Full Job Description
Campus Title: Physician Assistant Program Director State Job Title: Associate Professor / Tenure Track Department: Health Sciences Job Code: HA3100 FLSA Status: Exempt Funding: TBD Bargaining Unit: MSCA Job Type: Full-time Permanent Timeframe: 52 Weeks Shift: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Regular Days Off: Saturday and Sunday Supervision Received: This position reports to the Chair, Department of Health Sciences and Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education Supervision Exercised: All full-time and part-time PA Program faculty, staff, guest lecturers, and the Medical Director Salary: $130,000.00-$145,000.00 (Salary to commensurate with education and experience) and an additional summer stipend About the PA Program
Westfield State University is home to the first and only Physician Assistant Program at a public institution in New England. Launched in 2018, the program has graduated six cohorts. With a history of success, the most recent graduating class achieved a 97% first-time PANCE pass rate with a 100% overall pass rate. It holds Accreditation-Continued status from the ARC-PA through 2032 and enrolls 30 students annually. Faculty are tenure-track and represented by the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA). The university offers comprehensive benefits and requires faculty participation in teaching, scholarship, and service.
General Statement of Duties / Position Overview
- The Program Director is a key academic leader responsible for the overall administration and quality of the Physician Assistant Program. This includes:
- Ensuring compliance with ARC-PA accreditation standards
- Overseeing curriculum development, delivery, and evaluation
- Managing budgetary and operational planning
- Leading faculty and staff supervision and performance evaluation
- Supporting student advisement and remediation
- Maintaining clinical site relationships and preceptor recruitment
- Providing direct instruction within the PA curriculum, consistent with MSCA workload requirements
Duties and Responsibilities: Duties include but not limited to: Essential:
Administrative Leadership
- Direct all daily operations of the PA Program
- Manage program budgets, data systems, and strategic planning
- Convene and lead regular faculty and staff meetings
- Monitor student advising and academic support systems
Curriculum & Instruction
- Develop and maintain curriculum aligned with ARC-PA standards
- Evaluate course effectiveness and student learning outcomes
- Provide classroom and/or clinical instruction in PA core courses
- Support students in remediation and academic advising
Faculty & Staff Oversight
- Assign teaching and administrative duties in coordination with the Department Chair
- Supervise and evaluate full- and part-time faculty, staff, and the medical director
- Lead hiring and onboarding of new program personnel
- Encourage faculty involvement in scholarship, research, and service
Accreditation & Compliance
- Lead and manage all aspects of ARC-PA accreditation, ensuring full and ongoing compliance
- Serve as the primary liaison with ARC-PA and coordinate all communication and reporting
- Oversee the program’s self-study and continuous quality improvement efforts, including curriculum, assessment, admissions, clinical education, and student outcomes
- Submit required accreditation documentation, including annual reports, interim updates, and notices of programmatic changes
- Lead preparation for ARC-PA site visits, including narrative writing, evidence collection, and team coordination
- Maintain awareness of current and evolving ARC-PA standards and integrate them into program practice and policy
Clinical & External Relations
- Provide oversight on the development and maintenance of clinical rotation sites
- Recruit and retain clinical preceptors and affiliated partners
- Ensure students meet clinical performance benchmarks and graduation requirements
Service & Scholarship
- Represent the PA Program in university, local, and national forums
- Participate in leadership activities that advance PA education and professional development
- Serve on university committees and engage in institutional initiatives
- Attend relevant professional conferences and events
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the Deans
Job Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant Program
- Master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
- Current NCCPA certification
- Eligible for licensure as a Physician Assistant in Massachusetts
- At least three (3) years of full-time experience in higher education
- Demonstrated knowledge of ARC-PA accreditation standards and the self-study process
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and organizational skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data management systems
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Valid U.S. driver’s license
- Understanding of Westfield State University’s mission and public service values
Additional Information:
Salary:
Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education’s webpage.
Employee Benefits:
Benefits are an important component of an employee’s total compensation package.
- Health Insurance: Westfield State offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire. Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is effective immediately.
- Retirement: the MA State Employee Retirement System provides eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5% employer matching contribution.
- Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state colleges, community colleges, and universities.
- Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.
- Additional information regarding employee benefits is available on the University’s Benefits & Wellness webpage.
Disability Accommodations
Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.
Background Check
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.