Program Director, MS Physician Assistant Studies Program

About the Chicago School

The Chicago School educates the next generation of change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice to strengthen the integrated health of individuals, organizations, and communities. We enroll over 6,000 students across 40+ academic programs culminating in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree or a professional certificate, and our unique approach to impact-focused education has made us a leading nonprofit university for over 45 years.

As an employee at The Chicago School, you can become a member of an inclusive community committed to excellence. At The Chicago School, we celebrate individuals of all backgrounds and identities for who they are and what they can contribute. We take pride in hiring and retaining the most dynamic, talented, and passionate professionals who will help us continue to innovate for decades to come.

Position Summary

The Program Director is responsible for the development and launch of the MS Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program. They provide strategic vision, academic leadership, and overall administrative oversight to ensure the program's successful implementation and ongoing excellence.

In alignment with the University’s mission, values, and strategic plan, the Program Director ensures program compliance with Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Standards and is accountable for program organization, administration, fiscal management, continuous review, and communication.

The Program Director provides leadership in accreditation readiness, curriculum oversight, faculty management, and program assessment to support student success and program quality. Participation in accreditation-related activities, including preparation for and execution of site visits.

The Program Director is a full-time, 12-month faculty appointment with at least 50% of effort dedicated to administrative responsibilities for the program. The position requires on-campus presence at the Chicago Campus location. Occasionally, travel may be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Leadership and Administration:
• Provide strategic vision and leadership, in alignment with institutional goals and ARC-PA Standards, to develop and launch the PA program.
• Ensure program organization, structure, and delivery meet all accreditation and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain continuous compliance with ARC-PA policies, including preparation for accreditation review and site visits.
• Lead ongoing programmatic self-assessment, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement processes.

Establish and maintain effective communication across faculty, administration, students, and external stakeholders

Accreditation and Compliance

• Ensure adherence to all ARC-PA Standards and policies governing PA education.
• Lead development, implementation, and maintenance of accreditation documentation and reports.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting to support accreditation and program outcomes.
• Coordinate and lead site visit preparation, including documentation, logistics, and stakeholder readiness.

Curriculum and Academic Oversight

• Oversee design, implementation, and evaluation of didactic and clinical curriculum aligned with program learning outcomes.
• Ensure curriculum meets professional competencies and accreditation expectations.
• Monitor student learning outcomes and program effectiveness through data-driven assessment practices.
• Support continuous curriculum improvement based on outcomes, feedback, and industry standards.

Personnel Management

Recruit, hire, develop, and evaluate program faculty and staff in alignment with institutional policies and program needs.

Supervise all individuals in the roles of medical director, principal and instructional faculty, and staff in activities that directly relate to the PA program.

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and performance management for faculty.
• Ensure faculty engagement in teaching, scholarship, and service activities.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing academic environment.

Student Success and Engagement

• Ensure systems are in place to support student progression, retention, and timely degree completion.
• Oversee processes for addressing student concerns, academic performance, and professional development.
• Promote a student-centered environment that supports academic and professional success.
• Oversee student selection/admissions processes in collaboration with program faculty.

Fiscal and Operational Management

• Provide strategic leadership on enrollment, workforce, and program sustainability initiatives to ensure long-term growth, alignment with institutional priorities, and responsiveness to healthcare workforce needs.
• Develop and manage the program budget in collaboration with institutional leadership.
• Oversee resource allocation to support program quality and sustainability.
• Ensure efficient day-to-day program operations, including scheduling and staffing.

Strategic Growth and External Engagement

Represent the program internally and externally to cultivate strategic partnerships, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and enhance the program's reputation and visibility.

Provide strategic leadership on enrollment, workforce, and program sustainability initiatives to ensure long-term growth, alignment with institutional priorities, and responsiveness to healthcare workforce needs.

Required Qualifications

Education and Certification

• 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.

Experience

Minimum of three 3 years of full-time higher education experience at time of appointment, with a preference for 5 or more years, particularly within a PA program setting. This experience must include:

Experience within an accredited Physician Assistant program.

Progressive leadership experience within a PA program (e. g., Assistant/Associate Program Director, Clinical Director, Academic Coordinator, or equivalent).

Direct experience with Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (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 processes.
• Experience working effectively and collaboratively as a member of an academic and/or leadership team.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

The Chicago School offers a generous compensation and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work for a leader in the field of education. Some of our key benefits include: generous paid time-off, medical and dental coverage, company-paid life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts (FSA), tuition reimbursement, professional development, and regular employee appreciation events.

The Chicago School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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The Chicago School