Job Posting Title:
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor and Program Director, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies
The Program Director for the Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies (MSPA) Program provides leadership and oversight for the Physician Associate Program, ensuring it meets accreditation standards, delivers a high-quality education, and supports student success. The position blends academic, administrative, and clinical responsibilities, including managing MSPA faculty and staff, guiding curriculum implementation, and maintaining strong partnerships with clinical sites. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of clinical experience, teaching expertise, and program management skills, along with a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the healthcare education landscape.
The Program Director is a full-time core faculty member, responsible for the management and administration of the program, including planning, evaluation, budgeting, selection of faculty and staff, maintenance of accreditation, and commitment to strategies for professional development.
Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) was founded in 1997 as the first higher education institution in the United States dedicated exclusively to education and research related to the applied life sciences. KGI offers innovative postgraduate degrees and certificates that integrate life and health sciences, business, pharmacy, engineering, and genetics, focusing on industry projects, hands-on industry experiences, and team collaborations. KGI employs an entrepreneurial approach and industry connections that allow students to become leaders in healthcare and the applied life sciences.
Located in beautiful Claremont, California, KGI is a member of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges, two graduate institutions, and The Claremont Colleges Services, which provides shared institutional support services. Each nationally recognized college has its own campus, students and faculty, and distinctive mission, and each offers top-notch curricula, small classes, distinguished professors, and personalized instruction. The Claremont Colleges consistently place at the top of national college rankings, including Forbes, Money and U.S. News and World Report, and the Princeton Review.
Education and Experience:
The successful candidate will have a Master's Degree from an ARC-PA accredited program or equivalent post PA-C Master’s degree; three years of full-time academic experience in a Physician Assistant/Associate Program; current NCCPA certification and PA licensure or eligibility for a PA licensure in California; relevant clinical experience; demonstrated leadership and management experience; knowledge of and experience with ARC-PA Standards; strong commitment to student success and innovative education; excellent communication, time management, and organizational skills; demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team of highly motivated and experienced individuals; honesty, integrity, and commitment to maintaining high professional standards.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Individuals must possess knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the position, or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions may be performed, with or without reasonable accommodations, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
Knowledgeable about and responsible for:
- Program organization,
- Program administration,
- Fiscal management of the program,
- Continuous programmatic review and analysis,
- Program planning,
- Program development,
- Completion of ARC-PA required documents, and
- Adherence to ARC-PA Standards and policies.
Enforce program policies and procedures.
Recruit and retain qualified faculty, staff and support personnel.
Provide effective leadership by exhibiting responsiveness to issues related to personnel, strong communication skills, and proactive problem-solving.
Support acquisition and maintenance of clinical sites.
Implement continuous programmatic and curricular outcomes assessment.
Lead annual review and revision of the program mission, vision, and goals as well as program competencies.
Ensure high-quality didactic and clinical instruction.
Support the Director of Didactic Education and the Director of Clinical Education with curriculum coordination and development.
Provide didactic instruction as able.
Participate in the academic advisement of students.
Ensure the availability of remedial instruction for students in collaboration with the Director of Didactic Education and the Director of Clinical Education.
Participate in student performance evaluation for didactic and clinical phase students in collaboration with the Director of Didactic Education and the Director of Clinical Education.
Oversee and participate in the admissions process.
Foster academic and clinical collaborations with other programs in the School of Health Sciences, the School of Pharmacy, and the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences.
Keep abreast of all issues impacting PA education and practice through ongoing clinical practice, maintenance of PA licensure and certification, and continuing medical education.
Carry regular faculty responsibilities related to teaching, service, research, and administration.
Engage in active scholarship.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Individuals must possess knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the essential function of the position, or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions may be performed, with or without, reasonable accommodations, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
Ability to inspire the program’s community and articulate a clear vision that showcases the program’s strengths while developing new levels of excellence.
Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with students, faculty, administrators, staff and external constituents.
Ability to handle multiple priorities with excellent organizational skills.
Honesty, integrity, and commitment to maintaining high professional standards.
Ability to build consensus and proactively manage conflicts.
Innovative and entrepreneurial.
Initiation, implementation, and management of MSPA program for the recruitment and admission of qualified students.
Hours, Classification, and Status:
This is a Faculty, full-time, benefits-eligible, exempt position. Typical working hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.; however, teaching schedules will vary based on course assignments and the operational needs of the department or Institute.
Salary range: $117,000 to $205,920 annualized. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training. Placement within the range is also contingent upon the academic rank of appointment, based on years of faculty experience, with the upper end of the range reserved for those appointed at the full professor rank.
KGI offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit package. To learn more, visit https://services.claremont.edu/benefits-administration/
Physical and Mental Requirements
Ability to maintain a good concentration level while dealing with interruptions; attention to detail with emphasis on accuracy; capable of giving, receiving, and analyzing information, formulating work plans, and articulating goals and action plans. Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods. Standing for extended periods. Reaching and extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction. Finger dexterity is required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than the whole hand(s), or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard. Communication skills using the spoken word. Ability to see within normal parameters. Ability to hear within normal parameters. Ability to bend and stoop, for example, to file. Ability to move about. Ability to lift and carry short distances up to 20 lbs., for example, to lift or move office supplies, files, books, and packages.
Ability to travel locally as needed to meet business requirements, which may include driving or other modes of transportation. Occasionally, will be required to stand for prolonged periods at activities/events on and off-campus.
To Apply
A confidential review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, please submit the following:
A cover letter detailing your professional experience and qualifications
A comprehensive curriculum vitae outlining academic and professional achievements
Contact information for three professional references, including name, title, relationship to the applicant, email address, and direct phone number
A statement of teaching philosophy
A statement of research philosophy
Preliminary budgetary requirements for research start-up, if applicable
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
Keck Graduate Institute is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all terms and conditions of employment.
Employment Eligibility
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without employer sponsorship. No visa sponsorship is available from Keck Graduate Institute.
KGI is a participating employer in E-Verify and uses the system to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees as required by federal law. For more information about E-Verify, please visit www.e-verify.gov
