Full Time Faculty – Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director

PLNU is a Christian liberal arts university in the evangelical, Wesleyan tradition, offering quality undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. We provide higher education in a vibrant Christian environment where minds are engaged and challenged, character is modeled and formed, and service is an expression of faith. PLNU is an institution that is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of God’s kingdom. We therefore encourage applications from culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber, skilled and/or demonstrating great potential in the practice of teaching and scholarship. 

The College of Health Sciences is excited to announce plans to develop a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program, and we seek an innovative leader to serve as the inaugural Program Director. The DPT program will complement several new graduate degree programs the College has launched over the past five years in a dynamic period of growth, including Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Athletic Training, and Medical Sciences.

Job Status:

Full time

Job Description:

Benefits:

We are pleased to offer attractive benefits and resources. This includes benefits such as health, dental, tuition benefits for employees and dependents, and competitive retirement matching. There also may be opportunities for university assistance with the cost of housing in Southern California. In addition, we have many opportunities to engage with our community including faculty chapel, weekly faculty lunches and a robust wellness program.

Salary: 

PLNU pays its faculty using a payscale based on experience and academic rank. Faculty salaries using this scale for a 3-semester (12-month) appointment range from $112,000 to $162,000. The actual salary will be based on the experience, rank, and appointment term of the candidate selected to fill this position.

The University seeks an individual capable of excellent leadership and vision, committed to significant involvement with students within and outside the classroom, and interested in participating in the academic unit’s service learning and graduate research programs. Reporting to the Dean, the Program Director will provide strategic leadership and vision for the DPT program and support and advocate for the goals and mission of the program and College. The Program Director will lead, manage, and oversee all program functions in collaboration with the faculty and staff, including curriculum development, student instruction and progression, and program assessment and accreditation. Successful candidates will be adept at developing and maintaining collaborative professional relationships with administrative departments, accrediting bodies, and institutional, clinical, and educational partners. The Program Director will exhibit strong interpersonal, leadership, and organizational skills, effectively managing faculty and staff and communicating collaboratively in the performance of all duties. The Director will lead all aspects of the initial CAPTE accreditation, and the hiring processes for the Program’s faculty and staff.

This is a 12-month, non-tenure track, Administrative Faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or above. The Director will engage in research and scholarship activities, and participate in institutional and professional service opportunities following accreditation requirements and institutional policies and procedures. The Program Director will teach courses as assigned and agreed upon with institutional leadership.

Responsibilities will begin for this role in early Spring, 2025 according to the CAPTE guidelines for developing programs. 

Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT).
• Provide leadership, vision, and organization to meet the learning outcomes and strategic plan of the DPT Program.
• Develop curriculum and lead programmatic accreditation efforts to ensure all standards are met for full compliance with CAPTE regulations.
• Develop and implement the DPT program’s assessment plan for continuous improvement based on program metrics including student learning outcomes, faculty workload and scholarly productivity, student satisfaction, graduation rates, and licensure passing rates to ensure program goals.
• Collaborate with the Dean of the College of Health Sciences to recruit, supervise, evaluate, and develop the physical therapy faculty and staff.
• Communicate effectively and foster collaborative relationships across diverse campus and programmatic constituencies including colleagues, students, community members and partners.
• Coordinate with the instructional design team to develop, deliver, and continuously improve the curriculum, including hiring appropriate subject matter experts.
• Participate in student recruitment efforts, marketing inquiries, lead generation, and DPT program awareness initiatives to meet enrollment goals.
• Coordinate student progress in the DPT program, including curricular advancement, scholarly project research, and completion and graduation rates.
• Interact with other professional programs in the College to implement a robust interprofessional education program in conjunction with the Interprofessional Education Committee.
• Participate in the teaching and research curriculum of the DPT program.
• Keep abreast of educational best practices and evidence-based research practices to foster professional development and student learning.
• Manage the DPT program budget and business plan to meet the program’s strategic goals.
• Serve on university committees/working groups and perform other university and faculty duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• An earned clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy (i.e., DPT) or terminal doctorate (i.e., Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Sc.) in a discipline appropriate for teaching responsibilities from a regionally accredited institution.

Experience:

• A minimum of six years of full-time higher education experience, with a minimum of three years of full-time experience as a core faculty member in a CAPTE-accredited entry-level physical therapist education program.
• Eligible for faculty rank at the Associate or Professor level, demonstrating experience consistent with the guidelines for faculty rank in the Faculty Handbook.
• Licensed, or eligible for licensure, as a Physical Therapist in California.
• Demonstrated experience in administration, management, and leadership. Experience derived from an outpatient or inpatient clinical setting is acceptable.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and a dedication to fostering diversity, equity, and belonging in an ethnically and culturally diverse community.

Philosophical and Personal:

• A thorough commitment to Christian higher education, with a desire to work in a Christian university while supporting the institution’s religious and educational goals.
• Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement. In addition, faculty agree to live in agreement with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Evidence of a commitment to excellence in graduate teaching, with a preference for candidates who have demonstrated effectiveness in teaching students from diverse backgrounds.
• Leadership experience in a DPT program is highly preferred, particularly with the CAPTE accreditation process and requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work strategically and communicate effectively, particularly with an ethnically and culturally diverse Christian campus community (colleagues, students, and community members).

Selection Process: 

Applicants will be expected to submit an application and corresponding documents. All applicants will be reviewed and evaluated. From this pool of applicants, a limited number will be selected and moved forward in the process. The interview process may include:

• Phone/Zoom Interview
• Participate in discussions with students and faculty in the College of Health Sciences
• Lecture presented to faculty and students in the College of Health Sciences
• Evidence of successful teaching, if applicable
• Interview with the search committee
• Interview with the Dean of the College
• Interview with the Provost
• Interview with the President of the University

Special Instructions: 

When beginning your application, be prepared to answer these questions and upload the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Personal Faith
• Philosophy of Teaching in Christian Higher Education
• Provide names and contacts for 3 references, at least one professional contact who can speak to your teaching potential (references will only be contacted if you are advanced as a finalist candidate)
• Unofficial Transcripts for highest degree completed
• Upon hire, the candidate must demonstrate evidence of licensure as a Physical Therapist in California

If you have questions about items for the application, please contact the Office of Human Resources at humanresources@pointloma.edu or the Search Committee chair Dr. Jeff Sullivan at jsulliva@pointloma.edu 

At PLNU, we believe in pursuing calling together. Deep and meaningful relationships between students, faculty, and staff is vital in nurturing our shared community and expressing God’s love. We are looking for enthusiastic candidates to join us in empowering our students to reach their greatest personal, spiritual and professional potential. 

Point Loma Nazarene University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures.

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