As the Doctoral of Physical Therapy Program Director, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of the developing physical therapy program. Working closely with the Dean and initial faculty, you'll guide the program's vision, ensure academic quality and integrity, manage operations, and foster an innovative culture, while also contributing to the determination and development of the program's delivery model (residential or limited residency/hybrid format, traditional or accelerated format).

1. Administration - 50%

• Provide leadership, vision, organization, processes, and infrastructure for the new DPT program, ensuring alignment with the University's strategic and quality improvement plan.
• Oversee day-to-day operations during the program's development phase.
• Engage in effective strategic planning.
• Plan and manage fiscal resources for the developing program, establishing resource needs based on strategic goals.
• Recruit, manage, mentor, and evaluate program faculty and staff.
• Cultivate strong teams, develop leadership skills, and foster professional development among faculty, promoting a programmatic culture in alignment with the University's and College’s core values.
• Lead the program through the CAPTE accreditation process, ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and accrediting body standards and regulations.
• Ensure the effectiveness of the program through annual assessment of the achievement of established learning outcomes and the periodic program review process.
• Analyze data collected on the program, faculty, students, graduates, and their employers to determine the extent to which the program meets our expected outcomes.
• Document and address performance deficits if student achievement measures or program outcomes fall below expected levels, including proposing changes to the program or areas such as admissions processes, criteria, prerequisites, or student support.
• Collaborate with the Academic Leadership on the development of program policies, admissions criteria, academic progress, and graduation competencies.

2. Teaching - 30%

• Design a comprehensive curriculum that integrates didactic, lab, and clinical education experiences.
  
• Define the desired learning outcomes and competencies for graduates, aligning with CAPTE standards.
  
• Oversee the development, monitoring, and refinement of the clinical education component of the curriculum with the help of the Director of Clinical Education.
  
• Provide input into curriculum design, review, and revision processes, ensuring timely updates and incorporating feedback from clinical sites, students, and faculty.
  
• Coordinate and further develop the scholarly projects process for the future program.
  
• Foster robust interprofessional education and collaborative experiences with other programs within the Anderson Family College of Health Sciences, across the wider University, and with external partners where appropriate.

3. Scholarship - 10%

• Stay current on developments in physical therapy education and healthcare through conferences, research, and professional organizations.
  
• Lead the DPT program in scholarly and research efforts, contributing to scholarly activities and service as outlined in your professional development plan.
• Maintain visibility in respective professional organizations, using research, practice, theory, and experience to foster professional development and student learning.

4. Service - 10%

• Foster relationships with university leadership, faculty, college support specialists, and external partners. Participate in student recruitment efforts and develop admissions processes.
  
• Perform administrative duties, attend meetings, and serve on committees.

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to define vision and goals for a developing program, including its delivery model.
• Collaboration & Relationship-Building: Skill in fostering partnerships across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation abilities.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Capacity to thrive in a dynamic, developing program environment, embracing evolving program modalities.
• Trustworthiness & Integrity: Upholding ethical standards and building confidence.
• Results-Driven Mindset: Focus on achieving program development milestones and accreditation.
• Innovation: Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful, including pioneering new educational delivery methods.
• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.

Required Experience:

• A Physical Therapist who is licensed or regulated in any United States jurisdiction and is eligible or holds a Minnesota PT license.
• Current working knowledge of CAPTE accreditation requirements.
• Six (6) years of full-time higher education experience or equivalent, with a minimum of three (3) years in a DPT educational program.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in higher education, preferably in program development or administration.
• Experience teaching in the field of Physical Therapy curriculum.
• Experience with DPT program recruitment and admissions.
• Proven experience actively engaging in professional and/or community service activities.
• Evidence of an established research agenda.
• Experience, education, and/or training that broadens capacity to work with underrepresented/underserved students, college support specialists, faculty, and external audiences.
• This position is subject to successful completion of a criminal background check.

Required Education:

Terminal academic doctoral degree from an accredited university.

Travel: This position requires some local and regional travel.

Work Environment:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university in which all employees are expected to have a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of the University, and an agreement to abide by all University policies.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis. Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to
successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Expected Hours of Work:
Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity in hiring .

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

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