Director, Master of Public Administration Program - Asst/Assoc Prof

Application Deadline: 6/1 or until filled

Job Summary

Naropa University seeks a full-time Director to lead the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program. The Director provides academic, strategic, and operational leadership for a contemplatively grounded graduate program that prepares ethical, inclusive public service leaders for government, nonprofit sectors and cooperative management. This role combines program administration, curriculum oversight, faculty leadership, assessment, and teaching.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of the MPA program, including vision, planning, operations, and quality assurance.
• Lead curriculum design and continuous improvement to ensure ongoing alignment with NASPAA Universal Competencies and Naropa's contemplative pedagogy.
• Oversee program assessment, including student learning outcomes, course evaluations, and annual effectiveness reporting.
• Coordinate admissions, recruitment, and retention strategies in partnership with Admissions, Marketing, and Student Success teams.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and evaluate adjunct/part-time faculty; facilitate faculty development in online teaching and contemplative pedagogy.
• Manage program budget, scheduling, and resources.
• Teach graduate courses (standard load is reduced to 6–9 credits per year) in areas such as organizational management, leadership, policy analysis, budgeting/public finance, data and evidence-based decision-making, and capstone supervision.
• Ensure high-quality online delivery in Canvas.
• Cultivate partnerships with public agencies and nonprofits to support internships, capstone projects, and community-engaged learning.
• Support dual BA–MPA pathway coordination with undergraduate programs.
• Maintain an active agenda of scholarship, applied research, or professional practice in public administration or related fields.
• Advance JEDI commitments through curriculum, mentorship, hiring practices, and community engagement.
• Hold regular office hours; advise students on degree progress, professional development, internships, and capstone work.
• Participate in university committees and initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Doctorate (e.g., DPA, PhD) in Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, or closely related discipline; or equivalent combination of advanced degree (MPA) and substantial professional leadership experience in public sector/nonprofit administration.
• Three years of experience with teaching online courses, using multiple learning modalities.
• Evidence of successful graduate-level teaching, preferably in online/asynchronous formats.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and utilize student learning assessment data (KPIs) to drive curricular improvement.
• Record of scholarship in Public Administration or closely related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience in academic or program leadership including curriculum development, assessment, budgeting, and faculty supervision.
• Commitment to contemplative pedagogy, mindfulness-based leadership, social equity, and ethical public service consistent with Naropa's mission.
• Strong multicultural competency and experience working effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with learning management systems (Canvas preferred) and contemporary online teaching tools and practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with NASPAA standards, accreditation processes, and/or external program evaluation.
• Applied experience in government or nonprofit leadership, budgeting and public finance, policy analysis, data/evidence-based decision-making, and performance management.
• Experience creating, scaling, and assessing online graduate programs; Quality Matters or similar training a plus.
• Grant writing, fundraising, or partnership development experience.
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities.