leaders to set unit goals and achieve standards of excellence that establish and maintain the program as a national leader.
• Oversees and manages the unit’s finances and budget to achieve financial goals set collaboratively with college and university leaders.
• Measures and monitors data/benchmarks to ensure the unit achieves its academic, financial, and administrative goals and responds effectively to operational challenges.
• Negotiates for, acquires, and maintains resources such as space, equipment and supplies to achieve the teaching, research, service, and other goals of the department.
• Performs continuous program self-study and assessment of the program’s curriculum and instruction to ensure it is current, innovative, compliant with accreditation, and on the leading edge in the profession.
• Actively coordinates, plans and prepares the physician assistant program’s self-study reports for ongoing program accreditation and ensures the program complies with standards.
• Works collaboratively with the program’s clinical education team and college leaders to secure and maintain sufficient clinical placements/partnerships in a financially sustainable manner.
• Monitors PA student progress and outcomes throughout the program and with board examination(s); Oversees PA student advisement and remediation.
• Recruits, selects, and retains faculty members that strengthen the department in alignment with the vision, values, and strategic goals of the unit and institution in collaboration with the faculty and search committees.
• Establishes an effective structure including judicious use of committees to achieve unit goals with careful consideration of staffing, workload, and well-being.
• Establishes, reviews, and updates policies and procedures to facilitate sound unit operations aligned with college, university, and accreditation policies and procedures.
• Manages faculty and staff assignments and workload to achieve individual and institutional goals.
• Evaluates/manages faculty and staff performance and fosters growth, development, and promotions to achieve the mission of the program and institution.
• Promotes department morale, collegiality, and a welcoming environment for faculty, staff, and students where all are respected and can thrive.
• Manages personnel issues and conflict within the academic unit in collaboration with college leaders and HR representatives.
• Engages and delivers ongoing value to alumni and other stakeholders; works to develop giving, scholarships, and other support with Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations.
• Plans new student orientation, the annual white coat ceremony, senior celebration, Pi Alpha and Alpha Eta certificates and other activities in collaboration with program faculty
• Advocates for the college/university and serves as their representative to help ensure t