DPT Program Director

Daemen University invites applications for the position of Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director. This is a full-time, 12-month, tenure track faculty position in the Physical therapy Department with an immediate negotiable start date, but no later than starting September 01, 2027.

Responsibilities and Duties:

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program director provides academic, administrative, and strategic leadership for the DPT program and is responsible for advancing program quality, effectiveness, and continued compliance with CAPTE accreditation standards. Essential responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the DPT program, faculty, staff, and students in alignment with the mission, goals and priorities of the program and University.
• Lead ongoing program assessment, strategic planning and continuous quality improvement using student, faculty, graduate, curricula, accreditation, and other program outcome data.
• Provide leadership for curriculum development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement to ensure contemporary, evidence-based physical therapist education and preparation for professional practice.
• Maintain effective communication and collaborative relationships with faculty, students, University leadership and departments, clinical education partners, advisory groups, community partners, alumni, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead, support, mentor, and evaluate program faculty and promote faculty professional development, scholarly activity, teaching effectiveness, and professional engagement.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive academic environment that supports student and faculty success, belonging, professionalism, and equitable educational practices.
• Manage program personnel and resources effectively, including participation in faculty recruitment, workload planning, performance management, conflict resolution, and organizational change.
• Provide leadership and appropriate oversight of the program's fiscal resources, including annual and long-range budget planning, resource allocation, personal expenditures, equipment, technology, supplies, facilities, and other resources necessary to support program quality and sustainability.
• Participate meaningfully in institutional decision-making regarding program enrollment and cohort size, tuition and program fees, financial resources, staffing, facilities, and other matters affecting the academic integrity and long-term viability of the DPT program.
• Assess program resource needs and effectively advocate for additional faculty, staff, financial, technological, physical, and educational resources when necessary to achieve program goals and expected outcomes.
• Maintain knowledge of CAPTE accreditation requirements and provide leadership to ensure ongoing program compliance with accreditation standards, institutional policies, applicable regulatory requirements, and expectations of contemporary physical therapist education.
• Represent and advocate for the DPT program within University governance and administration and externally within the physical therapy profession, higher education, healthcare community, and other professional and community organizations.

Required Qualifications:

Candidates must meet CAPTE requirements for service as a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director, including:

• Licensed physical therapist holding an active, unencumbered PT license in a United States jurisdiction and eligible to practice in accordance with applicable state requirements.
• Earned academic doctoral degree in a related field (e.g., PhD, EdD, DSc, or equivalent academic doctorate).
• Academic qualifications and scholarly accomplishments appropriate for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor, Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, or Clinical Professor.
• Minimum of six years of full-time experience in higher education, including at least three years of full-time experience as a core faculty member in a CAPTE-accredited entry-level physical therapist education program.
• Demonstrated education, professional development, or experience in academic administration, management, and leadership.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in educational theory and methodology, instructional design, student evaluation, and educational outcome assessment.
• Experience with fiscal management, budgeting, resource allocation, and program planning.
• Experience or formal preparation in program evaluation, assessment, curriculum development, and continuous quality improvement.
• Knowledge of CAPTE accreditation standards and processes and experience working with accreditation and/or regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience participating in institutional governance and working collaboratively within a higher education environment.

Within the Scott Bieler College of Health Professions, Daemen University offers an entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program. The DPT curriculum is a 6-year, 3+3 program. Students may apply to the Bachelor of Science in Natural Science/DPT program as freshmen or transfers. Students already possessing a baccalaureate degree may apply directly to the professional phase of the curriculum. The Physical Therapy Department is currently comprised of 10 highly motivated core faculty members engaged in a variety of clinical, service, and scholarly activities with a common goal of providing an outstanding educational experience for our students. Daemen University provides a dynamic academic environment that fosters strong collaborative and interprofessional efforts within the University and local medical community. Our Scott Bieler College of Health Professions building provides state-of-the-art lecture and laboratory facilities dedicated to our PT students in all clinical practice settings. Our Center for Interprofessional Learning and Simulation was recently expanded to include a simulated ICU hospital room that includes a high-fidelity manikin and 10 point-of-care ultrasound units. Standardized patients are also regularly utilized across numerous courses in our curriculum. We recently opened a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility, the Kennedy Institute for Mobility Innovation & Technology (KIMIT) which offers access to leading robotic rehabilitation devices and assistive technology to restore motion and function following a range of injuries and illnesses. This center is Western New York's most comprehensive advanced rehabilitation facility of its kind in the region.

Daemen University is a small private institution offering Baccalaureate, Masters, clinical and academic Doctoral degrees, in a wide variety of professional and liberal arts programs. Daemen University is a dynamic institution with over 2,700 full and part-time students and exhibits a rich history in physical therapy education. Notified of its latest reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in November 2017, the PT program has been continuously accredited by CAPTE since 1977. Located on a scenic suburban campus in Western New York, the local area offers numerous community festivals, a vibrant arts scene, world-class architecture, and outstanding cuisine. Its proximity to Niagara Falls and an international border, along with low housing costs, makes Western New York a wonderful place to reside and recreate.

Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent fringe benefits are available. Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Applications should be submitted to https://daemen.applicantpro.com/jobs/ and should include a cover letter of application, statement of teaching philosophy, curriculum vitae, and three references with contact information.

Daemen University is an AA/EOE and strongly encourages applications from women, veterans, people of color, individuals with disabilities and candidates who will contribute to and support the cultural fluency and diversity of our campus.

We welcome you to visit our department's website for more information at: https://www.daemen.edu/academics/scott-bieler-college-health-professions/physical-therapy