Program Director, Master Of Physician Assistant Studies

Application instructions are located at the bottom of the page.  Please apply directly through the University of Montana's career portal UM Jobs at https://umjobs.silkroad.com/ for positions at the University of Montana – Missoula, University of Montana Western (Dillon), and Helena College. *Do not apply through Indeed.com or use easy apply through Indeed.com*. 

The University of Montana’s College of Health is pleased to announce the development of a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program and invites application and nominations for an academic Physician Assistant to serve as the founding Program Director.  The Program Director will serve in a critical leadership role by providing creative and administrative oversight of the degree program’s development and implementation. They are responsible for curriculum development, equipment acquisition, faculty and staff recruitment/hiring, and is expected to fulfill the three pillars of academic excellence with regard to teaching, scholarship and service.  The Program Director will attain and maintain ARC-PA accreditation, promote and represent the program while enhancing its visibility, assist with the recruitment and retention of students, and manage the day-to-day logistics of the program. 

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program will be developed in compliance with all ARC-PA accreditation standards.  It will be housed within the College of Health, which has a strong tradition of supporting exceptional faculty instructors, outstanding research, and impactful service.  The College is committed to inter-professional health education and is home to accredited professional health degree and academic programs in Athletic Training, Biomedical Research, Integrative Physiology, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Public Health, Social Work, and Speech-Language Pathology, as well as the Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana.  The College is home to nine centers and institutes with a research portfolio approaching $40M annually. This position is a full-time, fiscal year (12-month), tenurable faculty appointment.  

Tenure Track Faculty:  Program Director for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Degree Program.

Title: Associate Professor.

Position Type: Academic.

Schedule: Full time, Fiscal Year (12 months), Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Medical Insurance/Mandatory Retirement Contribution/Professional Development/Partial Tuition Waiver/Wellness. 

Primary Duties: Primary duties include teaching, scholarship, and service.  Teaching responsibilities may include a combination of required, elective, and clinical courses.

• Must be a Physician Assistant holding current or emeritus NCCPA certification status with a minimum of three-years of full-time higher education experience
• Must exhibit effective leadership in managing faculty and staff through the provision of responsive and positive communication and objective, critical feedback as needed
• Strong communication skills including the ability to resolve conflicts or problems in a proactive manner
• Demonstrated competence with academic strategic planning and curricular design and assessment
• Knowledge of successful strategies and best practices for student recruitment and retention
• Experience in effectively managing the fiscal resources of an academic department with a state-allocated budget

• Recent experience as a PA Program Director or assistant director
• Leadership and management experience within a higher education setting
• Previous experience with program planning, development, organization, and administration
• Previous experience with faculty recruitment
• Understanding of and previous experience adhering to all ARC-PA standards and policies

The College of Health is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for Montanans, our nation, and our international community.  Our mission is to recruit students into the health professions, execute the highest quality education for those students, create new programs to meet the workforce needs of our growing & diverse population, strengthen relationships with rural and urban community partners, lead impactful research, and encourage inter-professional education.  We strive to accomplish these goals while promoting student success, celebrating diversity, implementing team-based healthcare education opportunities, and conducting research with an impact. 

Our College is home to degree granting programs in Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Integrative Physiology & Athletic Training, Pharmacy Practice, Physical Therapy, Public & Community Health Sciences, Social Work, and Speech, Language, Hearing, & Occupational Sciences.  

The University of Montana is flagship, research-intensive R1 institution with approximately 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state, national forests, nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.

• University of Montana
• College of Health
• City of Missoula
  • Video: There's This Place
  • Destination Missoula
  • Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce
• The State of Montana
  • Visit Montana

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment. In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference - Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References - *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing - Individual hiring departments at UM-M may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility - All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

Application review has begin and will continue, but this position will remain OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

Complete applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. To receive full consideration, candidates are required to submit all of the following materials.

Please submit the following application materials** by clicking "New Resume/CV" button.  *Please do not apply through Indeed.com*.

• Cover letter addressing the qualifications and the interest in this position
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Teaching evaluations
• Teaching philosophy
• Statement of Research
• Three (3) professional references - Names and contact information

*Applying through Indeed.com or easy apply through Indeed.com may result in submission of an incomplete application.  Applications may be removed from full consideration if they are not complete with materials listed above under the "How to Apply" section.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure complete application materials are submitted and received by the date listed above. 

**Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.